I'm not in favor of tasers being used on pregnant women at all, but I'm also quite opposed to pregnant women using handicapped parking spaces when they are technically not handicapped. No, pregnancy is not a handicap. It might feel that way on your crappiest, back-achy, swollen ankle days, but no -- it is not a disabling condition that entitles you to special accommodations, nor is it even a privilege. From the way it sounds, 30-year-old Tiffany Rent really brought the situation outside a Chicago Walgreens that led to cops tasering her chest on herself, sorry to say.
Just guessing what happened here. Rent had two kids in the car, a 9-year-old and 3-year-old, that she could simply not leave alone while she ran into the drug store for lord-knows-what. So she parked in the blue outlined section that was probably closer to the door so she could keep an eye on her kids while she ran in and out. Guilty myself of leaving the kids for just a minute to grab something, but never using a handicapped spot. Having family members who genuinely need those spots, that irks me beyond anything. It's lazy, inconsiderate, and illegal.
Cops were only doing their job trying to ticket Rent for parking illegally, and even warned her they were going to use the stun gun if she tried to drive off after defiantly tearing up her ticket. But she continued resist and use vulgar language, according to reports.
Now Rent is ranting that she worried the police put her baby in danger (even though the baby supposedly checked out fine at the hospital). Would have been nice if she considered that before she started kicking up a ruckus over a parking ticket.
As a former pregnant woman myself, I sympathize with the daily challenges of being a second- or even third-time expectant mom. I think people should give up their seat for pregnant women on the subway or bus. It's just the right thing to do. But pulling the pregnancy card to break the law is just not cool. And it's obnoxious.
Anyone disagree?
Image via hermanturnip/Flickr
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Comments 120
I cant believe how many people on here back up the cops for using ridiculously excessive force. In no way shape or form does littering or illegally parking warrant being tased. That is like saying someone who gets pulled over for speeding deserves to be tased if they questions qhy they were pulled over. Its EXCESSIVE. Sure, she brought those tickets on herself, but see the cops are here to PROTECT and SERVE. In what way is tasering a pregnant woman protecting her unborn child whom I am assuming we can all agree is Innocent (right?). What if she fell down or someone her baby ended up dying, would we not all agree that it would be murder? Its so sick people think that the cops were in their rights to do this to that woman.
*somehow her baby....not someone
I've often thought that very pregnant women should be given temorary handicapped stickers if they have other complications, in addition to their advanced pregancy. That said, I cannot STAND when people take handicapped spots. When I see someone without a sticker take one, I ask them to move elsewhere. If they don't, I find a policeman or inform security at the store so that the person gets ticketed.
Regarding the assault issue- in Canada, it is assault to throw something at someone. Spitting on someone can get you charged with assault as well. It could be different in the state where this happened, but I just wanted to point out that it's not totally off the wall to expect to be charged with assault if you throw something at an officer, even if it's just paper.
A cop can write a ticket for the vehicle without any ID. Same as if you came outside and found a ticket on your car for parking in a no parking zone. When she came out, she saw the ticket and then tore it up while the officer had just finished putting it on her vehicle. Her throwing the torn ticket at him is assault. Plain and Simple. She deserved her punishment. Perhaps next time a cop asks for her ID, she'll just give it to him.
I am a BIG fan of cops. They do a damn near thankless job, making less than even well paid men in the oilfields. This one cop was out of line though.
He didn't need her to stay there. He told her to. You do Not have to do what a cop says unless you are being placed under arrest.
You probably SHOULD do what they say most of the time, but you don't have to as long as you're not threatening them, or something. You don't even legally have to speak to a cop, even if they're issuing you a citation.
She deserved a few tickets, not a taser