| i need your opinion , if you dont answer , its ok for me? Posted: 27 Nov 2013 05:09 AM PST Herman Schmidt is a police officer. One morning he observed a driver, Dolores Delgado, a young working mother, who failed to stop at a stop sign. Dolores and Officer Schmidt have known each other for years, and although they have never been close, they have always been friendly with each other. When stopped, Dolores readily concedes that she missed the stop sign. She says that she was on her way to drop off her daughter at her day-care center before going to work. A bee had flown through the window, upsetting her daughter, and Dolores had become distracted. As a result, she simply did not notice the stop sign. She appeals to Officer Schmidt to overlook her error and let her be on her way so that she can get her daughter to day care and still get to work on time. Officer Schmidt has a decision to make. The law in this case permits a certain amount of discretion by the police in the case of a "rolling stop," but that discretion clearly does not apply in this case. Dolores did not even see the stop sign, much less slow down for it. Questions: 1. What should Officer Schmidt do? In particular, should he: a. Give Dolores a warning? b. Give Dolores a ticket? c. Arrest Dolores? 2.Suppose Dolores had been an 18-year-old male whom Officer Schmidt did not know. Should that affect the officer's decision? Explain. 3.Suppose Officer Schmidt and Dolores had had a romantic relationship in the past. Should that affect Officer Schmidt's decision? Explain. 4. Suppose Dolores had been rude and argumentative with Officer Schmidt. Should that affect his decision? 5. Question 1 offers three, and only three, possible choices for Officer Schmidt. Do you have a definite opinion on the proper course of action? If so, why do you have that opinion? If you don't have a clear opinion, do you think additional information would help form your opinion? If so, what information? |
