— Dorothy of Port Arthur asks: I respect you for stopping people who commit violations of the traffic laws. Here is my problem, when an officer is writing someone a ticket and leaves his police car in the driving lane on a two-lane street. I feel it is extremely hazardous. I've been on Gulfway and Ninth Avenue where this has happened. The driver then has to try to get in the other lane. Do you not agree that officers should leave the lane open and park on the side of the road?

Answer: Good question, Dorothy, and please believe me, you are not the only one with this question. As police officers we have to be constantly aware of all possible threats around us while we are out of our vehicle issuing citations. Therefore to aid in our protection, we position our vehicle to aid us in the event of a crash from a distracted or intoxicated driver. Dorothy, my ballistic vest will not protect me from your two-ton Toyota Camry, so we position our vehicles to get the attention of approaching drivers to slow down or move over. Texas law states if you approach a police (fire, ambulance, tow) vehicle stopped on the road with its lights activated you must reduce you speed 20 mph under the posted speed limit or move over and give an empty lane between the police vehicle and yours. Now, ask me how many drivers obey that law or even know it is a law. Dorothy, are you aware that every year over the last 10 years more police officers have been killed in the line of duty from automobiles than officers killed by weapons? We have had a couple of officers here at PAPD struck by passing cars while outside their police vehicle, but thankfully they were not seriously injuried. Even Beaumont PD has had to deal with the unfortunate tragedy of losing three (3) police officers in the line of duty in the last 10 years because of vehicle assaults. With that said, Dorothy, if you are traveling down Ninth Avenue on Gulfway and you see the police red/blue lights flashing and part of a police vehicle may be in your lane, remember we aren't trying to upset motorist by making you slow down or move over. We just want to make it home in one piece.

Cortney from Groves asks: First of all, I want to say thank you for all the hard work in keeping the streets of Port Arthur safe. My question is about waiting for the stoplights that don't change and how to deal with them.

Answer: Thank you, Courtney. We are daily working to improve the driving behavior of our citizens and those who commute here.  Well, Courtney, I can tell you from experience that screaming, blowing your horn, or holding your breath will not make a malfunctioning light turn green. Texas law does not permit anyone to disregard (run) a red light unless one is directed to do so by a police officer. I know waiting for a light that won't change is frustrating and combined with impatient motorists blowing their horns behind you doesn't make matters any better. You place an aweful lot of liability on yourself when you disobey a traffic signal, even if it's not working right. The only advice I can give you other than WAITING, is put your signal on and when its safe get over into the right lane and go straight or turn right.

Bobby from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine, I enjoy your column every week and I know enforcing the traffic laws is very important but I would like to see more effort on the litter bugs in Port Arthur. I constantly watch people throw trash from their cars and even open a door at a red light to empty the ash container on the street. Should the police be giving more tickets for this horrible disregard of the law?

Answer: Bobby you are right, it's downright disgraceful for people to treat their own community in such a manner. Unfortunately, littering as with speeding is not just a Port Arthur problem, but I'm sure every local community leader or resident will echo your sentiments on the problem of littering. Littering is a crime that the police have to be right on top of to catch, we have radar to alert us that someone is speeding. We are not warned when someone is about to litter. This is something we have to band together as a community and take a stand, maybe become active on the city of Port Arthur Beautification Committee. By the way, Bobby, let people know the fine plus court cost for littering in Port Arthur is about $200. So if you are a litter bug and you are reading this, ask yourself, "Is the can, paper bag or cigarette butt worth the fine?"

Tiffany from Beaumont asks: I keep asking my grandmother to stop driving with her handicap parking placard on her rearview mirror. Is this illegal? Can she get a ticket for that?

Answer: Your grandmother should appreciate you, Tiffany, for your concern for her safety. Texas Transportations code states it's illegal for us to operate a motor vehicle on a roadway with any object that obstructs/blocks our vision of the front window. Tiffany I observe this obstruction violation all the time from our local citizens with disabilities. They drive their vehicles on our roads with the handicap placard, incense, or beads hanging from the rearview mirror. The handicap parking placard even has a warning not to do it. When I stop them I ask them if they have ever read the fourth line of the placard that states, "Do not drive the vehicle with the placard hanging from the rearview mirror." Remember the placard is for special parking privileges not for driving. The state as well as PAPD is concerned about your vision being obstructed so make it a practice not to hang ANYTHING on your rearview mirror.

 Remember to email me your questions to rantoine@portarthurpd.com, or call 409-984-8541 to leave a voicemail or mail Ofc. Rickey Antoine 645 Fourth St. Port Arthur, Texas 77640. If you happen to see me in public you can " Ask A Cop".