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Laura from Orange asks- Officer Antoine thank you so much for this wonderful column. I was afraid to ask this question until I read an article where you said there’s no dumb question so here it goes. I’m new to the area and I’ve gained a wealth of information from you and this column since I’ve moved to Southeast Texas. Everyone has told me to look out for you when driving in Port Arthur. Rumor is you will stop and give a ticket to someone for only going 1 mile over the speed limit, is this true? Officer Antoine I’ve been told that police officers will let you go 5mph over the speed limit before they stop a vehicle , but I guess you’re a lil stricter than the rest! Officer how many miles per hour over the speed limit do police officers in this area allow before they write a driver a ticket?

 

Answer- Good question Laura. Welcome to southeast Texas hopefully you will love it enough for you to call it Home! Drivers are telling you to watch for me in Port Arthur, well I’ll say that’s not correct. I’ll say be on the look out for speed limit signs and your speedometer and comply and you’ll be just fine. Laura you and thousands alike are proof that this article is educating our community on the laws of the road which will eventually make southeast Texas a safer place to commute. Speeding is no joke it’s dangerous and deadly. Simply put Speed Kills. Over 1/3 of motorists that are killed in traffic crashes speeding was a cause! Laura I’ve heard the rumor over and over again about me giving a driver a citation for going 1 mph over the posted speed limit. There is absolutely NO truth regarding this matter, I’ve even had people look me in my face and tell me I gave them a ticket for going 1 mph over the posted speed limit. Keep in mind all rumors aren’t true! There are no grace miles for traveling over the posted speed limit in the Texas Transportation Code. Each law enforcement department or individual officer have the right to set their own limit! Laura you asked what was my limit and I’ll tell you it’s 9mph over the posted limit, once you travel 10mph over the limit I’ll stop the violator. Now keep in mind that ANY law enforcement officer can stop a vehicle at 1 mph over the posted speed limit. Always remember you are welcome to drive under the posted speed limit as well!!! I’m just saying…

 

Eric from Port Arthur asks- Officer Antoine, what is the procedure for a railroad arm that’s stuck down with its light flashing for an extended period of time? If there is no train in sight what are drivers to do, because it makes no sense to just sit at a place where the lights are obviously malfunctioning? 

 

Answer- Good Question Eric. This is a very simple question that apparently many people are lacking clarity regarding the answer. Eric, when you are stopped at a railroad crossing where the arms are malfunctioning, red lights flashing and clearly no train in sight, you simply “WAIT”,”or you can elect to turn around and go the other direction. If you see someone go between the railroad’s arms, that doesn’t mean follow the leader because if Law Enforcement is in the area, you just may be the violator they see crossing! Eric, every three hours someone is involved in a train crash in this country.  In 2023, 995 people were needlessly killed in the U.S because drivers failed to take the railroad warning seriously, and ultimately paying with their lives! In 2023 6700 people were injured from railroad crashes. This has prompted the slogan “STOP BECAUSE TRAINS CAN’T.” So Eric, just be informed the next time you happen to be in line at a railroad crossing, you are free to turn around and go around the intersection. Just don’t go around the arms.




Sam from Port Arthur Asks- Officer Antoine, I have a seatbelt question. I was watching the court TV show where there are 3 judges, and they said that now the driver is responsible for all passengers in their vehicle being seatbelted. Now I have an adult friend that rides in the back seat often and I’m always on his butt about buckling his seatbelt, and since I have seen the court TV show, Officer Antoine, I don’t want to get a ticket for his negligence. Can I get a ticket for my passenger refusing to put on his seatbelt?

 

Answer- Good question Sam!. Of course no one really wants to pay a fine for being unsecured in a motor vehicle, because getting motorists and passengers to buckle up will greatly reduce the number of traffic fatalities and injuries that are needlessly suffered on the roadways of Texas daily. Sam, I believe that show is taped in California and whatever state the complainant and defendant were from that you were watching, couldn’t have been the great state of Texas. Operating or being a passenger of a motor vehicle is a primary law, meaning Law Enforcement Officers can stop you solely on the fact that someone in the vehicle is not belted. Sam, contrary to the answer that was given by the court TV judges, in Texas, things are done differently. Drivers in Texas are only responsible for seatbelt usage for passengers 14 year of age and younger. So your adult friend is like a famous singer Patti Labelle, who sung “On His Own,” if any Law Enforcement Officer finds him in the back seat without a safety belt on properly secured. Now Sam, don’t let this information relax you from ensuring that every occupant of your vehicle is properly secured by a safety belt while on the roadway. Unbuckled passengers are a threat to other buckled occupants in the vehicle during the unfortunate event of a crash. Sam, be aware that upwards of 60% of all traffic fatalities on the roadway during the police investigation are found that individuals are unbuckled. So Sam, keep fussing and take a page out of Officer Antoine’s book if you don’t mind, make an announcement to all in the vehicle that “THIS CAR WILL NOT BE MOVING UNTIL EVERYONE IS BUCKLED!”




Join Me, Officer Antoine and the CREW Stephen “Buzzard Boots” Mosley, Lelo “mouth of Hwy 69/73” I Washington & Tejas “Lil Man”Morning Star for Ask A Cop live, on KSAP 96.9 FM The Breeze radio station, every Tuesday for 1 hour from 1p-2:30p. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Tune in and listen as Officer Antoine discusses in detail the newly released “Ask A Cop” article that’s printed in The News. You can also tune in via internet at www.ksapthebreeze.org. Feel free to call in and ask your question live to Officer Antoine at (409) 982-0247‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬. Now you can make a comment or Ask a Question via TEXT(409)748-6106‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬. Remember to email your questions torickey.antoine@portarthurtx.gov, or call 409-983-8673 ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬and leave a voice mail question, or mail them to: Ofc. Rickey Antoine, 645 4th Street, Port Arthur, Texas, 77640‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬. If you happen to see me in public you can always free and comfortable to approach and “Ask A Cop”!