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J J from Port Arthur asks- Officer Antoine I’m a regular reader of Ask a Cop. I really don’t have a question, I just need confirmation of what I believe to be true. The other day my wife and I were treating a friend who was in a state bereavement to dinner. Well Officer Antoine this particular light cycled and once, not twice but three times without changing. Need not say my patience was wearing thin watching others stop and go through their light that was cycling correctly. Officer Antoine I must say there were a couple of cars that went around me and turned left on the red light, so I eventually followed suit and turned left on red. Even in this case where I waited so long would I still be wrong?

 

Answer- Very Good Question J J because I experienced the very same problem at a traffic signal last week. I’m sure the city of Port Arthur as well as the state of Texas electricians do their best to stay on top of the correct functionality of our traffic signals but as we all know if man made it the item shall surely break or malfunction. So J J with that said it’s rational to think and say that somebody’s will experience this (traffic light malfunctioning) daily. Now J J I believe you are aware you broke the law and turned left on red which is disregarding a red light. I believe the knowledge is not out in the driving community enough that you can not take it upon yourself and turn through a red traffic light that won’t change to green no matter how many cycles it rotate through. J J there are two choices a driver a make, either stay longer at the light and wait or put on your right signal and when it’s clear move out of the turning lane go down and make a lawful U-turn. Remember if you are involved in a crash because you failed to wait and turn left on red, you will be held as the fault vehicle not the city of Port Arthur nor the state of Texas. J J with all the said I hope y’all had a wonderful dinner and your friend is doing better.

 

George from Orange asks- Officer Antoine, my wife and I were traveling on the freeway and I happened to miss my exit. So I pulled over to the shoulder, put the vehicle in reverse and proceeded to back up, and my wife flipped out on me. I only missed the exit like 50 feet, which I could have easily backed up and took my exit. But because of what I was experiencing inside the car, I decided to put my car in drive and continue forward. Is there something illegal about backing up if it can be done safely? It’s not like I was in another lane, I was on the shoulder?




Answer- Good question George. You should buy your wife flowers and cook for her or take her to dinner on Valentines Day, because that’s going to be a lot easier than hearing the Mrs. tell you she was right and you were wrong. George , you should NEVER, EVER under ANY given circumstance back up a vehicle on the highway. Not only is this dangerous, but it’s also illegal in the state of Texas. Vehicles are moving at a very high rate of speed and if someone wants to get over onto the shoulder and you are backing, this could be fatal. If you miss your exit, you must continue to drive until you’re able to turn around and go back never back up on the highway.

 

Kevin from Port Arthur asks- Officer Antoine with all of the different gun laws in Texas there is a question I have about a gun law. My friend always leave his weapon in his vehicle overnight and I was wondering if this practice of leaving a weapon in a vehicle overnight is legal in Texas?

 

Answer- Good question Kevin.  Well Kevin leaving a weapon in your vehicle is not a crime if it’s not in plain sight. Now with that said  I will remind everyone that Absolutely, Positively, never under any circumstance should anyone leave their weapon in their vehicles overnight. Kevin this is a practice that has been going on in Port Arthur and probably all communities in Texas and this practice needs to cease immediately!. I can’t begin to tell you how many calls we receive about a vehicle that was burglarized overnight  and a weapon was stolen out of the vehicle. Kevin believe it or not but during the automobile burglary investigation officers discover to many of the vehicles are found unlocked where weapons were stored inside the vehicle. This is a practice that put stolen guns in the hands of violent criminals and we at the Port Arthur Police Department are asking citizens to take that extra step or minute to secure your vehicle and weapons  after you park your vehicles overnight. Remember the weapon is for your personal protection and it can’t help you if the weapon is in the car overnight.

 

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”!