It’s well-known that the police typically refuse to enforce traffic and parking laws against their own. They call it “professional courtesy,” rather than the more appropriate “dereliction of duty.” They also extend that “courtesy” to spouses and other family members.
In California, public employees with the barest resemblance to law enforcement (museum guards, for example) in California wanted in on the action, and not by the expensive and unreliable expedient of giving to police charities in exchange for a sticker. According to the Orange County Register, they got what they were looking for through a special license plate program. (Via Instapundit.)
Power corrupts. I guess we should be happy that they’re not out shaking people down. Still, the government doesn’t need to wink at this. A good start would be to make it illegal for mark a private car as belonging to a police officer. I’m sure they would find a way around it, but at least we would be sending a message.
