Imagine being pulled over for a MINOR infraction (think, California roll at an EMPTY 4 way stop sign) but not being actually pulled over until you have driven over 4 blocks and are in your driveway.
And then, while you're wondering to your very pregnant friend (who is in the car with you because you have just come from a very nice lunch and whose life you have apparently just put in jeopardy because of your RECKLESS BLOWING OF A STOP SIGN... when you read the citation you will note that you were clocked at going 15 mph... in a 35 mph zone... wow, BLOWING A STOP SIGN, suddenly seems to be the very definition of hyperbole.) what is going on you are approached not only by Officer Friendly, but 2 cameramen from Court TV.
Pardon?
So, because you have watched (a lot) of reality TV and every single time someone is on camera you wonder, "Why would anyone consent to this?" you immediately say, "Turn the cameras off!"
How do you think you react when, while Officer Friendly is off calling in your pertinent information, one of the cameraman saunters up to your car window and tries to do a sales job on you... how worthwhile it will be for you to agree to be on this show...
Get off my driveway, pal.
And when you explain to the officer that although you understand that Orange County housewives, and wow, housewives from Laguna Beach no less, are all the rage on TV right now, you are pretty annoyed at being ambushed in your very own driveway...
And imagine how your annoyance ratchets up a few notches when Officer Friendly says, "Oh, I don't think that is is it at all..."
Yeah, right.
Gimme my ticket.
Because I am a nothing if not a woman of action, I write a letter to our Chief of Police in which I complain, not about the damn ticket, but about the liberty taken by some bozo in a "Court TV" ball cap... a liberty I feel Officer Friendly should have prevented. As in, "Stay off her property, she has already said she doesn't consent to be filmed."
And I got a letter back today which says all sorts of nice things and doesn't address my issue at all.
At All.
But, it does say that they have contacted the show to reiterate that my "likeness is not to be used".
So, that's good.
But, I have written another letter... stay tuned.
Do they still ride people out of town on the rails?
44 comments:
OHMYWORD. Again. I want your life. That is just stinking amazing. I mean, I am sorry you got a ticket, but I can't believe Court TV wanted to film you! WOW. Are they doing a Cops kinda show in your area or what?!?!
Good for you for telling them to stop filming. I bet they were looking for pretty women to pull over because that is better tv!
Marissa
Actually, I would have like to see you on Court TV (he, he)!
Stephanie
www.forksandchopsticks.wordpress.com
I always knew you people out there in Cali were strange. ;)
That's great that you wrote a letter to the powers that be. It's really unfortunate that our basic rights are being violated in the name of ratings.
I don't blame you. I'd tell them to stop filming too. I can't believe they take so many liberties, and assume people will want to be on TV.
WOW!!! And OJ started it all! If it wasn't for the 10 mile an hour 5 hour chase we wouldn't have reality TV! Sorry you were subjected to that shitty situation! Can't wait to hear about the next letter.....
But... you'll miss your 15 minutes of fame! And fortune! ...and I thought they only filmed people if they have mullets?
What the? That is ridiculous! And not even interesting TV! (no offense)... ugh! I was frustrated just reading about it, I can only imagine how irked you were! If you really want to get back at them, you could always find a reporter at your local newspaper or TV station who might be sympathetic to your story and call out the police department.... just a thought.
I have a raised fist and I am pumping it in the air in solidarity. Get 'em.
LOL did they think you were gonna go cat scratch fever on the cop's ass or something and they were going to get to film it? Over driving TOO SLOW and rolling through a stop? They must have been having a MAJOR no-action day. (And thanks for visiting my blog!)
Wow, what has happened to reality television that a mom running a stop sign is good TV? They are never going to be able to compete with the drunk, shirtless girlfriend beaters on COPS with footage like that!
It's too bad your local police department is allowing citizens to be put in that position (on your own property, no less!) Go get 'em!
You gotta be kidding?
I would write a letter to the press, a letter to the editor, how are the police getting their funding?
It seems to me there is some shortage that is being made up for my this television show...
And your rights are being severely being trampled on...
They are certainly violating a great deal of your rights as well as harrassment which I think is a felony...
Wow, nothing interesting like that ever happens to me. You rock!
SHUT UP. Shut up! That happened?!
Holy fuck!
WTF? Unbelievable. What the hell is wrong with this country? (Actually, I can answer that, but it would take a LOT of words.)
could your pregnant friend write, too? about being distressed? it's all great stuff. never fails to amaze me how inadequate public bodies are at answering questions that don't easily fit their tick boxes
Wow, this happened to you???? Oh that's too funny. What kind of sales pitch was this guy using? What could he have said to make it worthwhile for you to agree to allow this to be played? Was there money involved? I gotta know!!!
If that crap was pulled on me, the Court TV dude would have walked away with his camera up his ass. I have no tolerance for that kind of BS.
Holy crap...that is serious weirdness in your own driveway. At least some version of 'celebrity cop' didn't show up at your window too.
You wild little renegade you!
Apparently, Laguna Beach (because we haven't had enough bad pubicity with the Mtv show;-)) is working with a new show (in development) which will show law breakers (like myself) "in actual dialogue with the officer..."
WHOO-WHEE!
Who wouldn't want to watch that? I know that everyone allegedly wants to be on television, but for failing to come to a complete stop?
I don't think so.
They were REALLY SHOCKED that I refused to participate... sigh.
Good for you. Because that's a bunch of bullshit!
And yes, I also think they pulled you over because they saw how hot you are! Why do they think that everyone is dying to be on tv?
Los- the guy was telling me, in a nutshell, that the work is really important!!
GAG!
Filming you...after "blowing" a stop sign. Yep. That's good TV for ya.
Did you give them a double barrel?? Might have been worth it!!
How surreal...
I hope you had underwear on, I don't want to be tuning in to Entertainment Tonight and see you doing the whole Brittany Spears channeling Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct thing!
OH NO!! Why didn't you consent!?! I was so looking forward to seeing you on TV!
Please reconsider! Please! :)
Good thing they are concentrating on housewives on the road at lunchtime and not the drunk drivers or reckless teenagers who dominate the road at night. I guess they figure a housewife is going to be more docile and better looking than a sloppy drunk.
I can't believe that! For real? Hmm...keep us updated on what happens.
The whole thing was so ridiculous... I mean, fine, give me a ticket and send me to traffic school (for $202, thank you very much) but the rest of it is crap... no one is going to be a safer/better driver by seeing other people get a ticket... it's simply another way to exploit the public interest in our town and, sadly, I think, played into the egos of some of the members of our police force.
I have had several emails from the Sergeant in charge of this joint venture and, while I feel some satisfaction, I am surprised that it was something I even had to deal with... has our world spun so out of control that cameras literally lurk everywhere... are the most mundane and common of events being set to music montages for entertainment value?
Oh Kristin. Only you! :)
Yeah! Now I don't have to watch any more reality tv -- I can just read your blog! :)
I am so sorry Kristin. I hope all ends well.
Carrie
wow. i can't even imagine. keep us posted!
Grrr. Whaddya bet the county is in on it monetarily? Why else would they just lie in wait for a chance to film a hot housewife for something so minor?
A jaw-dropping story. The nerve. Maybe if you were in the process of robbing a bank :) but that?
Though I have to say I'm a tad disappointed. Never seen the show in my life but I'd totally watch to watch them try to tangle with you.
I think the officer was bummed because by refusing to cooperate with the camera crew, I ruined HIS chances to be on tv!
(Blogger won't let me sign in)
What a story! You will have to let us know when it is going to be on so we can watch (and make sure you aren't on!)
Dude. I would totally have signed the consent form. Then I would have pretended like the officer and I had been having an affair and that this was all a set-up and I'd pretend to accept the ticket in a really bad-acting sort of way.
Jenny - I wish I had thought of that! OMG - hysterical!!
Yikes! I have a fear of being pulled over by cops with cameras on their dash.. landing me on Cops or some other show that would humiliate me.
Good for you on addressing the issue! I hope you have better luck with your latest letter.
Can you get 'em for trespassing?
In true C.O.P.S. style, you should have flashed 'em your boobs and told 'em your husband would beat the crap out of you with an old tire when he rolls in from Billy Bob's Master Bait & Liquor at 4 in the morning if you consented to being filmed.
Then I think I would have told the camera man that the guy in the black and white is your baby's Daddy.
;-)
Oh I would totally be writing letters. Grrr.
That is absolutly nuts! I am so glad you aren't letting this go away-- that cop should have made those guys go away and leave you alone. Was the chief an idiot not to "get" wha tyou were saying?
I SO woulda had fun with that situation had I gotten pulled over for a rolling stop...four blocks later...the officer would have gotten an earful...all on tv too
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Can I trade lives with you for just one day?
I'm with you on refusing to be videotaped. Why contribute to something ridiculous?
The sad thing is that somebody nearby was raping someone, breaking into a home, selling drugs, plotting to kill someone, etc., and that cop was missing it all so that Court TV could get you committing the heinous crime of rolling through an empty 4 way stop.
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