Traffic stop shows liability issues real

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, March 4, 2006

Regarding the Thursday letter “All law officers deserve support”: Here’s some reality about the monetary potential of Sen. Val Stevens’ “turnip truck.” I am age 70, and a lifetime Marysville resident. I have a bad heart and two hip replacements. I was recently pulled over by a non-cross-commissioned or non-approved tribal officer for a speeding violation. I am not sure if the tribal officer was Native American; he was just arrogant and horribly untrained.

The tribal officer jerked the door open, ordering me to stand behind my car while he sat in his car. I stood in a cold rain for what seemed like 45 minutes, in a very thin shirt and was not even allowed to put my hands in my pockets to keep warm.

The officer insisted that I must have a gun in the car or on my person when an old concealed weapons permit showed up on my drivers license. I explained that my gun was at home in a safe, and that I haven’t carried it in over 30 years. He then tried to cite me for a seatbelt violation, but I asked him to review his car video to confirm that my seatbelt was on. This caused another 10 minute delay.

Should anything have happened to me during this event, Snohomish County government and its taxpayers would be liable for damages sufficient to buy a fleet of shiny, huge turnip trucks. My estate would bring a damages lawsuit against Snohomish County, not the Tulalip Tribes. Wake up and smell the turnip seeds falling off that liability truck.

Gary Stanton

Marysville