Unlocking vehicles

**lewisipso** · 07-02-07, 09:21 AM

How many agencies here have to unlock vehicles? We are required to do it as a service.

**Autumn2009** · 07-02-07, 09:33 AM

The department I work for no longer does it because of liability. You have to call a tow truck and pay $30.

**kjlaw** · 07-02-07, 09:34 AM

We still do it as a "community service"

**oldtrooper** · 07-02-07, 09:55 AM

The city stopped it years ago, except in case of emergency i.e. child locked in vehicle, vital medication inside veh. needed immediately by occupant etc. However it is done by the Fire Dept. rescue truck and not police.

It was stopped for two reasons: citizens suing for damage to their vehicle after they requested an officer unlock their vehicle, and the locksmiths complaining that government was competing with private business by offering the service free.

**gozling** · 07-02-07, 09:57 AM

we dont do it here.... they can either break their own window or call someone else....
unless there is a baby in the car and even then i give my window punch to the owner of the vehicle to break it themselves.

**Standard Dave** · 07-02-07, 09:57 AM

In the past our traffic police used to do things like that but now you have to call a breakdown service. (unless you want me to gain entry with a glass hammer or ASP

)

**JayBee** · 07-02-07, 10:35 AM

We still do it but the operator has to sign a liability waiver

**Rhino** · 07-02-07, 10:41 AM

We do.

Cheech · 07-02-07, 10:46 AM

not a police matter for us... nothing we can do.

on locked children I will break a window immediately with out hesitation. with our 115 degree heat it can only be minutes before a child dies. I will also take the parent or who ever is driving for child negligence. we have so many kids die this way.

**Jks9199** · 07-02-07, 11:02 AM

Like several others -- we do it only in narrow circumstances, like a kid or pet stuck in the car.

Or, of course, if the sergeant decides to anyway... Hey, small town PD, sometimes it matters who's asking...

**Cidp24** · 07-02-07, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by oldtrooper

The city stopped it years ago, except in case of emergency i.e. child locked in vehicle, vital medication inside veh. needed immediately by occupant etc. However it is done by the Fire Dept. rescue truck and not police.

It was stopped for two reasons: citizens suing for damage to their vehicle after they requested an officer unlock their vehicle, and the locksmiths complaining that government was competing with private business by offering the service free.

Same thing here. Man, when we did do it I got to where I could unlock almost any car in about 10 seconds because I did about 3-5 a day. It sucked.

**LAW DOG** · 07-02-07, 11:08 AM

We still jump car and unlock cars, we just got a new set of tools. we don't do much real police work, I can't wait to start doing real police work again. Only 6 more days, I swear into the SO next Monday.

**lewisipso** · 07-02-07, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by JayBee

We still do it but the operator has to sign a liability waiver

Quite a few years ago we were told the state wanted us to quit due to competition. We haven't. However, we must get a waiver signed.
This is a pain in the arse. I have thought on several occasions people would lock their keys in their cars on purpose to get us away from an area. Or just to see us do it in the rain.

**Willowdared** · 07-02-07, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by oldtrooper

The city stopped it years ago, except in case of emergency i.e. child locked in vehicle, vital medication inside veh. needed immediately by occupant etc. However it is done by the Fire Dept. rescue truck and not police.

It was stopped for two reasons: citizens suing for damage to their vehicle after they requested an officer unlock their vehicle, and the locksmiths complaining that government was competing with private business by offering the service free.

Same here. If a child is locked in the car, we go along with FD.

That's why I have AAA.

**countybear** · 07-02-07, 11:18 AM

I don't too much mind it... I'm getting pretty good with it and if the bosses ever get tired of me I'll have a new career...

... as a locksmith, wtf did you think I meant?

**conalabu** · 07-02-07, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by countybear

I don't too much mind it... I'm getting pretty good with it and if the bosses ever get tired of me I'll have a new career...

... as a locksmith, wtf did you think I meant?

I thought you were talking about being a trannie again...

We pop locks. As a matter of fact, my major locked his keys in his truck at the PD yesterday.

**10-42Adam** · 07-02-07, 12:40 PM

We call a tow company or locksmith to come do it for us...

**countybear** · 07-02-07, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by conalabu

I thought you were talking about being a trannie again...

**mavriktu** · 07-02-07, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by gozling

we dont do it here.... they can either break their own window or call someone else....
unless there is a baby in the car and even then i give my window punch to the owner of the vehicle to break it themselves.

Plus 1 here.,However,I do still carry the homemade slim jim that a friend made for me 1n 1980,but that is just used on units.

**phantasm** · 07-02-07, 06:44 PM

Originally Posted by Cheech

not a police matter for us... nothing we can do.

on locked children I will break a window immediately with out hesitation. with our 115 degree heat it can only be minutes before a child dies. I will also take the parent or who ever is driving for child negligence. we have so many kids die this way.

NYPD is the same way. And I agree with a kid in the car. I'll smash the window immediately, then arrest the operator when they return and scream "my baby, where is my baby"