How about because there were no vehicles to give way to and it was safe to proceed through the intersection? Like I said in my original post - my friend slowed down to less than 5kph (it may have been somewhere around 2kph, he almost did completely stop).
I merely ask, why didn't he then? Re read my post on why stop signs are there. They are there for a reason, as I outlined. Too many people thought the way was clear so it was OK to go, when it wasn't. Maybe it was all good in your friends case, but how is it so many before him got it so wrong, so that a stop sign had to be put into place..???
I am well aware that the rules state that the car must come to a complete stop - but in this case obeying the rules would only be done for the sake of obeying the rules, not for any safety reasons (I am not a fan of being so busy following the rules that I have no time for common sense). I would think that a cop would ignore someone that slowed down to almost stopped for the same reason that a cop would ignore a car travelling at 103kph in a 100 zone (either way is infringing on the rules - but you know, a little leeway helps to not piss off the motorists that the cops prefer to be on their side). My friend remained calm (unusual for him) and polite at all times and I was very surprised when the cop pulled out his ticket book to write up the offence.
Fair enough. Some (most, probably) will ignore it, as he made a good attempt... some don't. He lost the toss of the coin there.... Was there anyone behind him (your mate or the cop car) who saw it and would demand something be done about it, the same sort of person that would complain if he didn't? Was there someone in the cop car telling him to do it, like training perhaps? Who knows.
Why some cops choose to act in such a way that the general public gets the impression that they are either trying to fill a quota or are just arseholes is a big mystery to me.
So... only the two options ay? You missed one other reason... doing their job perhaps?
Why can't all cops try to act fair and decent at all times?
Because some cops are arses and anal about how they do their job, like so many professions.....
Rules are rules. Some follow them, some choose not to. Some will enforce to the letter, some don't....
To be honest I am also less than impressed with your attitude - you seem to suggest that if someone doesn't stop at a stop sign then they deserve a ticket, maybe even if they slow down to 1kph and drive carefully and safely through the empty intersection. I believe the term for that sort of person is 'pedantic arsehole'. Of course someone that drives through a stop sign at a higher, obviously dangerous speed deserves to be ticketed - but someone driving safely, but not technically coming to a complete stop is not the same thing.
Be as honest as you like... you do not know me. You do not know of my attitude - but since you are on the attack.....
Nowhere did I say everyone should get a ticket. My threshold was around 20-30kmph or more. I would not have put my donut down in your mates case....
As stated earlier, some will ticket some won't. The circumstances you describe are fine by me, but what if other factors were present (Like a pedantic arsehole boss in the car with him, other members of the public seeing this happen and the cop left with no option other than to "just do it." for fear of some idjit complaining about him/her not doing their job, perhaps???)
What are you on about? I am not upset over this - I wasn't even the driver, there is nothing for me to get over. I simply provided an example of where a cop was being a pedantic dick and pulled over someone that was driving very safely (actually a little unusual for my mate). Can't I give an opinion on a forum without someone thinking that I am angry about some minor matter that happened to a friend several years ago? Maybe you need to get over yourself Patrick!

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