The Virginian-Pilot
©
If you lock yourself out of your car, call someone in your family, call a friend, call a locksmith, call AAA if you're a member - but don't call the police in South Hampton Roads.
They generally no longer open locked vehicles, short of an emergency, such as a trapped child.
Loss of the welcome - and free - favor is a sign of our increasingly complex world. New cars, police note, have power windows and locks, anti-theft devices and air bags. Their doors are crammed with electronics and computers and wires.
Sliding the traditional lockout tool or "slim jim" blindly into this world beneath the window risks expensive damage that police don't want to mess with.
"It's not just your standard-issue pull-up lock any more," said Officer Dorienne Boykin, a Chesapeake police spokeswoman. "So many vehicles are so high-tech and complicated now that the slim jim won't work."
Some departments stopped as long as a decade ago, although some officers still carry the tool for older vehicles. New vehicles come with so many variations of innards that locksmiths carry dozens of different, specialized tools.
"It's been a progression of new tools and new tools and new tools to keep up with all the models," Norfolk's Sgt. Jim Robertson said. "All you need to do is clip one of those wires, and you've got a repair bill."
"For a while we didn't know that," said Virginia Beach police Officer Jimmy Barnes, who remembered when someone on each shift carried a slim jim. "And then you get a $300 to $400 bill and you're like, 'Whoa, guess I won't do that anymore.'
"It's cheaper to break a window, believe me, or call a locksmith for $35."
Old Dominion University's police take an apologetic tone on their Web site, telling students they can't help them when they're locked out "due to the increasing sophistication" of cars.
But they offer to call someone.
Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-3893, matthew.bowers@pilotonline.com
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final comments about the police
before complaining and posting snide remarks under your alpha-numeric "anonymous" log-ins...spend a day with these officers. Make arrangements to accompany any officer while they patrol your precinct and/or neighborhood.
If you're fortunate - which means the officer had a great shift - nothing will happen vice an errant traffic stop.
Should you get some exciteement, I hope to God I'm there to bring you a change of under-gotchies when you foul the ones you had on.
spare keys and cellphones
Here's a novel thought and post - one that doesn't place undo bashing on our law enforcemnt...
should you suffer from a case of cranial rectumitis and lock your key in the vehicle...and should you have one of those lock/unlock/panic devices for your vehicle and the other set is at home...call on your cell phone and hope to God that someone answers.
Have them depress the unlock button as you turn your cellphone towards your vehicle. Get a bit closer - the signal isn't as strong.
Good chance it'll work - worked for me last year.
And stop coming down on the law enforcement for not giving you a freebie. Take responsibility for your own actions, mishaps, errors, and "oops". Y'all got no one to blame but yourselves.
IF YOU HAVE
Roadside Assistance on your cell phone, your cell company will come and unlock your door.
Less To Do
Well Chesapeake doesn't have to worry about lock outs. It's one less thing for them to do. Considering they have no community policing skills at all. What do they do now? Nothing till they are called. But they sure run stop signs, turn without turn signals, and speed up and down the main roads. Lock outs, what's that, it's something to help the public, why would they do that?
locked out
The problem is 1 in a 1000 people will sue you if you open car for free and you may put a small scratch on glass or weather stripping. Most domestic cars about 95% can still be opened by slim jims if you know what your doing. It is an art!!! But the main reason is for the rotten people that soon forget how the Police just helped you out but you will sue because of a slight scratch. Once again a good thing taken away by cheapskates.
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS (and
ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS (and this cant be said enough) ALWAYS open a locked car from the passenger side.
That way if you break something in the door the repair is not so immediately essential.
It amazes me how even the professionals go right for the driver's door.
Locked Out
I didn't know the police assisted with locked cars. I locked 3 sets of keys in my car when I was moving 3 years ago when I accidently knocked the door shut. I had my cell phone and called a locksmith. It was more than $35 then so I know it is probably more now. I definitely felt less than intelligent at the time and try to be more careful now. Good to know who not to call.
you could
also try your auto insurance company. Some have the Roadside Assistance feature and its very inexpensive. I know two of them that do it even if you have liability only coverage..... Alot less than AAA or pop a lock and they include other features...just a thought :)
Here we go again....Big Mike
Its obvious you have a hatred of the police...I wonder why that is? Been locked up before maybe...hmmmm In case you didnt read the article the same citizens that need protecting and serving are the same ones that bill the police for accidently damaging their car when trying to gain entry. Plus the fact the anti-theft designs are much more complicated now. Debris in the roadway may not be the top priority if their on their way to a domestic, armed person, robbery etc. So you dont want the police to do their job when it comes to an abandoned vehicle but you do want them to stop and pick up a tree limb? Also the TOW stickers give the owner a designated amount of time (usually 3 days) to move their car...Ya see if they leave it there it becomes a hazard...And it may surprise you but the police have some descretion when it comes to speed limits, etc. depending what type of call they are going too...believe it or not they are not required to run lights and siren to every call, but they still have to get there as fast as possible...Ive said this before but you really should apply all your police knowledge and join a local dept...I bet they could use all your insight and wisdom....lmao
MGM
Not to change the subject, but, cops on cell phones while driving, are just as dangerous as anyone else, and have even less excuse for endangering themselves and others...