Beverly Hills Police Department...entraps motorists & shakes 'em down!

If you are familiar with the "flats" in Beverly Hills - you are no doubt aware that just north of Santa Monica Boulevard - there is a small lane that runs parallel a mile or so.

Gardeners and maids in the employ of upscale matrons in Beverly Hills - indeed, a handful of residents, too - often take a quick jaunt along the lane for a few blocks rather than face the daily onslaught of rush-hour traffic along the main strip.

However - every few blocks or so, posted signs note - that between the hours of 7 and 10 in the morning motorists are only permitted to make a "right" turn on a handful of streets.

Of course, this has not only caused some confusion for the locals - but visitors - too.

Because drivers are permitted to stop at the cross-street, check for traffic, then proceed down the lane for the better part of the day - understandably - most folks are under the impression that the "right" turn sign at a couple of the streets along the lane essentially means there are no "left" turns permitted during rush-hour traffic.

However, it is their distinct impression that once checking for traffic, they can proceed on down the lane.

When one motorist recently did so, he was quite surprised to spy a motorcycle cop pull up behind him as he turned the corner on Crescent Street, to park.

Because the driver was in the dark as to why he was being stopped, he engaged in a conversation with the cop - a Beverly Hills Police Officer by the name of Gates (Badge No. 34075) - to determine why a ticket was being written up.

At this juncture, it was evident that Officer had been up to "no good". In fact, his actions amounted to entrapment - in my estimation - if not outright stalking.

For example, during the conversation Gates (no relation to the former police chief, by the way) let it slip that two blocks back the motorist had correctly stopped and driven through the intersection and down the lane without any violation of the law.

Now wait a minute. Two blocks back, you say?

The driver was a little startled because - for one - he never noticed any police officer in his rear-view mirror for the length of his "journey" down the alley.

At this point, it was evident that the Officer had been hiding behind a bush, laying in wait for an unsuspecting driver to become his next "prey".

Notwithstanding, when the motorist noted the sign gave the impression that although "left" turns were disallowed - through traffic was okay - Gates had the audacity to argue that the City didn't have a sign to convey that to drivers.

Gosh, almighty! Sentient beings can whiz a man off to the moon, but public works in Beverly Hills can't craft a sign that doesn't confuse motorists?

When the victim of the "ticket" stalker filed a complaint with Mr. Barry Brucker (the Mayor of Beverly Hills) the lazy representative of the people never even bothered to give the motorist the courtesy of a reply. More shocking perhaps, was his failure to even investigate the troubling issues.

In fact - when I made an inquiry about Mr. Brucker one day at City Hall - a guard informed me that he rarely put in an appearance at the office; in fact, he only breezed in to check to his mail now and then or attend a scheduled City Council meeting.

I expect the "lay-about" is off playing golf during the day. Or, rubbing elbows with the tony elite at fancy luncheons - looking for ways to feather his own nest - eh?

Since the issue of the sign - and the unjust ticket came to my attention - I have noticed in recent days that Beverly Hills Police Officers are inclined to "hide" behind bushes on side streets that offshoot Santa Monica Boulevard in a deceitful effort to snag unsuspecting motorists who are cruising along none-the-wiser.

Usually, the motorcycle cops are parked on the "wrong side" of the street - behind a lot of foliage - where they are surely a hazard to the public-at-large!

For instance, any unsuspecting motorist who makes a sudden turn around the corner without warning, is bound to careen right into the hapless cop.

But, when an officer has sh** for brains, what do you expect?

Notwithstanding, I was quite appalled recently when I came across a whacko person in the park at Canon Drive, spitting on Japanese Tourists and hurling racists remarks in their direction.

Was there a Police Officer on duty in the vicinity to take charge as the frightening drama unfolded in the ritzy enclave a hop-and-a-skip away from a main thoroughfare in Beverly Hills?

No.

The doughnut scarfers were all busy hiding behind bushes - waiting for motorists to disobey confusing traffic signs - so they could ticket 'em unjustly.

Zsa Zsa Gabor obviously had the right idea when she gave that "copper" a smart slap in the face.

Beverly Hills' finest?

Not!



Beverly Hills Police bushwack...