Saturday, February 10, 2007

The Police


It's pretty common to see policemen stopping cars at random in Paris. I always wonder why. Are they looking for terrorists? For a good reason to give tickets (I hear they're particularly picky on people who phone while driving) or just for a good way to kill time? It's Friday evening! It's been a long week for me, I am ready to enjoy my week end. I hope you'll enjoy yours too.

50 comments:

  1. Bon weekend, Eric! Merci pour le lien!

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  2. Very nice shot, monsieur. You will get a lot of female comments on this one I reckon. Girls love men in uniform !!
    Can someone please tell me the name of this steet/ Then one can google-in.

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  3. E lá estás tu, mais uma vez, a levantar-me o canto da boca em sorriso com o teu momento de mais um dia pelas ruas de Paris.

    Gosto da tua relação com a Cidade das Luzes.
    Ou o que dela não deixas de perceber.

    Permite-me deixar uma vénia ao michael, pela gentil e curiosa tradução.

    Bem Hajam,
    Vira Vento.

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  4. Sr. Ben, nós est certo que Michael compreend este sentença, grande detalhe !!

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  5. Is it true that in France the police can stop cars at "random" without some sort of justification? In the US, there has some sort of probable cause to stop a car (even if they make it up ;) )

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  6. Do you think you might loan us some of your Parisian police? We have quite a few cars that need stopping.

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  7. Cap at his belt, helmets, boots. Bicycling cops? With boots? Rollerbladers? Scooters? Just like the look?

    Uh, oh, I'm going to start one here: Blow up the photo, what is across the street? Next to the brasserie? Aiee, here we go.

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  8. Cap at his belt, helmets, boots. Bicycling cops? With boots? Rollerbladers? Scooters? Just like the look?

    Uh, oh, I'm going to start one here: Blow up the photo, what is across the street? Next to the brasserie? Aiee, here we go.

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  9. I think they may be imposters. Blow it up, and look at the police decal on his back. I looks like it is pinned on, but some pins are missing………

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  10. I don't know about the police indescriminately stopping motorists but I must say that security at CDG was certainly beefed up this time compared to last May...probably a good thing considering the times we live in. Even had to take my shoes off...just like home.

    Johnny P: I must HIGHLY recommend the apartment titled "Mozart's Boudoir" on that link I sent you! I just cannot express how wonderful it was to stay at an apartment versus a hotel!!! You must stay there if you can...you will love it!

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  11. I am missing Paris..... :-(

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  12. Have a great weekend and try to avoid those guys in your photo.
    -Ryan of OC Photos

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  13. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    *sigh*

    french policemen are sooooo sexy!!!

    lol I'm so turned on right now, it's crazy lol

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  14. Sorry SCS, I am struggling to translate this one.

    Jeff, I see the Starbucks in the background. Maybe the police are taking names of those going in and out.

    Susan in Atl, take it from one that travels way too much recently, the problem with the security in the world's airports is that it's never consistent. When I got off the plane in Paris this morning from Singapore, there were actually police checking passports at the end of the bridge wiht a magnifying glass looking at passports and colours of eyes. HOWEVER, they were only looking at certain people's passports (yes, profiling), indicating to me that they have an idea of who(m) they are looking for.

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  15. Sorry SCS, I am struggling to translate this one.

    Jeff, I see the Starbucks in the background. Maybe the police are taking names of those going in and out.

    Susan in Atl, take it from one that travels way too much recently, the problem with the security in the world's airports is that it's never consistent. When I got off the plane in Paris this morning from Singapore, there were actually police checking passports at the end of the bridge wiht a magnifying glass looking at passports and colours of eyes. HOWEVER, they were only looking at certain people's passports (yes, profiling), indicating to me that they have an idea of who(m) they are looking for.

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  16. I agree, those parisian policemen are sexy!
    its illegal to use the phone and drive in Australia so you will get booked here Eric!Be it a Sexy cop or a fat one, they will get you! LOL

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  17. hmm very interesting indeed. Police activity in Paris. Wonder why. Keep us posted.

    Michael, were they looking for you, on a charge of Too Much Sun Whilst Teasing Your Friends? Welcome back we've missed you.

    Actually it's great to see this photo; my man is in the police force and i'm missing him ;( so thanks Eric. The shots of the streets are so interesting, i love to spot eveyday life going on in the background. They'd have prob. been suspicious of you, Eric, fumbling around on the ground just behind them! Headline: Police Pick up Paris Pap!

    Not such a great weekend, j'ai la grippe. Looking around the world in my better moments though is cheering me up a lot.

    Bill long time no see, or is it me?

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  18. Sorry you're feeling bad Lynn. I didn't know your man was in the police. That explains a lot for those weekends of bliss you describe. I won't even get into the handcuff scenario that must make it hard to blow your nose when you're feeling bad! ;-)

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  19. Susan,
    We always get an apartment or a house but this time the trip is only for 3days and 3nights. We checked out this hotel a few years ago.
    Michael, I hope we don't have security problems this trip. Twice I have had my mini fingernail file taken, once a pair of cuticle scissors, and last time Dave's Swiss knife that was wedged in his backpack from a previous trip to Seattle. Glad you are back in Paris...As to police, they give me a sense of security and that is good considering all the crazy people that are in the news. We had a rash of attacks and robberies in parking lots lately. What next?

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  20. Johnny, I doubt you'll have any problems. They were screening people particularly with an Asian descent. When they looked at my American passport they just waved me on.

    Sorry I'll miss you when you're here, but hope you have an excellent time. The weather is mild for the moment (cold by Singapore standards mind you!), but not too bad. It's probably colder in Kentucky!

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  21. Thanks Michael! lol handcuffs... you're terrible. Thing is, the plastic ones they use these days oh they do chafe.

    He's not actually here right now and he's not really missing much to be honest; red nose, comfy little-girl jarmies, sniffing, coughing, hot lemons on the menu, sea of tissues, chick flick on tv and a seductive smell of menthol in the air. Enticing isn't it.

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  22. Anyone know anything about Wikipedia? i thought anyone could add to it so i added my Cheltenham Daily Photo to 'external links' All worked and appeared there, but when i returned, it had been removed. Did it again, same thing happened. ?

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  23. Eric; Reports today suggest that the French have the shortest working week in Europe, yet are the most productive. The latest thing you are purported to be advocating is a 30 minute power nap in the early afternoon at work. What's your experience of this, i'm intrigued?

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  24. I think that those french policemen just try to scare drivers. Everybody knows that when you see a policeman then you slow down... "La peur du gendarme" ! I don't think they're looking for terrorists. I don't know in Paris but in my little town they use to "faire souffler dans le ballon", you know, to check if you're drunk or not... So they stop each car until they find someone who drunk alcohol.

    Bon week-end !

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  25. Bill,
    the "police decal" on their back is only fixed at the top, and can be hidden when not necessary.
    ...which is why it looks like "flying i the wind" on this picture...

    Have a great weekend everyone.

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  26. Eric, this shot could happen in Madrid too! Have a nice weekend!

    Sorry Lynn, don't know anything about it!

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  27. Eric, I like your photo - were you lying on the ground again to take this shot?
    The police always give me a sense of security too but I did notice when I was living in Paris that there seemed to be a generalised "fear" of them. They used to blow a whistle to get attention and everyone stopped when the whistle was blown. Do they still do that Eric?
    I was raised to consider the police as friends - who do you turn to when your house is broken into or your car is stolen? If you don't break the law, then there is no need to be afraid. But then, compared to Europe's history, and even Australia's convict history, South Australia's Adelaide population, being settled by "free" men (& women) has had no reason to ever fear the police. The "booze bus" as we call it, allows police to stop motorists for a breath analysis but they are also now testing for "drug driving" as well as "drunk driving". Speaking into a mobile phone while driving is prohibited in Adelaide and police can fine for that, as well as for not wearing seat belts and of course, exceeding the speed limit. There is a philosophy that these exercises are simply revenue raising for the state government but the "spin" of course is road safety.
    These guys are obviously bicycle police Jeff (no leathers nor helmets).
    Michael - why do you do so much travelling?
    Bon Weekend Eric ...

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  28. Tickets for cell phone drivers! Great idea! They'd make a mint here in Seattle, where half of all the drivers are busy yakking away on their cell phones and paying no attention to their driving!

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  29. same here, john nez, same here!

    Awww lynn! I'm so sorry you feel so yucky. You can't beat comfy jammies and a good chick flick to help, though!

    Welcome back, Michael! Did you get a chance to work on your tan at all?

    Any chance of buying one of these uniforms? Minus the head gear, though. I can think of someone that uniform would look good on!

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  30. And Eric, thanks. Not that I don't love the Police, but I hate getting songs stuck in my head and now all I can sing is Roxanne!!!

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  31. True, Soosha. Going through my Sex and the cities. Series 2 right now. lol.

    I was stopped last week in a car park talking on my phone. I was crawling at around 2 mph looking for a space but still, it's against the law. Anyway, i jumped out and apologised profusely (batted a few eyelashes and looked helpless ok i admit it) and the policeman was very pleasant. Gave me a stiff talking to (which i admit, again, was not unpleasant!).

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  32. I'm not going to make a comment in bad taste on Lynn's last sentence there. No, that's not me. But, holy cow! Maybe I should get one of these uniforms.

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  33. lol Luggi. I'm not going to reply in bad taste on your comment, wouldn't be like me at all. But, phew, make sure you order a truncheon too.

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  34. MICHAEL!!!! HIIIIIIIII! HI ERIC! ;)

    Michael, just checked...it's none other than a baton...billy club...nightstick (LYNN BEHAVE ON THAT ONE!) ;)

    Carry on!
    =)

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  35. Ah yes sorry the Brit lingo steps in again. Years ago it used to be quite a phallic looking thing made of quite hard rubber. Now i'm not so sure, seems to be thinner and made of different stuff though i'm not sure. Can't claim any personal experience of this one i'm afraid! What? I'm behaving... i am! It's educational. Michael wanted to know. In fact, it's always Michael. He makes me do it. lol !!!

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  36. I'm not convinced of the French uniform to be frank. At first glance, with the helmet, the nipped in ankles, looks a bit like they're off rollerblading somewhere! Is the one on the right a woman? No i'm not being insulting, i think she is!

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  37. Come ON LYNN! GF! ENLARGE it.."she" has a bit of a BEARD...and SIDEBURNS! But when did THAT ever mean you were "sans baton" as it were!?! ;)

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  38. I was about to tell Lynn that the person on the right is not a police woman. But Ame did explain it oh so magnificiently. Very funny Ame I guess one could have put lol after magnificiently? Lynn? or anyone true or false?

    Clo.

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  39. sorry eric,
    i'm a bit late
    but congratulations with your second price!
    good job!
    keep up the photographing

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  40. Yes you could, Clo. You've totally got the lol thing now for sure. lol.

    Oops well sorry Ame, yes i agree now, it was really the stance. I apologise to the man concerned! No offence meant. I see his baton now.

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  41. I hope you're feeling better, lynn. No fun, si vous etre malade. Glad you got home safely, Michael. I trust the pleasant weather in Paris is there to greet you. It's still hovering around zero degrees F here. Looking forward to Europe, and the TGV high speed train from Nice to Paris.

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  42. Thanks Jeff! Was this afternoon and now i feel terrible again! Je deteste la grippe!

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  43. Mais, il y a beaucoup de choses en le monde plus mal que la grippe je suppose! (je sais il n'est pas correct ca (langue), mais en ce moment la, ca ne me derange pas!)lol.

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  44. Lynn, I think you're seeing things ... must be la grippe LOL

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  45. Think it must be, Mme Benaut. I swear i saw that one on the left reach for his baton.

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  46. SCS (Bem Hajam) can I offer to translate?

    "And here you are once again, bringing a subtle smile to the corner of my mouth with another one of your moments in the streets of Paris. I enjoy your liaison with the city of lights, or what it won't fail to show"

    Micahel, I didn't know you speak portuguese (or at least people here seem to think so?!) Nice!

    And Lynn, "phallic looking thing made of quite hard rubber"... lol
    wonder what'd you be doing if you didn't have la grippe right now! I guess those Sex and the city episodes are getting to your head!

    All the comments are hilarious today!

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  47. Monica, i dread to think i really do. On the other hand, now let's see, i might try, just... taking it and... lol !

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  48. free online call




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    Good luck with the blog






    .

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