Weird Police Activity

FoulRon's Avatar
So, I'm driving home about 9:00 tonight, and heading west down Braker Ln. As I approach Lamar, I notice a bunch of police lights flashing over in the direction of Dreamers. Curious, I decide to make a turn and check out what was going on. At this point, I notice that there's a lot of road construction going on along Lamar. Apparently, they are repaving the road for about a mile in each direction and had the center lanes open with cones setting up the lanes. That could explain it, but then I make my turn.
As I approach Dreamers I see that it is two cop cars parked in such a way as to totally block the first turn into Dreamers' parking lot. One is a standard black and white, the other a small black SUV. There are about 4 cops all just standing around their vehicles talking, checking out their manicures, or just plain loitering. Nothing to indicate that they are doing anything official other than running their lights and driving away customers.
This last bit was working great, as there wasn't a single regular car in the lot.
If anybody hears anything about what was going on, I'd appreciate a heads up.
I remember about 1987 I visited that location to attend a signing party with porn star Tori Wells, who was married to a porn producer friend of mine, Paul Norman. At the event were about six or seven of the then-APD Vice Unit members who all wanted to have their pictures taken with Miss Wells. The APD Vice members didn't seem to mind that they were exposing themselves as such, given that they were to a man working undercover in the city at the time. Four years later the FBI raided their offices at APD HQ on 7th street and the unit was disbanded. Austin has never had a Vice Unit since.
Guest110715-3's Avatar
This one time, at band camp...
FoulRon's Avatar
7Dust? You referring to TAE or me?
I would have taken photos, but didn't want to get pulled over and beaten to a pulp for "interfering in an officer's official duty".
Toyz's Avatar
  • Toyz
  • 09-04-2014, 05:17 PM
Sounds like someone forgot to pay the protection money...
GneissGuy's Avatar
So, I'm driving home about 9:00 tonight, and heading west down Braker Ln. As I approach Lamar, I notice a bunch of police lights flashing over in the direction of Dreamers. Curious, I decide to make a turn and check out what was going on. At this point, I notice that there's a lot of road construction going on along Lamar. Apparently, they are repaving the road for about a mile in each direction and had the center lanes open with cones setting up the lanes. That could explain it, but then I make my turn.
As I approach Dreamers I see that it is two cop cars parked in such a way as to totally block the first turn into Dreamers' parking lot. Originally Posted by FoulRon
That's very common cop process when they're doing road construction. Park a few cop cars with lights. They will often block off one entrance to an area and leave another entrance open, or even block off all entrances since they're doing it late at night. They do have to block off each entrance, at least for a while to get the paving done.

Of course, it's entirely possible that they're doing bullying by selective activity as well.
FoulRon's Avatar
Well, the paving machine was no where in sight, and the nearest lane was open, and unpacked. In fact, I moved into it to turn onto Kramer.
I'm used to seeing them blocking the lanes being paved, but never seen them shut down an entire business. Plus it was the only one they were blocking off along the entire stretch.
cckid2006's Avatar
Nobody there today when I came through about 2.
More then likely its because the construction is on the corner and they sit there because if they dont then people still speed by, or dont listen to the signs, and at a corner theres probably lots of accidents that can occur there so there lights are there to warn people listen slow your ass down, The other side was open so I doubt they were there for any other reason.
Well, the paving machine was no where in sight, and the nearest lane was open, and unpacked. In fact, I moved into it to turn onto Kramer.
I'm used to seeing them blocking the lanes being paved, but never seen them shut down an entire business. Plus it was the only one they were blocking off along the entire stretch. Originally Posted by FoulRon
GneissGuy's Avatar
Were there traffic cones there or a little way down the road? The cop cars are often before they start the traffic cones or even before the cones.
FoulRon's Avatar
About three rows of cones delineating the middle lanes for traffic. The outer lanes were not paved yet, but the inner ones were. The outside lanes were not blocked off and the intersection, which was weird, as I turned into one at first and had to move up the bump in order to make a left at one point. Cones went from at least the bottom of the hill north of Braker to well past Kramer. I'd say that Braker was probably the mid point of a two mile stretch, or longer.
It just struck me as really weird that they decided to set up in front of Dreamers, instead of, say, the Asian strip center next door, or down the block. These were literally the only ones I saw along the entire stretch that I drove, which was actually longer than my initial post lets on. I actually turned North first, because I was in the right-hand lane on Braker, and turned around at Ross' Cafe.