This story is sure to please those of you who have recieved a parking ticket before. Eric Bryant, who happens to be a lawyer, was dining at a Japanese restaurant when he witnessed an on duty officer park illegally in front of the restaurant.

The officer acknowledged to Bryant that he was parked illegally, but did not move his vehicle until his take out order was ready. His excuse? He, along with all other officers, were told to always remain close to their vehicles in case they had to respond to an emergency. Bryant decided to pursue the case further by issuing the officer a series of citizen-initiated parking violations.

“If he had acknowledged and corrected his error, we could have avoided this whole thing,” says Bryant. “But instead, he kept watching basketball and told me he wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

Now, using ORS 153.058, Bryant—as a private citizen—has initiated violation proceedings against Officer Stensgaard. Bryant alleges Stensgaard was in violation of state statutes on illegal parking, illegal stopping, obeying parking restrictions on state highways, and illegal operation of an emergency vehicle or ambulance—the violations carry fines totaling $540.

Officer Stensgaard has received a Multnomah County summons to appear in traffic court on May 23. Meanwhile Bryant denies he is just stirring up trouble.

Mr. Bryant has balls, but I hope he plans on relocating to a new city as I am sure this officer has many friends just itching to issue a few citations of their own.