Uh... not really.
www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17955520%255E1702,00.html Mum handcuffed 'for double-parking'
By Roberta Mancuso and Dave Donaghy
27jan06
QUEENSLAND'S police chief has defended an officer who allegedly handcuffed a mother in front of dozens of hysterical children for double-parking outside a Brisbane school.
Yvette Green, 38, of Riverview, was charged with public nuisance, disobeying a police direction and obstructing police as she tried to drop two of her five children at Collingwood Park State School in Brisbane's west on Wednesday.
Ms Green said a policeman thrust his hand through her open window, handcuffed her and took her into custody as dozens of children – including her three-year-old son – watched hysterical and crying.
She was taken to the Ipswich watch house while another police crew took her son Greg to a daycare centre.
Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson today disputed her version of events, saying the mother-of-five abused the arresting officer.
He said the officer requested identification and licence details from Ms Green after noting she was double-parked.
"It is alleged she refused and immediately became aggressive and abusive towards the officer," Mr Atkinson said.
"Current information available indicates she was asked on a number of occasions to provide identification but she allegedly
continued to yell abusive and offensive language at the police officer."The commissioner said it was Ms Green who had upset the children.
"A child in the rear of the car and other children nearby were becoming upset at the woman's behaviour, and despite the officer's repeated attempts to resolve the matter he had no option but to arrest her for a public nuisance offence," he said.
Queensland Police Union president Gary Wilkinson said the experienced officers, believed to be a constable and a senior constable, were left with no option but to arrest Ms Green.
"She used language that would make the American sailors in town blush," he said."She gave no concern whatsoever to the children. All she had to do was move the vehicle and do what everyone else had done."
Mr Wilkinson said the officers had not been disciplined because they had "done nothing wrong".
Ipswich City councillor Paul Tully said he had been swamped with complaints over the incident and had referred it to Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC).
A CMC spokeswoman said the commission had received the complaint and was assessing what action to take.
Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Association president Wanda Lambert said parents often became complacent about parking outside schools.
"In these situations all schools should be proactive ... and look at whether existing (parking) arrangements are adequate or whether they need an awareness campaign," she said.
Ms Green will appear in Ipswich Magistrates' Court on February 15.