Diesel from Port Arthur asks: My friend always leaves his weapon in his vehicle overnight, and I was wondering if this practice of leaving a weapon in a vehicle overnight is legal in Texas?

Answer: Well, Diesel, leaving a weapon in your vehicle is not a crime if it’s not in plain sight. Now with that said, I will remind everyone that absolutely, positively, NEVER under any circumstance should anyone leave their weapon in their vehicles overnight! Diesel, this is a practice that has been going on in Port Arthur and probably all communities in Texas and this practice needs to cease immediately. I can’t begin to tell you how many calls we receive about a vehicle that was burglarized overnight and a weapon was stolen. Believe it or not, during the automobile burglary investigation officers discover too many of the vehicles are found unlocked where weapons were stored inside the vehicle. This is a practice that puts stolen guns in the hands of violent criminals, and we at the Port Arthur Police Department are asking citizens to take that extra step or minute to secure your vehicle and weapons after you park your vehicles overnight. Remember the weapon is for your personal protection and it can’t help you if the weapon is in the car overnight.

Clarence from Port Arthur asks: Officer Antoine, I’m disabled and have metal disabled plates attached to the front and rear of my vehicle. The other day I parked in the normal disabled parking spot provided at a shopping center. As I was exiting my vehicle, I was approached by a woman who told me I needed to display my blue placard along with the plates or someone will have my vehicle towed. Officer Antoine, I was issued a blue placard with the metal plates; should I display both to be legal to park in a disabled parking spot?

Answer: You received wrong information about needing to display metal plate and placard to legally park in a disabled parking spot. Clarence, the metal plates are provided so you don’t have to be concerned about the blue placard when operating said vehicle. Now you are correct that a blue placard was issued to you as well, and that’s if you are in another vehicle and the driver is desiring to park in the disabled parking spot for you! Remember that placard and plates are for your parking privileges.

Hebert from Bridge City asks: A question we came up with involves the stopping distance behind a car at a red light or stop sign! Is there a distance that’s too close behind a vehicle at a red light or stop sign. I must admit it angers me for someone to be all on my bumper at a red light.

Answer: This is an act I’m sure makes many motorists uneasy. No one gets joy out of looking into their rear view mirror and only seeing the hood ornament on the vehicle behind them. Hebert, there’s nothing that addresses the distance a vehicle must stop behind a stopped vehicle on the roadway. So with that said, a stopped vehicle is allowed to be as close to another stopped vehicle on the roadway as long as the two vehicles don’t have contact. So Hebert now that you know, ain’t no sense getting upset about something you can’t do anything about! As long as the vehicles haven’t made contact with each other, motorists on the roads stopped are allowed to be as close as they desire.

Join Officer Antoine for Ask A Cop Live on KSAP 96.9 FM “The Breeze” every Tuesday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. You can also tune in via at ksapthebreeze.org. Feel free to call in and ask your question live at 409-982-0247.

Remember to email your questions to Rickey.Antoine@portarthurtx.gov, call 409-983-8673 and leave a message or voice mail question or mail them to: Ofc. Rickey Antoine, 645 4th St., Port Arthur, Texas, 77640.