lost all respect for cops
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
From: Washington County, Penna
Don't hate good cops for doing thier jobs, hate bad cops that make a mockery of the system.
The last time I was stopped, i was in Prince George County, Va travelling alone the Rt. 460 corridor. I drive a red Expedition and was cruising with 7 other vehicles, he picked my out of the middle of pack.
He approached me and stated that I was definately going to recieve a citation and that I should simply sit there and keep my mouth shut.
Yes, I was speeding.
Yes, I'm a white and he was not.
Yes, it was a holiday weekend
Yes, he was a very rude ******e
I complied with his very rude demands, recieved my citation and paid my fine and I still want to know why I was pulled instead of another car in the pack.
The man did his job and I don't hold a grudge against other members in the LE community for his demeanor.
So, get over it and thank them for being there.
Tim
The last time I was stopped, i was in Prince George County, Va travelling alone the Rt. 460 corridor. I drive a red Expedition and was cruising with 7 other vehicles, he picked my out of the middle of pack.
He approached me and stated that I was definately going to recieve a citation and that I should simply sit there and keep my mouth shut.
Yes, I was speeding.
Yes, I'm a white and he was not.
Yes, it was a holiday weekend
Yes, he was a very rude ******e
I complied with his very rude demands, recieved my citation and paid my fine and I still want to know why I was pulled instead of another car in the pack.
The man did his job and I don't hold a grudge against other members in the LE community for his demeanor.
So, get over it and thank them for being there.
Tim
as i asked a officer before when he picked my truck out of a group of cars ( which included a honda "tuner" and a mustang ) he simply replied in a question "have you ever been fishing?", i responded yes, he just simply replied "cant catch em all". i wasnt mad, actually got a little laugh out of it.
as far as officers go, from my personal experience there is some that are confident with themselves, then there are others that just like to be a**holes towards you like they are better, take the bad with the good, its life
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,562
Likes: 2
From: Southern MD
Unless the laws there are vastly different than in VA, you wouldn't be arrested for a non-functioning tail light just because you refused a search. That's why you were asked for "CONSENT". If you don't consent, there's no search without a warrant or probable cause provided by a K-9 hitting on the vehicle.
Do you know for a fact that he called two other units for backup or are you just assuming?
On traffic stops, we routinely have at least one backup unit, if not more. As was said above, we never know what we're dealing with when we stop a car. You may feel like you're the most innocent person in the world, hiding nothing, and committing no offense. We don't know you and aren't going to go on the assumption that you pose no threat to our safety.
Asking you to step out of the vehicle is personal preference and is up to each officer. The officer has no idea what you may or may not be hiding in the vehicle. Complacency kills and no officer can afford that. For all they know, you may be wanted for murder, bank robbery, rape, etc. The "good old boy" mentality just doesn't cut it anymore. This isn't Mayberry anymore and Barney and Andy hung up their gunbelts a long time ago.
Just because you had a broken tail light doesn't mean that was the reason for the search. Do you know for sure that they hadn't been given a tip or lookout for a vehicle similar to yours that was being sought for drugs or another recent criminal offense?
I won't comment on his demeanor because I wasn't there either. I will tell you though that you will get much farther filing a complaint with his department if you feel you were treated unfairly or that your rights were violated than you will posting your complaints here. From what you've posted though, I'd say they did everything by the book with the possible exception of the perceived attitiude you speak of.
Do you know for a fact that he called two other units for backup or are you just assuming?
On traffic stops, we routinely have at least one backup unit, if not more. As was said above, we never know what we're dealing with when we stop a car. You may feel like you're the most innocent person in the world, hiding nothing, and committing no offense. We don't know you and aren't going to go on the assumption that you pose no threat to our safety. Asking you to step out of the vehicle is personal preference and is up to each officer. The officer has no idea what you may or may not be hiding in the vehicle. Complacency kills and no officer can afford that. For all they know, you may be wanted for murder, bank robbery, rape, etc. The "good old boy" mentality just doesn't cut it anymore. This isn't Mayberry anymore and Barney and Andy hung up their gunbelts a long time ago.
Just because you had a broken tail light doesn't mean that was the reason for the search. Do you know for sure that they hadn't been given a tip or lookout for a vehicle similar to yours that was being sought for drugs or another recent criminal offense?
I won't comment on his demeanor because I wasn't there either. I will tell you though that you will get much farther filing a complaint with his department if you feel you were treated unfairly or that your rights were violated than you will posting your complaints here. From what you've posted though, I'd say they did everything by the book with the possible exception of the perceived attitiude you speak of.
GREAT post, John!
To the OP. . . .
I remember a time, when I was young, dumb, and full of. . . . (ahem) stuff.
Now, with that said, I've been pulled over many, many times in my years of driving.
Some of the experiences were 'not-so-good', while others were 'very enlightening'.
Many years ago, a co-worker once told me these words:
"Just remember. The sun doesn't shine up one dog's (ahem) butt, every day. Today is the one day that you had a gray cloud. Don't let it run your life."
Just a thought: You might want to cut the police officer some slack. Maybe he wasn't having such a good day, either. Maybe he got some bad news, and needed to 'vent', just the way you did. (Only he didn't 'vent' on the internet.)
In closing, here is a little reflection on the past - - - -
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 8
From: Southern Oregon Coast
The oddest experience I had while being pulled over happened about 10-years ago. My daughter and I were heading back home in the van and I stopped at a Fred Meyer to get something to drink out of the vending machines outside. After we left there, we got pulled over - apparently, someone who saw us at the Fred Meyer had thought my daughter was being held against her will and was chained to the captain's chair in the van... Well, after talking to the both us and seeing that the only thing holding her in was her seat belt (and not seeing any chains lying around), they let us go with an apology... I've had far worse experiences than this, but it was fairly odd lol...
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
Maybe your attitude ticked him off. Maybe he doesn't write a ticket, but you put a burr under his saddle so that he writes the next guy a ticket. Maybe you're the next guy...
Personally, my de facto approach is to give police officers respect. They put their lives on the line, work crappy hours, deal with the scum of the earth every day, get paid too little much of the time, and get little thanks for it. So to say, "I'll respect them if they respect me first" is only going to invite yourself some tickets. Their job is to help keep the public safe from dangerous drivers, and this does include those driving around with faulty equipment. He may see faulty equipment as disrespecting the general public (or even his own family) by putting them at risk. Ever think about it that way?
I have received quite a few warnings over the years. More than I have tickets. I'm absolutely sure that my respectful attitude to the officer has gotten me out of several sure-fire tickets--where I was speeding, and not by just a little. When you're a young driver, it shows. They can see you're young, and they're going to teach you a lesson from time to time. As you mature, you'll start to realize that you need to take care of your vehicle and drive as if your own family members are in the vehicles around you. You'll take fewer chances, you'll drive in such a way that you don't attract the attention of LEOs. But that's only if you mature...
Jason
Personally, my de facto approach is to give police officers respect. They put their lives on the line, work crappy hours, deal with the scum of the earth every day, get paid too little much of the time, and get little thanks for it. So to say, "I'll respect them if they respect me first" is only going to invite yourself some tickets. Their job is to help keep the public safe from dangerous drivers, and this does include those driving around with faulty equipment. He may see faulty equipment as disrespecting the general public (or even his own family) by putting them at risk. Ever think about it that way?
I have received quite a few warnings over the years. More than I have tickets. I'm absolutely sure that my respectful attitude to the officer has gotten me out of several sure-fire tickets--where I was speeding, and not by just a little. When you're a young driver, it shows. They can see you're young, and they're going to teach you a lesson from time to time. As you mature, you'll start to realize that you need to take care of your vehicle and drive as if your own family members are in the vehicles around you. You'll take fewer chances, you'll drive in such a way that you don't attract the attention of LEOs. But that's only if you mature...
Jason
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,499
Likes: 10
From: Sterling Heights,Mi
Between the ages of 16 and 23 I think I was pulled out of every car I was ever in and searched.. Clothing that I was wearing caused that I believe..
I was pulled over more times then I wish to comment on.. but it was always after midnight..would also depend on what car I was in. Would that be the time of drunks and thieves..
And they were all cocky.. until I got older..establishing control? Who knows, but yeah.. I would have been on here ranting about it then.. Now, I get it.
I was pulled over more times then I wish to comment on.. but it was always after midnight..would also depend on what car I was in. Would that be the time of drunks and thieves..
And they were all cocky.. until I got older..establishing control? Who knows, but yeah.. I would have been on here ranting about it then.. Now, I get it.
Elder User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 643
Likes: 0
lets face it, cops aint out there to walk on their tip toes and hope they dont hurt anybodys feeling. In todays world it is wise to show strength when on patrol. the world is crawling with stone cold killers and I just wish the cops had more resourses and manpower to get the job done.
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 2
From: Prairieville, La
If you do your best with an offensive prep of your vehicle, You should not need a defense for getting stopped.
I do my best to not give a cop a reason to stop me. It does not always work and usually that one is a bad egg. I make sure I have no burnt out lights and all indicators work. I check for cracked lenses also . If something is wrong I fix it. I drive by my tom tom for speed and make sure that my speedometer matches the GPS. I wear my seatbelt, even though I hate it. I also make sure I can pass inspection and my windows are legal tint.
It really sets me off when I see a LEO go past breaking speed laws, have busted lights, no signals when turning, or incomplete stops at stop signs. I just think that I am doing my best to stay off of his radar. That is the cop that will wreck your world with a ticket in these times. If I have done something to put me on radar then I probably deserve the ticket but may be given a warning instead.
I think of it as swimming with sharks. The state police are the great white and I am just the diver. I have not been bit in over 10 years. It is a weird feeling when they come from nowhere and scope you out. It is an awe to see them pass right next to you. It is a relief to watch them move on.
I had a run in a few months ago with a bull shark(Sheriffs Officer). They followed me for awhile, and then went to turn left, I turned right. They cut across 4 lanes of traffic and stopped me. They checked for proof of insurance and my inspection sticker. My sticker was current. They told me to get a new sticker and that they stopped me because I had high tech electronics installed in my old truck. They left and I went the next day to get another inspection sticker so there could be no confusion in the future.
I do my best to not give a cop a reason to stop me. It does not always work and usually that one is a bad egg. I make sure I have no burnt out lights and all indicators work. I check for cracked lenses also . If something is wrong I fix it. I drive by my tom tom for speed and make sure that my speedometer matches the GPS. I wear my seatbelt, even though I hate it. I also make sure I can pass inspection and my windows are legal tint.
It really sets me off when I see a LEO go past breaking speed laws, have busted lights, no signals when turning, or incomplete stops at stop signs. I just think that I am doing my best to stay off of his radar. That is the cop that will wreck your world with a ticket in these times. If I have done something to put me on radar then I probably deserve the ticket but may be given a warning instead.
I think of it as swimming with sharks. The state police are the great white and I am just the diver. I have not been bit in over 10 years. It is a weird feeling when they come from nowhere and scope you out. It is an awe to see them pass right next to you. It is a relief to watch them move on.
I had a run in a few months ago with a bull shark(Sheriffs Officer). They followed me for awhile, and then went to turn left, I turned right. They cut across 4 lanes of traffic and stopped me. They checked for proof of insurance and my inspection sticker. My sticker was current. They told me to get a new sticker and that they stopped me because I had high tech electronics installed in my old truck. They left and I went the next day to get another inspection sticker so there could be no confusion in the future.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Dora Alabama
before this I mainly caught of cops as so so. Most I will have respect for but their is one I will not. Aroun here unless its caught in the act the cops will file a report and thats it. If someone breaks in my house they had better be ready for the 12 gauge on the inside. I am not saying all cops are bad but if I have to rely on the local cops for protection I am screwed
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 16
From: Arizona/Texas
Try this idea. Go down to your local agency and ask if they have a ride-a-long program. Ride with a couple of different Officers and see what it is really like.
Most of my CO's have either stated they loved it, and applied for a job, or walked away, saying it's to dangerous. More than one has asked why I let people talk to me the way some of them do. I just shrug and say it's part of the job. You have to deal with the one's that appreciate, and the ones that hate. A good Officer will treat both the same.
Most of my CO's have either stated they loved it, and applied for a job, or walked away, saying it's to dangerous. More than one has asked why I let people talk to me the way some of them do. I just shrug and say it's part of the job. You have to deal with the one's that appreciate, and the ones that hate. A good Officer will treat both the same.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
From: Dora Alabama
I live in a hicktown where not much goes on. This is not meant at you personally. Most of the cops around here are jokes they are punks or old men that sleep on the job. I guess the saying one bad apple will ruin the whole barrell applies to this
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,054
Likes: 1,524
From: Maine, Virginia
Your not going to win this one. Your going to get flamed pretty hard.
I would love to see you do a job that puts you under public scrutiny for simply letting a fart. These guys and gals put it all on the line everyday of thier lives on and off duty.
It chaps my *** when someone comes on here and starts talking crap about police officers and other law enforcement officials like they are a lower class human being.
I agree, there are bad cops but as I stated before, there are bad doctors, lawyers, car salamen, mechanics, walmart workers...................
Give these folks a break. It sounds like the officer gave you break when he rightfully could have written you up for faulty equipment.
Rant over.
Tim