last night I was working on the 51 in the shop. I got thirsty so I was going to make sweet tea. I noticed we had no sugar so I headed to walmart to get some. I am driving down the highway at the speed limit. I see blue lights some on in a distance so I slow down to see if he is going to pass. I see it is for me and I turn off on a little side road and roll down the window. Before I know it 2 other cop cars are there. He asks me if I had been drinking and I had not. He then asks me to step out of the car so I do. He asks if he can search the car so I let him. I didn't think you had a choice, if you refused it was an automatic arrest. Another cop pats me down and I have no weapons, drugs bombs or whatever on me. It was all over a broken taillight. At the end he is kinda cocky and says I will let you off with a warning but don't let me see you out again without it fixed or some tape over it so I taped it up this morning. I believe it is rediculous to search over a broken taillight. He was a young cop, probaly mid 20's or so and apparently he thought he was bad or something. Somehow I think he looked like a fool calling in backup and searching when there is nothing to find. I used to have respect for cops but I have lost it all as of last night. Anyway that is my rant of the day

 

Jarred...sorry to hear about your tough night...but this might not be a good time for this rant. Read the following...


4 police officers killed in Wash. coffee shop - Crime & courts- msnbc.com

 

Standard question especially at night. Did what he is trained to do.

Officer preference. Some keep subjects in vehicle, some have driver step out.

Not so. You can refuse a search. He did ask for your consent.

He could have found a weapon, drugs, burglary tools, stolen property, money, stolen identification, or a dead body. All of which have been found during routine traffic stops.

It's called a "Terry Pat" Supreme courts says a Police Officer may pat down a person to insure no weapons are one his person.

Can't comment on the Officers demeanor, I wasn't there, but I will say that overall he did his job.

He may have located and arrested the person that killed 4 Police Officers.

When a traffic stop is conducted, the Officer has no idea what to expect, and must always assume that the worse could happen. Sometimes he may come across as a bit cocky. That's called confidence. And it may save his life someday.

 

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

 

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.

 

You and vehicle most likely matched the description of a subject they had a ongoing investigation on, it was your misfortune to fit the description........Just let it go and understand the thankless job that LE performs, not every contact is going to be most pleasant or courteous for everyone, its a unfortunate aspect of their job.

 

I"M NOT TAKING SIDES

But its funny how when we share a rant, It some times don't go are way. There is always two or more side to a story. just seems you got a 50 50 chance it will go great and every one will back you up. or it will blow up in your face!

 

I heard him call for backup on his radio, he was a dora cop and called the sumiton cops for backup. I am 19 so I figured they were screwing with me and the dora cop was a punk on a powertrip. I knew if I said something I would probaly be screwed. I am going to file a complaint with his department tomorrow.

 

Have you ever been in a felony traffic stop? It's not fun, and makes yours seem like a walk in the park. I got pulled over in Phoenix because my truck matched a description of a truck used in a jailbreak (gray Toyota with out of state plates), just as I was coming back from a day in the mountains. Four cars, surrounded, dragged out, handcuffed, picked up and sat on the curb until they realized I wasn't an escaped inmate. Then what did I get? Uncuffed, thanks have a nice evening- That's it. Be glad you got off with a warning.

 

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

 

Oh great.....another "I- hate- cops- because- they- were- mean- to-me" rant! Sounds like they were doing their job. You wouldn't believe how many criminals get busted simply for a broken tail light or doing something stupid. I was pulled over once because my buddy and I, in the truck I was driving, matched the description of robbery suspects! Another time, many years later, I was pulled over with a tail light out because the local cops didn't know it was me. It was a different truck than what they were used to seeing me driving. In my little town, I have known the officers for years. They are reasonable and fair. I have come across some cops outside my little world who do have an attitude but they still get my respect.

 

I haven't been in a felony stop. At first I thought I might have been mistaken for someone else but apparently this is how this punk cop conducts his stops. I have been pulled over by older cops and they were respectful and so was I. I guess I should reword it. If a cop reguardless of age race whatever is respectful I will do the same, but I am not going to respect a punk kid who became a cop

 

I'm sure you didn't give him any attitude at all, right?

 

I seem to recall we do not enjoy the all the privacy protections while in a vehicle on a public highway.

OP says he is 19. "Profile" of a DUI includes young, male, & something wrong with the car. Cop had a pretty good chance of nabbing a DUI. But he didn't. File your complaint, but fix that light first.

 

I have decided not to file a complaint. I figure if I do the 1st time I go 51 in a 50 he will give me a speeding ticket.