hmmm I'm brownish in skin tone, and my 'other car' is a Red Lexus SC400 on 'dubs' haha I think that about explains it- I dont get pulled over for traffic violations- I dont violate traffic rules!

I know I'm a target, so I drive very carefully

 

thats odd, i thought those stereotypes didnt really occur anymore, thats a whole new argument for this thread lol.. im Italian, i personally cant say it doesnt happen in NY because im white lol, im sure it happens with some though.. but for the most part i think MOST officers over here pull you over for something you did, rather than your race/nationality

 

well usually when they pull me over they ask for license+reg blah blah insurance then they start asking me how much I paid for my car, is my other car mine (from looking at the insurance policy). and a few times back when I got pulled over, after nothing was wrong, he asked me to roll up my windows... then gave me a tint ticket...

it makes you heart race when you see a cop pointing a gun at your head... makes you mad when you havent done anything- its frustrating, like I wish they could feel how it is in my position, just trying to get home and I'm stopped with a gun pointing to my head... and its not like it only happens once in awhile

 

look if hurt your feelings sorry about that. you may be an ethical and educated cop. however that isnt the case for all police across the country. i also will admit that most cops will not stop you for going 10-15mph above the limit. when i have gotten stopped by cops for speeding i was well over the limit. i didnt make a fuss aobut it. i was polite and mature with the officer, like you said he/she was just doing their job. i have no problems with that.

just so we are all clear; the post was not one of those "i hate police they're all ****s" type of post.

in regards to professional courtesy: i got the term from a Massachusettes cop who used it in Florida to get out of a ticket. he was traveling well over the 10-15mph margin that is usually given.
he even admitted that he should have gotten busted.

i didnt mean to compare cops to politicians, but it was the most recent example of a person using their position to try and get them off the hook.

i never said that police officers were uneducated. i never said that you were uneducated, nor did i say that you are an *******. i may have been sarcastic in my post but it was all besed on things that i have seen.

the example you stated about the 2 officers that got dismissed for being in an accident while under the influence was a good one. that is exactly what i expect from law enforcement. the fact that they are officers, sworn to protect and serve the law holds them to a higher accountability to it in my book. how can they serve the law if the will not obey it? the problem is that this is not what happens %100 of the time.
the statemnents i made were all based on things that i have seen.

for those of you whom were offended this is my PUBLIC APOLOGY to all. most cops i have dealt with were cool.

 

That's cool of you to apologize.

I always thought of cops getting off on speeding tickets as their version of an "employee discount". Personally, I see nothing wrong with police officers getting special treatment on minor driving offenses. They deserve it. Their pay certainly doesn't justify what they do day in and day out.

 

People who make comments like the one above do not understand police work. Sure, Every cops wants to stop the big drug dealer, rapist, murderer or drunk. The fact is that people don't drive around with a sign on their car that says " stop me I'm a murderer". I order to catch people for the big crimes you have to stop and talk to people. You do this by pulling over the guy with the tail light out or the loud muffler. Many felony arrest are made by pulling over that guy with the illegal equiptment on his car.

 

WRONG

They actually receive lower rates because of all the driver training courses they take.

 

great post, I couldn't have said it any better.

 

FOr every "that cop was an @sshole" story, there are 100 , "that cops was a great guy ", story. Too bad people don't post them.

 

I'm with asu174. If an officer gets away with a California stop or doing 10 over, god bless him/her. I consider that a small piece of compensation for the public servant who risks their life everyday to protect me. Don't get me wrong, I don't want them to get away with DUI, etc, but I'm willing to let the little things slide.

Eric

 

if there is no such thing as quota time, why do i see more cops at the end of the month with their radar guns out, or lookin at peoples registrations than in hte middle of the month?

 

The only "quota" that cops have is if they write 30 tickets for 6 straight months, then all of the sudden they start writing 5 tickets a month. The sergeant starts to wonder what is going on, etc, etc.

Policies vary from department to department, though, so there are probably a few out there that still have quotas........

 

NYC ... enough said ... mayor bloomberg thinks he can settle the citys deficit by getting money from the people in every way possible

 

Well, like I said... I can't speak for every town, but I'm sure that most mid-size departments, like mine, can't afford to have a "quota". As understaffed and overworked as we are now, adding a ticket quota to the mix would be a BAD idea. I'm sure it still exists in places.

To touch on what carnal_c30 is saying about racism or "racial profiling"... unfortunately, I'm sure that still exists too. Slowly but surely, I think most departments are getting better, but it's still out there. And it's not even neccessarily what color your skin is. Sometimes it's how you're dressed or what part of town you're driving through. Being an officer, I know more than my fair share of shortcuts around town, and some of them are through some pretty shady areas. Now, I like to wear my Yankees hat backwards (in Tennessee ), dark sunglasses, and drive a slightly tricked out car, so I too have been in those situations before. Officers want to know why a guy dressed like that is driving through the projects in a $30,000 car. That's routine police work. What's not routine is the fact that, unfortunately, people can crack jokes about how it's "normal" for some guy to get beat down in L.A. That $hit is what's GOT TO QUIT. I think police work is changing, and I hope it's changing for the better. When you hire more people with diverse backgrounds, be it race, religion, etc..., you end up with a more rounded and more tolerant police force. I hope, and truly think that, in 20 years, we'll all be able to look back on recent history (Rodney King, etc...) as the "dark ages" of police work.

Times are changing, and I believe that people are becoming more tolerant of each other. People are definitely less kind to each other, but he11, at least they're talking now! The intolerant generations are dying off (to put it bluntly), and the younger, more tolerant generations are doing things like {*GASP*} marrying interracially!!! We've got a way to go... but I think we're on the right foot. I hope that none of us here ever have to deal with racism or stereotyping of any kind, but we will. At some point, we will all be confronted with a situation, whether it involves the cops or not, that is a case of mistaken identity or stereotyping. It's how WE decide to deal with those situations that will shape the future. I'm not saying "love your fellow man", because there are some real a$$holes out there. All I'm saying is, if you keep looking backwards, you'll trip over the future. F*ck the racists and the haters. They're a dying breed. Let's keep it real for OURSELVES.

 

i understand when it is routine police work and when it is a cop wasting my time.. there is a big difference.

the fact is, i am young kid, with a car that is flashy, and something has to be illegal in it or on it so they like to pull over and check, and by doing this to 500 people, they may catch 1 drug dealer, but it just sucks that i am automatically in the line-up for what i drive.

and just to add another good cop tid bit, i got pulled over for what i thought was 70 in a 55, and the cop actually just wanted to see my car up close because his wife owned a maxima.. he did however wink at me and say "slow down a little" as he walked away, so i know the good guys are out there.

jason

 

I was pulled over once for speeding and got away with a warning, the cop was pretty cool. I’ve also had a cop search my car without probable cause when I refused permission to him. When we went to court he knew he was wrong (and surprised that I knew the law) so he just lied and said that I gave him permission to search the car. And I was convicted because, as we all know, cops don’t lie. On another incident in my younger and much stupider days, two PA state police let me go after I totaled my Acura. I had been drinking but was not over the .01 limit but they could have easily stuck it to me since I was underage. I’ve also had cops beat the hell out friends of mine for no reason. One was just a bloody nose when the cop slammed my friend’s face off of a car (unprovoked). The other resulted in a broken arm when four cops decided to beat the hell out of my handcuffed friend (again – unjustified and unprovoked). So I can’t say cops are jerks nor can I say cops are great, but I can say that cops are people and some people are jerks and some people are great.

 

I'm from a cop family, but not a cop myself. Here's a couple of my thoughts;

1) If you put illegal equipment on your car (tint/blue nozzles)green turn signals) and you get pulled over, then it's nobody's fault but yours.

2) Timothy McVey was originally pulled over for a minor registration violation, as I recall.

3) Those who say that cops should be catching real criminals instead of speeders... According to the Ohio trooper website: In Ohio there are more deaths attributed to speed/reckless/DUI driving that murders/violent crime. My own interpretation - you could almost say that if we took officers off of "real crime" and flooded the roads with cruisers we would probably save more lives.

4) People always ***** when they get pulled over for something, but then ***** just as much when they see someone else getting away with the crap they get pulled over for. The are more criminals and more speeder then there are cops - we'll get to that guy eventually. It was just your turn to get caught for breaking the law today.

5) Profiling has to happen to a certain extent. If you see a middle-agend man in a brand new merc then you won't think much of it. If you see five 17yo hispanics in a brand new merc then you're gonna think; "How the hell did they get that car?" Cops think the same way - the only difference is they'll probably ask.

6) For the most part, we interact with cops during our darkest times. Either we commited some minor infraction, a major crime, or we've had a major crime committed against us, of we've been in a wreck or whatever. Just because the cop always seems to accompany your worst moments in life, doesn't mean he's responsible. That would be like blaming a doctor for the number of patients that die in the ER.

There are bad cops - but there are infinitely more good cops.

 

Why do you have hardwired radar in your I30?

 

I had a huge reply for everyone, about a bunch of stuff, and I lost it... Bummer.

The radar detector is because, as I stated in the first post in this thread, I do go 5-10mph over, especially on the freeway. State Police here and in Utah are very militaristic, and would certainly write me a ticket. I, like you, will do what it takes to avoid one.


DAREN, I appreciate your post here. It shows that my comment about your level of maturity was WRONG. Thank you.

I am amazed at how great this thread is! Alot of very insightful comments. It is clear that law enforcement in this country still has a long ways to go, but it nice to see that most of you support and respect police officers that do deserve your respect.

I replied to many of you, but lost the reply, and I am not going to do it over again, so this will have to suffice.

Oh, Carnal, there are people in this country that are racist. This is not a racist country. I hope you love the country and hate racial bigots. I do, and I am white. I also grew up in Brazil, Argentina, Phillipenes, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. And all over the US. I can tell you, this is a great country with problems, and I am sure you understand that.

I am a huge proponent of "community policing," when officers are assigned to a specific are or hood for years at a time. Getting officers out on foot or on bikes improves relations between officers and citizens. It creates a relationship of trust.

My time as a bike patrol officer was the best, people are far less intimidated to talk to you when on foot or on a bike. The police cars are intimidating for most.

BTW, the red and blues in my mirror ALWAYS make my heart skip a beat. My father in law, after 25 years as a state trooper and 10 as a homicide investigator, still hates it!

 

Oh, so what you are trying to say is a cop is a good guy if he gives you a break and a sc#mbag if he does his job and writes you a ticket? Why can't a cop be a good guy if he enforces the law(writes you a ticket) and treats you with respect?

 

If you don't think that a majority of the times that a brown-black individual gets pulled over for no "apparent" reason is because of their skin colour, then you've been spending too much time in the Irish neighbourhoods.

I'm white, live in Canada, and don't get pulled over for b.s. like that, but I know of my friends who do. It's just the way things are/always have been. There are enough rednecks in this world (I'm not just talking about Cletus the slack jawed yokel here), that this will always be an issue for people with non-white skin.
And if you think that the whole Sept.11th thing didn't make it worse... well then. LOL

I feel bad for people in this situation. It's crap, and it's unfortunate. I guess I hope that they don't become jaded to all cops because of those few bad apples.

That being said, my contribution to the thread will end thusly: One of my best friends is a Metro Toronto cop; when I lived in T.O. I played hockey with a bunch of local police guys; one of my wife's best friends in town where I live is an OPP officer, as are several of our friends in town. I have NOTHING but good words for the police officers I've met, and nothing but respect for them when they pull me over. They don't want any more of a hassle than I do, and I want to make the experience as "pleasurable" for both of us as I can. If I'm in the wrong, I know it, and while I will "try" and get it reduced/eliminated, I know when I messed up.

IN the meantime, carry on doing the fine job that you are doing Mr. Police Man/Woman. I'm glad you're out there.

Mike

 

i have a question for the police officers on the board... i know its probably a tough question because not all cops are the same.. but if i get pulled over for say speeding, and they see that my car is manual, will that have any affect on whether they would let me go or not? what i mean is will the cop have the mentality that, hey you have a manual, you drive manual because you like to speed.. it might happen less on someone in their mid 40's but im 21

 

This thread is

Where's the drama? Where are the people that say that all cops should be killed? Where are the people that say that all cops are crooked and disrespecte you? This thread is too warm and fuzzy for my tastes.

Come on ... what's the matter people? Too afraid to speak up now that you realize we have police officers on the board? And that they drive the same cars as you? Have the same interests? Are actual people with actual feelings? That they are not the evil oppressing tyrants of the road you make them out to be?

I know you people are out there reading this. Where are the deragatory terms? No saying, "Shut up donut boy?" or "Why you gotta be hatin on me pig?"? What's up with that?

Pffffft ... this thread is like watching grass grow - [Homer] Booooooring! [/Homer]

 

Having a manual shift car has nothing to do with whether you are prone to speed or not. On the other hand having a radar detector might influence a cop to write you.

 

Makes no difference to 99.9%. I might notice it, but most would not.

 

Is it just me, or did this guy just diss himself? "You have to take responsibility for your actions! But me...I just sweet talk 'em and have a mini-shield with my cousins badge # on it..."

General response: yeah, there's good and bad cops just like there's good and bad everything. But from what I know, the requirement to become a patrol officer isn't that stringent, and the power they have is quite influential in the everyday lives of citizens. That's why it's awkward to me.

I think it's more the laws and guidelines that I don't agree with. Too many things are so vague that they're left up to the discretion of the police, and some guidelines and rules aren't written very clearly/made clear to the public nor the officers following/enforcing them.

 

Well, I think we've come to understand that not ALL cops are pr!cks. But MODERATORS, on the other hand... I'd like to get my hands on one of those c0cksukkers!!! Lyin' a$$ scumbags. All they say is, "Do it MY way, or else I'll lock your thread"! If I had a dime for every P.O.S. moderator that I've "*** across", I'd be a rich ****** ******!!!

 

I think lots of people have had situations to the police that make them think badly about them. I mean I have had a few myself. Back in the day when we were really in to punk we got more hassle then now.

For instance, One night I am driving at about 11:30 with a couple friends. All of a sudden the lights come on behind us, now I know I was not speeding or anything because this road is famous for cops being on it. So I always take it slow on it or even go a few under. Now I pull over and wait, with the engine off like my uncle the statey always told me to do before. Now the kids in my car are all decked out in patches, t-shirts with bands and what not, spikes , leather , boots etc. Common everyday stuff we always wore. Next thing I know the cop gets part way to the car, stops turns back fast and gets in his cruiser. Now about 30 seconds later the one cop behind us has turned into him, one in front of us, two along the length of my car and another at the corner of the street about 20 feet in front of us. We are asked to get out and as we do they are all talking to each other about the "odd dress, haircuts and odd behavior" I have no idea what odd behavior there was, he asked us to get out and we did stood along the car and never moved or said a word.

So then they start asking why do you wear this or that etc and start to look around at the car. They asked for the licenses of my friends, one who did not have one because he was about three weeks too young. We then heard a lecture about how there was a law it was illegal to travel without ID. I mean we were 16 atthe time... a lot of people might not have ID if they are too young to drive.

The cops then take a walk around of the car checking plates, vins, stickers and what not. He comes back to us about three minutes later saying that he was going to give us a ticket for Speeding (which I wasnt), obstructed rear view (there was a baseball hat in the back window which I would say is hardly very obstructive, seatbelts not on (they were but they asked us to get out of the car from the megaphone so how could he tell anyhow? , and then a few other things i forget right now. They went back into a huddle and told us they were not giving us a ticket but to not come through this part of town anymore. I told them i was dropping my friend off who lived on the next street up and they said let him walk it from here and asked me to leave the area.

I mean nights like this totally make you hate them and other things that have happned like this, but at the sme time you understand it can be justified on occasion. This one I dont think it was. I know it is a tough job but really why did the cop see us and have everyone else in town come for us? I mean all we were doing was trying to get home.

SuDZ

SuDZ

 

That's why I always prefer to deal with State Police instead of "town clowns".

 

When I get pulled over, I blame myself. I have eyes too and if I can't spot the blue and white before they spot me. I'M NOT DOING MY JOB TO AVIOD A TICKET

 

This is my take:

I'm from Brooklyn, NY and I've been profiled and harrassed. No I wasn't a bad kid nor did I feel I looked like one. I know its hard for good people that wear the police uniform to separate themselves from the idiot trouble makers that also wear the uniform. Generalizations are always bad and people should think more before they speak and make the assumption that all of a group of people or things are bad.
I dislike cops that have an authoritative attitude as if everyone else on Earth is beneath them. I also don't like when people try to kiss the departments butt to get out of a ticket. I know tons of people who say they know a cop as if they should get special treatment or something. Hell, if I see a cop whethre its in the train station or in the street, I don't pay them any mind.

I did get pulled over last month for doing 57 in a 30 zone. Once I spotted the cop I pulled over for him. I knew I was guilty so why drive by him as if I didn't see him. He didn't get ignorant with 1000 question about anything that had nothing to do with why I was speeding. He gave me my ticket and I was on my way. I was guilty but I did what everyone should do and that's fight the ticket. I fought, I won and didn't have to pay $245 for the ticket.

To all of the officers on the forum:

You can't be too upset with people if they say they don't like cops, the bads ones have already left the impression. You have to admit, some cops just take it too far.

 

if you would have quoted everything that i said, i said that you have to have respect for them, and you cant just be a **** to the officer and expect to get out of it just because you have a pba card. i guess thats asking too much from you though

 

 

It seems that when people get PBA cards, they do stupid stuff on purpose and think that the officer is not supposed to say anything. One of my best friends used to be a NYC Police Officer and he used to tell me how he used to get people parking in bus stops. Now how dumb can you be to do something like that and think you're getting away with it?

 

By the way those mini shields have less weight than a PBA card

 

Is a PBA card basicly just a NY thing? I have not really heard the term around here before but mostly from the NY .orgers.

SuDZ

 

I think so. I had one from NY but the cops up here don't give a rat's *** if you have it in your window. I still was given parking tickets.

 

maybe where you live... have you ever heard of a cop saying, whos pba badge is that?

he pulls me over for speeding, which i honestly wasnt.. so when i said i wasnt, he was a little angry.. then when he saw my shield in my wallet, without me even mentioning it, he asks whos it was.. i tell him, "my cousin xxx, hes with the 111th precint in bayside queens" he looks at my license, reg, insurance card, hands it back to me and says "you can thank him for this"

i doubt that ever happens with a pba badge, those things get around more than a cheap prostitute.. everyone has them.. not many people out there have sheilds, and it generally means someone close to you is an officer, since they dont hand them out like hotcakes

 

no, i am saying a cop is a scumbag if he pulls me over when i am doing 52 in a 55 and he just want to "check things out." I have more important things to do then sit here and let you run my record and find out it comes up perfectly clean.

I knew I was wrong for speeding, i pulled over, was polite, had lic and reg ready for him and he didn't even ask for it, i am simply pointing out that not all experiences are bad.. and yeah i should have gotten a ticket but i was lucky.

however i did get a written warning for doing 47 in a 45 and i was laughing in the police officer's face, probably not the best thing to do, but it was pretty funny at the time..

most of the time i try and show the most respect i can when getting pulled over, but if the cop walks up with an attitude and starts shooting questions like how i afford this car, why i have all this "****" on it i am most likely going to mouth off, especially when i know that i have done nothing wrong, i'm not a person to sit here and take the verbal abuse because he thinks i am more important than the guy who was actually speeding 2 cars in front of me (a for instance..).

a police officer has a job like anyone else, i just think there is a lot more profiling going on then there should be, not even with race, but with young kids with nice cars..

 

Do you ask to have your exchange recorded? They might be rolling video as well but for your own protection I "THINK" you can request that the audio be on on their little shoulder mounted communicator so that both sides of the exchange are obtained. Worth looking into with an anonymous call to the CHP or your local precinct. At least you'd have something to fallback if the harrassment doesn't stop.

Cheers,

JK