#1
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OT: Do police officers actually expect you to grovel at their feet?
Twice in the last few years I've been stopped while driving home from work pretty late a night and accused of being drunk, apparently because I was "weaving" on the highway. In neither case had I had a drink in ages, I was not on any medication or drugs, nor was I speeding. However, in both cases the officer accused me of "having an attitude" and threatened to give me a ticket ("Improper lane usage"). I will admit that maybe I was changing the station on the radio, and maybe the car's path may not have been perfectly straight, but I was certainly not all over the road.
I thought the most recent case (Tuesday night) was particularly egregious, because I really wasn't playing games with him, but apparently my "body language" (his words) while sitting in the car was insufficiently servile (my words). Normally I try to answer their questions in a precise manner. Tonight's questions focused on exactly when I had left work (I wasn't sure, I just left when I had finished the stuff I wanted to complete), whether or not I had been drinking (no) and whether or not I had insurance on the vehicle (the last time I renewed I forgot to swap out the cards State Farm sends you). Also, the mint candy I had shortly before leaving was a big no-no, because he could "smell something on my breath." I didn't even bother trying to explain that, since showing him my work badge, which was still on a lanyard around my neck, "didn't tell him anything." (I thought it was some teeny amount of evidence that I hadn't just left a bar, since I would never walk into a bar with it on, and upon leaving I would not go back to the my car and proceed to put the badge back on, since I was not going to work.) In both cases I've had to sit through a loud rant about how they were just doing their job, how difficult it was, how people like me don't help, and if I don't watch it I'll get a ticket. Quote:
Why are these guys so insecure? This can't be just me, but apparently unless you lie down on the ground and lick their boots you're a threat to their manhood. In these cases they've never been pissed enough to go through with their threats of giving me a ticket, but just the same, it doesn't make for a pleasant experience. [end rant] |
#2
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Even reading your post seems to me you are being a smart ass. The officer is doing his job, and think about standing in his shoes for a day. Most of us here complain about the danger distracted/impaired drivers are on the road. You even admit in your post that maybe you were changing the radio and weaved. Do you prefer to have the police err to the side of caution? or give a suspected drunk the benefit of the doubt? You need to ask yourself why you managed to piss off two officers on traffic stops. Chances are the cause is with your attitude.
Sorry for the flame, but your post is bull····., |
#3
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If you don't like being pulled over, then don't give the police officer probable cause to pull you over.
If you dont' like a delay, when the police officer asks you when you left work, answer the question. It you dont't want a rant, then don't be a jerk. If you want respect, give it. If you want sympathy, don't complaint to bike geeks who are generally very much in favor of police officers taking a hard stance against arrongant drivers who can't keep their cars in a straight line. Last edited by Fishbike; 10-30-2013 at 11:12 AM. |
#4
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I see both sides of this. My dad was stopped for 72 in a 65 on I90. When the trooper asked him if he knew why he was stopped my father replied that he should spend the taxpayers $ on something more serious. He got a ticket that was thrown out of court cause the trooper didn't show up and did it just to break his balls.
Another time a local cop stopped him for speeding as he was late for his fathers funeral (don't ask). The cop let him go saying he had a lot on his mind..........
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chasing waddy |
#5
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I'm with you Louis
Many of the "new" breed of cops (well, maybe it's not so new) are on a power trip and want to make you as uncomfortable as possible. While I have dealt with a few who were less so, this seems to be the norm now, at least around these parts. Many of them don't even know the motor vehicle code they are trying to cite me for. (I carry a copy, printed right off the CT DMV web site, to "help them out") I used to give them all the attitude they gave me but lately I don't waste my time any more. Simple "Yes, No" answerers with no excuses or explanations seems to irritate them just as much. Be sure and thank them for all their important work, collecting roadside taxes for "public safety". Remember, they know best and it's for your own good. . |
#6
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Quote:
You've been fully assimilated |
#7
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+1 for Fishbike.
Louis, every group, class, organization has those individuals that fall on the bottom end of the bell curve. To imply that all PO's are like the one you encountered is indicating what part of the curve you might fall onto. Cheers! |
#8
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Nope, just know that civilization starts with respect for the rule of law.
And, I believe that if a weaving driver admittedly mouths off at a cop, he has little cause to complain about the consequences I used to be a be a prosecutor. I also have a had ocassion to deal with wayward cops. What have you done to enforce people's constitutional rights? But, again, civilization starts with respect for the law. And there is a difference between enforcing one's constitutional rights and being an arrogant jerk. And that "Golden Rule" thing generally applies too. |
#9
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To the OP,
I have family who are cops in St. Louis. They are dicks there! Yeah, even the family. They are some of the worst cops I've encountered. And I travel the USA for work. So I deal with a bunch did different types of people and areas. St. Louis and my local guys. The worst. To comment on your weaving/ticket for nothing issues, I've had it happen more than once. One time on New Year's Eve I was leaving my store which was in a bar area and they had drunk point set up. I hadn't been drinking but they stopped me anyways cause I was coming from that area. Since I wasn't drunk, they gave me a ticket for 26 in a 25!!! I kid you not. They did it cause they couldn't get me for drunk driving. And they never showed me the radar or anything. Which in Ohio, if you ask they have to show you it. And I asked. There are tons of cops out there who need to have that power. Little man syndrome. Were abused as kids who now feel they can do it back as security for their own issues. That's why the abuse/divorce rate is highest with cops and their families. You may have been a smart ass, but honestly, it's the cops. Especially in St. Louis. A couple of the family members(2) of them are undercover detectives and crooked as fock!!! You should hear the stuff they say. Oh my. I had a Cleveland cop stop me once and I unbuckled my seatbelt to get my wallet out of my jacket. The cop came up and said I turned left and wasn't allowed to. I said, it's after 4. My clocked showed 4:03 now. The turn was no left until 4pm. He said his didn't. And I would get a ticket for no seatbelt. I told him I had one on and my wallet was in my jacket. He started screaming at me calling me a liar and if I had it on, I shouldn't have undone it cause now I am getting a ticket for no belt. So then he tells me I have a choice which ticket I want?! I was like neither as I was in the right. He went back to his car, called for back up. Four cop cars came to his aid, for the 26 yr old guy who didn't do jack. The cops, 10(Cleveland does 2 per car) of them surrounded my car with hands on guns to intimidate me due to me refusal to cooperate. I told him I was and had my belt on and turned because it was after 4. I was only a mile from home by the way. He gave me a ticket for no belt, illegal turn. He was absolutely in the wrong. I hadn't done anything wrong. And they didn't need 10 cops for what was a nothing. But they did it anyways. The police station was a mile and a half away. Really close to my house. So they figured they could. It's everywhere. And they do it cause they aren't forced to change. We had two people murdered in a police chase where 135 rounds were fired into the car. No gun, drugs, anything wrong found in the car. They ran cause they were harassed by the cops earlier that night and their car backfired!! And yes, they were black. A guy and girl lost their lives cause over 40 cops chased after these two and decided when the car was stopped to see how many bullets they could put into the car. It's insane. Last edited by sales guy; 10-30-2013 at 05:26 AM. |
#10
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Why is it the cop's business where he's coming from or what time he left? That seems an unreasonable intrusion. It's reasonable to ask if he'd been drinking/how much/has insurance. If he's got good reason, give the ticket or a warning about staying in the lane. The rest sounds like intimidation.
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#11
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it's the integra Louis.
you want respect on the side of the road? you need to stop driving the same car primarily driven by teenagers with the ink still wet on their driver's licenses
__________________
http://less-than-epic.blogspot.com/ |
#12
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Quote:
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#13
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Make a complaint to their dept. They work for the citizens, not the other way around.
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#14
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I am and always be a huge fan of law enforcement. Mad respect to each and everyone of them.
I think in all jobs you have good and bad, cops get a bad rep as they are portrayed often times and dim, fat, and violent. We also had an officer just get shot pulling someone over. I think an attitude is deserved...to a point. I think it is part of their defense. Are their bad cops, yes. Same with bad teachers, politicians, moms/dads, cycslists etc. It never feels good or is cool when you catch someone else's attitude, but I understand it. I have argued with cops, rarely if ever do I make a point, but imagine that they deal with this crap day in and day out. I would bet it wears on you. Maybe the guy was having a rotten day and you got the brunt of it. Doesn't make it right, but life happens. |
#15
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+1. It's amazing the power of intimidation one can achieve with a spotlight, a baton and a weapon.
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