dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you for that bit of common sense. In 10years of being a street cop I have never once, nor do I recall my partners asking, Do you know how fast you were going; Do you know why I pulled you over. Almost always I would greet the person politely and then ask for their license and vehicle registration. Normally the officer, if he is smart, will simply let the person talk away. It is amazing what people tell police IF the officer just lets them talk. Then I explain why I stopped them and either give them a warning, a citation or perhaps just tell them to slow down. Many officers do not like issuing citations so prefer a verbal warning after a computer check of the driver.

Officers DO have discretionary powers to either issue a citation or give a warning. Not everyone gets a citation. But if you are the person who, when I make contact, asks, Why did you stop me, asshole, I guarantee that person will receive a citation. I might even, for the safety of the motorist, do a safety check of the vehicle.

Dennis

gloryg Loc: New York

I have to drive down to train station weekdays. The station is at the end of main street. The police station is off one of the side streets right off of the main street. I have to turn onto the main street right where the street begins. It is bumper to bumper traffic all the way down to the train station.

A few months ago I was on may way down main street when I noticed a police car sticking half way out onto the main street from the side street where the police station is. I first thought the cop may have been on a call. But no lights were flashing on the car. A few moments later it became obvious to me this cop was up to something. There were two cars in front of me and I was in bumper to bumper traffic. The police car finally pulled out onto the main street in front of the cars that were a head of me. I then noticed the police call was moving very slowly.

It again was obvious to me that the police car was up to something. I finally deliberately decided to pull into a parking space right where there is a deli on main street. This cop apparently had pulled into a parking space futher down the block and ended walking back up the black and came up to my car where I had parked. He then began to quesiton me asking what I was doing and where I was going.

I knew the cop was just fishing for people to stop and ticket. I responded that I was going to pick up something to eat in the deli. Then he asked where I was going. I told I was on my way to the train station. He then tried to accuse me of speeding down the main street. I responded I'm in a parking space and I'm speeding? I then pointed outed I could not have been speeding since the traffic was bumper to bumper. I added he could not even turn onto the main street due to the traffic conjection and his car was sticking half way out from where he was trying to turn.

There was no way this cop could have ticketed me for speeding since I was in a parking space. It certainly would not have looked good on his part. If I had not pulled into a parking space, for sure I would have been falsely ticketed for speeding.

SteveLew Loc: Sugar Land, TX

When I was 16 and had just been driving for a few months a police officer stopped me and I thought since I had been speeding that is why he stopped me. Upon arriving at my window the officer asked for my drivers license and asked me to exit the car. He headed for the back of my car and told me that that one of my license plate lights was out. I informed officer that I would replace this light bulb the next day. When he was returning to his motorcycle the officer declared "by the way son the speed limit on Olympic boulevard is 40 mph not 55 mph. The officer then hopped on his motorcycle and sped away.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Oh, I forgot one that I was advised NOT to use when asked if I knew why.....

"Doesn't matter. You'll never take me alive anyway". Said without looking at the officer and holding the steering wheel tightly with both hands.
--Bob

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Sorry but that is nothing more than an assumption on your part with only your word to go by.

BTW, officers don’t generally have their emergency lights flashing on every call. It is a distraction to motorists.after stopping a vehicle most turn on their yellow flasher to the rear to alert other motorists that a cop is present. Many who were speeding will slow down for a few miles at least.

Dennis

Stash Loc: South Central Massachusetts

Back in my day we didn't have computers in the cruisers. When I stopped a vehicle, before asking
for a license and registration I would identify myself and then state something like "the reason I stopped you is"
and then give the particular infraction.

shelty Loc: Medford, OR

In Calif. they have to give out a certain amount of tickets every month. If they don't they will get passed over for promotions and stuff, and they will do most anything to get them, like tailgating you to make you go faster, or hide in a gas station and pounce on you if you didn't come to a full stop, or just make up an excuse to pull you over.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Yuck yuck Yuck yuck Yuck yuck Yuck yuck Yuck yuck Yuck yuck

gloryg Loc: New York

I know that police don't always use there lights when they may be on a call. I use to be with an ambulance core and had to deal with the police on a regular bases.

Unfortunately it was not an assumption on my part. It was totally obvious that this cop was out to try and ticket someone. They do it on freqeunt bases where I live.

I was coming home late one night and was stopped at a red light. I was only about a quater of a block from where I live. So after the light changed to green it was about 10 seconds to get to where I live. I pulled into the parking lot and parked. A pollice car actually had followed me into the parking lot. I was already getting out of my car and was walking into where I live. This cop came over to me saying I had been speeding. This of course was not true.

I must have being going around 15 mph since my house was 10 seconds away from where I had been stopped for the red light.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Back in my day we didn’t have computers in the car either.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Show us where that information came from. What agency?

Forgive my blunt attitude but in my personal experience as a street cop I have to say you are full of shit.

Imagine an officer going to court trying to convince a judge of something he made up. Judges and DA’s catch on pretty fast and so would his supervisor.

Remember too, if you don’t come to a full stop you deserve a citation. No pouncing is necessary.

Dennis

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

I am curious what law exactly states it is illegal to lie to a police officer? If you are not under oath where does it say you have to always tell the truth to the police or you are committing a crime?

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I would like to know that as well.

There are probably millions of stories and anecdotes about police activities. Everyone seems to have s story where their mother’s uncle’s girlfriend’s brother’s sister witnessed a police officer doing something illegal or suspicious, lying, manufacturing or planting evidence and so on. While I am not saying it hasn’t ever happened in the annals of police work, the officers I worked with on a daily basis were hard working honest people who would give their life to rescue a citizen in trouble. These are the people who rush toward a fire or gunfire, 24/7/365. I was proud to be an officer.

Dennis

muysabio Loc: Mexico DF

Here's the link to an interesting article "The Benefit of Having the Same Name as a Police Officer". One part talks about how you name can impact on the type of speeding ticket.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/04/opinion/sunday/police-bias-research-names.html

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

It is my considered opinion that you and B-n-l may have a different set of moral codes because I meant what I said and I stick by it. Do you think that a policeman should also have such a cavalier attitude about rape and murder?

I work in a prison so maybe I have a different outlook than most because I have to deal with the morally bankrupt on a daily basis but this is still America and you are entitled to you opinions as well.