Speaking of cops.....

[cbeers]

So this morning, I drop the dog off at the vet for teeth cleaning. It's early and I am in traffic on the expressway when an opening in traffic appears. My wife is following me in the Jetta, so I think to myself, "I better show her what my 911 is all about" and proceed to stomp on it a little. Just a quick blast, then back down to sane speeds. Well, as I am slowing, I see this brown sedan weaving in and out of the lanes to get up to me. UNDERCOVER COP

He doesn't say much as he is reading over my info. He asks why I was speeding and I told him I was late for work and it was stupid of me to speed for a job. He agreed and after a few minutes back at his car, he comes back and says "Do me a favor Mr. Beers, drive slower"

YES SIR OFFICER SIR !!!!!

Whew!

So, TECHNICALLY speaking, honesty pays off sometimes

-Chris

[speedracer]

Originally posted by cbeers

So, TECHNICALLY speaking, honesty pays off sometimes

-Chris

Honesty would have been telling him "I better show her what my 911 is all about and proceed to stomp on it a little"....... instead of your late for work excuse...

[yelcab1]

Dude, let me clue you in.

A traffic ticket in California has to be given by an officer wearing a uniform and driving a car emblazen with insignia. There are exceptions.

So, the Detective driving the unmarked car to work noticed you being "stupid" and just wanted to give you a warning. Which is fine!

His ticket, if challenged in court, would have gotten tossed in 30 seconds.

[biosurfer1]

i've noticed that undercovers are usually a little more understanding, my sheriff friend tells me thats because they are usually on their way somewhere else and/or usually only stop you for major infraction, but i dont try to test this theory much

[Grady Clay]

I think honesty pays every time in that situation:

“Yes, sir Officer.
I’m sorry.
Occasionally I try and exercise my 911 when I feel it is safe.
I know I shouldn’t do it any where near other cars or on the street.
I promise to be more careful and respectful of others.
I know that street driving is the most dangerous thing we all do.
I really appreciate your difficult job keeping us all safe”
And more – all while wringing your hands and looking at the ground, submissive posture.

Just go through the “what ifs.”
What if your wife had tried to keep up?
What if someone really was late and suddenly pulled out?
What if the officer had an accident trying to catch you?
What if … ?

Yes, I have done stupid things and lived to tell about it.
The few minor incidents I have had in 50+ years of driving have been from other’s mal-driving. I am a VERY defensive driver on the street.

The race track is a wonderful resource. Many here in Denver go to the tracks regularly for a half day of exercise. I have been to Second Creek on a week day where there were 50+ cars, more than half 911s.

Best,
Grady

[RickM]

Best advice given was in a book written by an ex-trooper who said to act "Boyishly coy" when stopped. Can't argue with that.

Here in NJ, unmarked cars are very common. Hoever, the trooper inside is in full uniform. Can't tell from the outside as the windows are heavily tinted.

[tiorio]

Originally posted by yelcab1
Dude, let me clue you in.

A traffic ticket in California has to be given by an officer wearing a uniform and driving a car emblazen with insignia. There are exceptions.

Yeah..... a LOT of exceptions which make this statement pretty irrelevant. The least of which is red-light cameras but go all the way through unmarked vehicles and the definition of 'uniform' for issuing moving violations.

[randywebb]

"His ticket, if challenged in court, would have gotten tossed in 30 seconds."

- IF California has that statute, it is unusual. Are you sure of that? i.e. have you read the actual statute itself?

In Oregon, and in many states, any officer can give you a ticket anywhere in the state. They have to go to law enforcement officer school (measured in hours, not weeks or years) and they can ticket you.

Even if an officer cannot ticket you for an infraction, they can surely stop and arrest you for a crime -- in fact, any citizen can do that in most states.

In fact, in Oregon, any citizen can enforce the motor vehicle laws (!) I'm surprised the local anarchists haven't thought of enforcing the motor vehicle laws against the city police here, which they routinely violate (when they aren't too busy beating up arabs, hassling black people and raping women -- all true and reported in the news in the last 12 months).

[billyboy]

Yelcab is way wrong on that call. The law is that vehicle used primarily for traffic enforcement must be distinctively marked. A citation is a promise to appear in court to answer charges that are either misdemeanor or infraction. Any peace officer under section 832P.C. can issue a citation for infractions or misdemeanors committed in his presence.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by cbeers
Whew!

So, TECHNICALLY speaking, honesty pays off sometimes

-Chris

I've got friends who would pull you over to really just check out the car or to watch a pretty babe squirm.

[na2ub]

A little like your situation:

I "accidentally" stomped on it in the rain from a stoplight, and did not notice the trooper behind me (could not see out the back). He pulled a rookie mistake and immediately flipped on his lights, at which point I slowed and pulled over. Before he got up to my car, I realized he had no evidence. He did not radar me, I broke no laws other than speeding, and he did not even pace me (because he just flipped on his lights and pulled me over). At that point I realized all he could do was give me a warning, which he proceeded to do, although he was a little ticked off. He asked how fast I was going, and I said "I don't know," which I honestly did not. He did not like that response, but I was certainly not going to incriminate myself either, considering he had no evidence.

Doug

[RickM]

Originally posted by randywebb

In Oregon, and in many states, any officer can give you a ticket anywhere in the state.

Believe it or not, in NJ this includes prison guards.

(Or it could be NY. A freind was stopped on a bridge over to Staten Island years ago.)

[billyboy]

Prison guards are not a whole lot different than the guys on the other side of the bars. Real cops chuckle to themselves when a prison guard says that he(or she), is in law enforcement.

[RoninLB]

afaik prison guards take a bigger brain beating than cops. Not saying that cops have it easy. The life expectancy of a retired cop is extraordinary short, in general. Retired FD are usually too beat up to last long also.

[djmcmath]

While we're sharing random stories, a friend of mine came to work the other day with this little gem:

It's New Year's Day, and because he's old and married, he chose to go to bed early (like 9pm) the night before, and hadn't had anything to drink. It's about 9am, and he's running into town to get some groceries. It's pretty much the middle of nowhere, but he's driving like he always does (I've driven with him, it's as boring as watching paint dry) -- half-a-notch below the speed limit, and pretty darned careful.

Well, a cop shows up in his rearview mirror and pulls him over, then harasses him for being drunk. ????? The cop claimed he could smell the alcohol -- an obvious fabrication, as he hadn't had anything in several days. I get this mental picture of a punk cop screaming at my balding senior chief, a man who defines the Navy term "salt." He finally ordered my friend to go home, and not come out for the rest of the day, because he was clearly drunk.

Bizarre.

[cgarr]

cbeers, How did he know you were speeding? did it look like it to him? or did he have a device to check your speed, I am always driving thru my Neighborhood in 1st gear and people keep waving at me but not with all 5 fingers, saying slow down and Im only running 25 or less but it sounds and looks fast, $hit these cars are doing 50 just sittin in the garage!!

Craig

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by djmcmath
I get this mental picture of a punk cop screaming at my balding senior chief, a man who defines the Navy term "salt." He finally ordered my friend to go home, and not come out for the rest of the day, because he was clearly drunk.

I believe one profile of a male drunk driver is speeding, and for females it's driving below the limit. Maybe the profile has changed in your area?

[makaio]

Originally posted by randywebb
"
In Oregon, and in many states, any officer can give you a ticket anywhere in the state.

Most Fireman can as well. Even though we don't .

[nestorjw]

I was followed around by an undercover a couple nights ago, tailgaiting like no other. Finally just pulled over to see whan he wanted and he just sped away. Later in the night on the way home he did the same thing, this time swerving into the other lane to get next to me?? I just kept going and finally got on the freeway. Guess some of these guys are just bored.

[350HP930]

When I bought the 930 I was certain that I was going to the victim of a $hitload of police harassment. How wrong I was.

Even though I have had one really bad ********* cop experience while driving the 930 I have been suprised how many times I have been let off for aggressive driving and speeding by cops who can appreciate a nice car and a polite and honest driver.

I usually take the somewhat honest route by claiming that I was just cleaning out the pipes and not paying enough attention to my speed or acceleration. Many cops seem to understand when you own a 930 and on an empty road or bridge.