I was profiled and pulled over today (and Saturn battery update)

[WolfeMacleod]

After wrestling with the battery for the Saturn I posted about, I headed out to the post office to ship some packages. On the way there, I was pulled over. Wasn't doing anything wrong, going just under the speed limit behind another car.
He pulled out of his spot, and followed me for about a half mile, then lit me up.

I pulled over, and when he approached, I asked him if there was a problem. He said not really, so I asked why I was puled over.
He told me "I saw the long hair"

I handed him my license, he looked at it for about three seconds, gave it back, and left.

WTF?


I did manage to get the battery fixed, by the way. It seems than GM had EPOXIED the threads that hold the stupid bolt INTO the terminal. We had to hammer a razor and screwdrivers through the lead block that ripped out of the battery, peel the lead block off in pieces, then use a large socket on the retaining nut buried inside the block, and another wrench to counter it.

Who's bright idea was that???

[onlycafe]

maybe he thought you were going to an occupy rally.

[Arizona_928]

Do you have tattoos, and not wearing a shirt at the time?

[Hugh R]

He pulled a long haired guy over in Seattle? WTF is this world coming to!!!

In 1971-72 I had my now sold 1961 Aston Martin DB4 at USMC Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. I got pulled over at least once a week. The cops were sure I must have been some kind of a drug dealer.

[cgarr]

How long is your hair? I'm going to get mine cut tomorrow.

[stomachmonkey]

I stopped getting pulled over for my long hair when it all went grey.

Since he admitted it I wonder what if anything he would have done if you simply said "oh", and drove away.

[azasadny]

You hippie trouble maker!!

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

Do you have tattoos, and not wearing a shirt at the time?

No, and no.

Originally Posted by cgarr

How long is your hair? I'm going to get mine cut tomorrow.

Not that long. A litle lower than the bottom of my shoulder blades, I suppose?

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I stopped getting pulled over for my long hair when it all went grey.

I know what you mean. I was soooo embarrassed. In the old days flying into Sydney Australia (I'm a dirty Kiwi) I was always searched for drugs. Now. The last two times there were 200 people in the queue and I was approched and told I could walk straight through

[slodave]

I have a full, scraggly beard an hair past my waist and I don't seem to have any issues, anywhere.

[9dreizig]

Originally Posted by slodave

I have a full, scraggly beard an hair past my waist and I don't seem to have any issues, anywhere.

Great the one guy on the board that should be pulled over and he has no problems

[livi]

Thats probably because of Dave´s sweet, innocent appearance.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by 9dreizig

Great the one guy on the board that should be pulled over and he has no problems

Funny guy!

It's all about how you act and portray yourself. I did get pulled over a few weekends ago for no front plate in the 911. Cop was oncoming. She shined her light at the front of my car, but there was no way she could get an idea of what I looked like in the brief seconds as we passed. My hair was pulled back and I have tinted windows. When I pull over, I usually roll both windows all the way down, if they are not already - although, I only rolled the drivers side down that night. Then I shut the car off and put my hands in a place that's visible until they come up to the window.

This night, the lady cop that ask for my info was acting her tough self, but was nice and didn't really seem to care what I looked like when she saw me up close. Not to mention, I'm sitting in a racing seat with the tinted windows and Hoosiers. Her partner scared the crap out of me when he came up to the pax window and asked if I was a pilot. I actually said "what?!?" and he repeated. At that point, I reached down to turn the key to ACC and then reached to switch on the drivers door to roll the window down. He didn't flinch and we chatted about flying for a moment...

He told me he saw my flight bag and headset in the back seat. For a moment, I was wondering what kind of access they had with their computers!

Anyway, I don't have problems, but I also really don't do anything stupid anymore, except the occasional speeding.

[madmmac]

Don't do the hair flip, it confuses them.

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by slodave

roll both windows all the way down, if they are not already

Good thinking; it gets all the marajuana smoke out of the car

[slodave]

That's why you keep them open about an inch while driving around..

Crap, I just type that?!?

[livi]

Thanks. You get all kinds of great advice here.

[Rick V]

I got pulled over a few years ago when they were looking for a black BMW, same deal, "is there a problem" and was informed they are looking for someone. I said if they were going to pull over all the middle aged guys driving BMW's where I live they are going to be busy as hell

[EarlyPorsche]

Im surprised nobody got why you were pulled over - they were looking for someone with long hair - at that point everyone with long hair gets pulled over.

[TGTIW]

Maybe with the brief glimpse of long hair, they assumed you were a woman. Furthermore, they assumed you were a woman driving a Saturn so it would only be a matter of time before it broke down and you would need assistance..