[PrudentGT]

So I just got home from TGI Fridays having dinner with one of the nurses from work. I pulled into the apartment complex and realize that my other car has my only parking permit on it, so I make a U-turn to go park on the street. I see SJPD entering the apartment complex as I'm backing up to make the U-turn, and figure there's another DV call (they get them from time to time here). So I'm exiting the complex and he pulls up behind me and lights me up. So I just make a right and pull off to the side, put all the interior lights on, hands on the wheel and wait.

Now this is unusual because I was not speeding, all my lights work, my registration is current, signalled all my turns, etc. etc., so I'm really curious to see what this is about. Didn't get the guys' name, because the light was in my eyes...

He walks up to the car, "How are you this evening, sir."
"Um, fine. How are you?"
"Good. Where are you coming from this evening?"
'None of your business' is what I'm thinking, but "Out with a friend" is what comes out.
"Out with a friend, huh?" I could tell this was not the answer he was looking for, but oh well. "Do you have a license with you?"
"Of course," so I hand it to him.
"Do you have any warrants?"
Okay, I've never been asked this before when pulled over, maybe it's a new policy or something, but, really, who's gonna say 'yeah, I'm wanted in four states?' Now, my criminal record can be found at any fine stationary store, so I say "Uh, no...?" starting to get uneasy.
"Ever been arrested?"
Again, "Uh, no...?" thinking that perhaps there was something I'm totally unaware of that is going to make tonight the night.
"Is there a reason you were flying (yes, he said flying) through the neighborhood?" He motions in the direction I did *not* come from.
Okay, now we're back on familiar ground, and I honestly think maybe another black mustang 'flew' down our street going the other direction. It happens. I was tired and had a long day at work, so I was in no hurry to get home, and I did the posted limit the whole way (well, okay, 67 on the freeway, but I was the slowest car on the road). So I'm gonna straighten the whole thing out now: "I came from *that* direction," motioning the other way. See, mystery solved.
"I *know* where you came from. Is there a reason you turned around in the parking lot there?"
'Yes, I was evading arrest,' again, not what comes out, but instead the explanation of the one parking permit and going to park on the street.
"Well, slow it down in the residential neighborhood. Good night."
"Um, thank you." Wait, did I just say 'thank you'??

Some observations: maybe they've got spiffy new computer systems, after all SJPD has a lot of money (unlike most of the people in the bay area these days), but I am almost *certain* he didn't have time to run my plates. Was he fishing? Hmmm...

It was about 2am when I got home. I drank club soda at dinner, for this very reason. Was he fishing? Well...

I wasn't cited. Total interaction time, less than 2 minutes. Was he fishing? Maybe. (Please note that I'm not upset about not being cited, and don't want to encourage anyone to take the position that everyone who is pulled over should be cited to avoid any suspicion of impropriety, but the totality of the circumstances certainly point to a conclusion.)

Now I know admission of guilt is to be avoided, but I for one would appreciate a little honesty. "It's 2 am, so I pull every car over that I see, especially muscle cars, and most of the time I get lucky and find the driver totally sloshed," or "I was really bored, so I thought I'd stop and chat." or "I just changed the batteries in my maglite and wanted to use your particularly pasty complexion to appreciate its brightness in all its glory."

Okay, done venting. Feel free to share your experices w/ unlawful detention (Legal and Political, you know) It's cathartic! And of course ad hominems are to be avoided. "Cop bashing" is bad, mmmmkay?

[tc300mag1]

I got pulled over one night at 130am in the old ladys car.. So we had just finshed soem shopping at the super walmart and old lady say run for the border(theres a taco bell just up the street) There no one on the Roads i mean no one. so we look and hang a left closest lights i see are a mile away.

So i pull out cross the 2 lanes that travel oppsite direction also the turn lane then crossed to teh far lane i need to turn thsi was all in a short distance out of no where there a tahoe on my A$$ and he lights up the light its a state cop.

So he finally get to the window and starts a tirade abotu i hope you dont normaly drive like that and why didnt you wait till i passed.Unless he was driving without lights on he wasnt no where near me even mrs says the saem thing to this day.. Then they start asking mrs is this your car why is he driving etc etc lot of BS questions..The finally lets us go with no tickit in all guy was a total Dick for nothing.

[41mag]

tc300mag1,over the last dozen years or so i've seen several references to the mi state police driving @ night without lights.i asked a trooper about it once.(not @ a traffic stop-just a coincidencel yack).he denied that they do this regularly.it works well as an ambush tactic but i've always thought that it was too dangerous.
my favorite stop
:uhoh:
when i was younger & dumberer i had a pair of fuzzy dice hanging from the mirror(who hasn't,right?).they were held together w/a pair of hemo's.the trooper about had a fit that he couldn't find a trace of any drugs in my car.i had hemo's so i had to be a druggie.never mind the fishing flies & teardrops all over the dice.he just couldn't believe it.i actually felt a little sorry for him as i put my back seat back in the car.
btw the reason for the stop was the hemo's.i was a long haired 17 yr old @ the time.fotunately 4 me everything worked on the car.no ticket-just late for work.:)