Stupid Cops

[Turtle Club]

I was in town visitng relatives on saturday and late morning I was traveling down the road a few miles from McEntire National Guard Station outside of Columbia SC.

I was minding my own business when some Barney Fife wanna be is standing in the middle of the road. He signals me to pull over.

He said I was speeding 75mph in a 50mph zone.

I asked him how he caculated my speed. He said the Airplane tacked my distace in accordance to me time it took to travel from Point A to Point B.

I said I dont remeber seeing an airplane in the sky. He remarked that the airplace is no longger in the area. (MMMMMMMMM HUMMMMMMMMMMM!) It was extremely cloudly and asked him how the airplane saw me under the clouds. He had no answer. He took my licence and insurance and registation.

He came back and was going to issue me a ticket. I asked him for landmarks of Point A and Point B of where the airplace traced the path of my vehicle and he politily answered me. Before I took the ticket to sign it I asked him to show me a Certified Emabused and Stamped with a Seal from the County Enginier showing that the distance of Point A to Point B is the requiered 72feet, he could not show it to me.

I then politly asked him how a County Sheriff Airplane got clearance to fly through a Fedaral Military Airspace.

The only words that came out of his mouth were..."Have a nice day sir, I beleive I made a mistake...You are free to go."

All this and I was BullChyting toward the Cop. I have absolutly no knowlege of any reqierments of airnocical speed enforcemnt nor the policies of local goverments using Military Airspace.

Either I got lucky that the Cop knew less then I did or I guessed on some lucky lucky information that was true. Either way it made my day to get out of an out of state speeding ticket.

 

[stevelyn]

That stop wasn't done in the name of safety and traffic enforcement. It was a shakedown for revenue. You basically caught him in a lie.

What he was doing was unethical at the very least, and illegal at the worst by attempting to steal from you under the color of law.

 

[solareclipse]

it's all cause of your out of state tags

i am dead serious.

 

[Lupinus]

Im 20 and own a camaro, have since I was 16....I knwo what you mean all to well lol

 

[Turtle Club]

I should have started speaking Pensylvania Dutch toward the officer, HA HA HA. Good luck funing someone that speaks that. Im not fluent but did work on an Amish Farm in Central Ohio for 2 summers and can hold a conversation. That woulda been hillarious.

 

[artherd]

You sir are a ROCK STAR! You beat him *hard* under pressure at his own bluff!

I'm honestly impressed, and humbly suggest law school. I think you'd make a great criminal defense lawyer.

Nice work (coming from someone who's accused several ADAs of Prosecutorial Midsconduct in open court.)

 

[patrol120]

So, you were violating the law by speeding, you were caught, and you lied and bullied your way out of a citation? Bet your parents are proud.

 

[Janitor]

So, you were violating the law by speeding, you were caught, and you lied and bullied your way out of a citation? Bet your parents are proud.

Where did he admit to speeding?

 

[Molon Labe]

So, you were violating the law by speeding, you were caught, and you lied and bullied your way out of a citation? Bet your parents are proud.

Um, if the OP's account is accurate, then there's a good chance the cop was lying. Agree?

I have heard so many 1st-hand reports of unethical, abusive, and lying cops, that I'm at the point where I question every word that comes out of a cop's mouth.

 

[Kurt_M]

Nice job! Kindly ignore items thrown from the peanut gallery, they're just jealous.

 

[SIOP]

That's good. I've got to remember the bit about the certification from the county engineer.

 

[patrol120]

I have no idea if he was speeding, or if the cop was lying. I tend to believe the former, and not the latter, for some reason. I do not understand the reason the cop let him go, other than that he was new, and timid, as I have seen a few times. It is often easier to do that than argue on the side of the road.

I have been known to do let someone go who starts the ridiculous arguing, like wanting radar calibration, etc. I will let them go, and mail the citation to their house the following day. Its not worth wasting my time to hear your speil.

All Im trying to say is, if you believe you were wrongly stopped, contest it, that is your right, and I encourage you to use it. However, the proper forum to do so is not the shoulder of the road, but in a court of law. IF you were rightly stopped, just grow a pair, and pay the damn thing. Nine times out of ten, if I stop someone for an infraction, and they are honest with me, they get a warning, or at worst, a reduced citation. If they try the lgal crap, theyre getting the full ride.

I am not a lawyer, and I will not argue my case on the shoulder.

 

[ScottsGT]

Did you get the dept. they were from?? I'd love to know since I live in the area. I'd go as far as filing a complaint. It was either Richland County Sheriffs Dept. or State Troopers. The State Troopers are the ONLY ones that have aircraft in our area. No one else can afford them. There are a few small podunk communities around there that might have Barney working for them though.

 

[patrol120]

I dont know about your location, but just because the small PD doesnt own an airplane does not mean they dont use them. My PD Often works with the Highway Patrol airplane.

 

[dxkj21]

I have no idea if he was speeding, or if the cop was lying. I tend to believe the former, and not the latter, for some reason. I do not understand the reason the cop let him go, other than that he was new, and timid, as I have seen a few times. It is often easier to do that than argue on the side of the road.

I have been known to do let someone go who starts the ridiculous arguing, like wanting radar calibration, etc. I will let them go, and mail the citation to their house the following day. Its not worth wasting my time to hear your speil.

All Im trying to say is, if you believe you were wrongly stopped, contest it, that is your right, and I encourage you to use it. However, the proper forum to do so is not the shoulder of the road, but in a court of law. IF you were rightly stopped, just grow a pair, and pay the damn thing. Nine times out of ten, if I stop someone for an infraction, and they are honest with me, they get a warning, or at worst, a reduced citation. If they try the lgal crap, theyre getting the full ride.

I am not a lawyer, and I will not argue my case on the shoulder.

I have so many stories about police in PA and fake tickets its not even funny.. The reason why people do NOT want to fight it in a court of law, is because the officer can simply lie, and their word is taken over ours.... A cop lied in court and said I was going 55 in a 45... I took pictures and had them ready showing the area I was stopped, and that it was 55 mph speed limit until the hill going down into town... I only won because I was prepared to show that he was incorrect

My friend wasnt familiar with roads and ended up spinning out arond a turn that turned to grave halfway through the bend,.... the police officer showed up, and had the guy across the road he knew roll him out with his semi, crushing the vehicle into a state far worse than it was before... my friend mentioned it, and got slapped with speeding, and reckless driving.... we went to court (he was going BELOW the speed limit, and the change of road surface was not marked), and the police officer had his friend across the road come in and testify that he heard engine revving and saw him going really fast, etc etc, and my friend got hit hard

I was traveling through NY state, and a section of road on I-90 dropped from 65 to 55 for 1 mile , and was marked at 2 points (both obscured by semis in teh right hand side). I was new to the area and didnt know, and others around me were moving MUCH faster than I was.... I got singeld out for out of state plates, pulled over, and given a ticket for going 66 in a 55 ( I had never seen a sign and it was back up to 65 in half a mile from where i was pulled over)

I was driving in PA late at night coming back from a job in Pittsburgh. I was going 50-55 in a 55mph zone, and then someone comes up behind me and tailgates me with his brights on... Ive had this stuff happen ebfore late at night, drunk drivers getting out of bars... I slowed down to let him pass me, and he stayed on my ass... at the top of the next hill I put on the gas to put distance between us, and he flips on his lights and pulls me over...


So you can tell me how good and honest and straightforward some are, but there are plenty out there to make you guys look bad.... and as far as fighting it in court, come with proof to show that the officer is lying, or misinformed, or else you are going to pay

 

[patrol120]

For one, it is quite legal to be cited for speeding, if going less than the posted speed limit. In Oklahoma, I believe the term is "improper speed for conditions". If the individual ran off the road due to surface change, I would have definitely wrote him for Reckless.

As for the speed limit offense you cited, I most likely wouldnt of done that, as I rarely even stop anyone for less then 12mph over. I generally feel that Highway speed limits are too low, but my jobs not too make the rules, just enforce them.

I absolutely will not deny that there are cops out there who do unethical, if not illegal, things. I see it far more than I want to. All Im trying to say is dont argue the law with the guy on the side of the road. It normally wont get you anywhere....this is an exception.

 

[Janitor]

dxkj21 : Bit hard to read. You might want to try making this more than one sentance, and maybe give typing a bit more slowly some thought.

 

[Molon Labe]

there are cops out there who do unethical, if not illegal, things. I see it far more than I want to.

Me too.

It's a sad state of affairs when you're distrustful of all cops. And that's where I'm at at this point... I have heard so many stories of unethical and illegal actions by LEOs that I am now suspicious of all cops. I assume they're lying unless proven otherwise.

There will come a day when bad cops will wish they had behaved differently. Read this article for more info:

http://www.thefrag.org/pics/LEO_article.pdf

 

[ScottsGT]

I dont know about your location, but just because the small PD doesnt own an airplane does not mean they dont use them. My PD Often works with the Highway Patrol airplane.

Good point. Never though about it that way. Where are you from? Fill out your profile so we can get to know you a little better around here! We won't bite!

Me too.

It's a sad state of affairs when you're distrustful of all cops. And that's where I'm at at this point... I have heard so many stories of unethical and illegal actions by JBT, that I am now suspicious of all cops. I assume they're lying unless proven otherwise.

Kind of like attorneys. I know a few that really do a lot of good for people that the system will not help in the Workers Comp arena. To everyone that is responsible for the patients care(money end, not health care) it is a big game to them to see how much they can deny claims and take care of a person that is really bad off.
Then there are the slime balls that try to sue everyone that had anything to do with anything!

 

[Geno]

Shame we no longer trust our police.

Used to be a time that being a cop meant something. They were honest and would stop to help.

I have been unfortunate witness to many incidents of blatent harassment, lies and even police theft from the local department's "evidence room".

The most shocking one of all, was when a county deputy entered the "evidence room", took out a Colt .45 ACP Commander (I believe is the name of the 4 1/4" model) and was using it as a "back-up piece" and carrying it out to shoot at the local range. I saw it happen with my very own two eyes. I won't go into much more detail, but it's enough of an example of why police should enter a courtroom with no more credibility than any citizen. By the way, I have seen such incidents twice, and not from the same department...other other was a DNR officer.

My point? Simple. There is good and bad in ALL walks of life. If that statement is true, how, in clear conscience, can we allow that police have a leg-up in credibility in a courtroom? Illogical at best. Regarding "fight the ticket", if the man is from out-of-state, how much will that cost??? Then, can he sue to recover attorney, filing fees, gasoline, motel, lost wages? No, I think not, and cops know this.

Two cars go through an intersection...one in-state, the other out-of-state. Want to guess which gets the ticket and which gets warned? Sound familiar?

Doc2005

 

[Double Naught Spy]

patrol120, that has to be some of the worst reasoning and pussyfoot whining I have seen in a long time. Since when is requesting information on how the assessment was made to issue a citation for a violation bullying of the officer?

I have never heard of an officer being bullied out of issuing a citation because the alledged violator asked too many questions. I figure you got to be pretty wimpy to be so bullied out of doing your job that a few questions will beat you into submission.

Given that I can't imagine said officers being that wimpy as having that little of a spine would make it difficult for said officers to even carry their duty gear on their belts, my guess is that Turtle Club sprung a speed trap where speeds were not being actually assessed in the manner claimed.

 

[exoduster18]

dxkj21.....I know exactly how you feel. I had a PSP on my tail for over a mile ten miles. I was doing the speed limit (55 in that area) and did not go over it. The whole time he was tailgating me (I had no place to safely pull over to let him go by). When I finally got the chance, I pulled over to let him by. He pulls over with me. I didn't seem him do this. I turned and looked over my shoulder to see why he hadn't gone by and I was starting to look around for him or other traffic so I could get back on the road. Just as I start rollling forward, he flashes his lights. So I stopped (rather confused at this point in time). So I stepped out of the car, careful not to make any fast or false movements. I reached out the window and opened the car door from the outside. As I stepped out of my car, I asked him if there was anything wrong and did HE need help with something. He didn't say a thing (he was outside of his car to) He just looked at me for a minute and then said that he was following me for over 10 miles doing 75 miles an hour to keep up with me. I was like . I looked at him and told him that I was running 55 miles per hour and that I wanted to see whatever it was that was evidence against me saying he caught me at that speed. Now I'm no physics major, but had he been using radar or whatever else to clock my speed, it would have read 0 if we were both running 75. I explained that to him and then asked why hadn't he pulled me over before now? He just kind of looked at the ground and didn't say much.
Either way, the situation was really wierd (to me, at least). I had done nothing wrong and was being "harassed" so to speak. After he mumbled some other things unintelligibly, he just said goodbye and jumped in his car and took off. I was left standing there dumbfounded!! I (after I got over the shock of it all) got back in my car and drove away. I have no idea what ran through his mind to do this. I'm still really lost on it all.

 

[exoduster18]

Doc2005

The one that is that is of that state gets a friendly wave and a smile while out of stater gets a ticket for the maximum possible amount according to the law. Seen it happen to many times.

 

[CentralTexas]

And the officer stated:

"Nine times out of ten, if I stop someone for an infraction, and they are honest with me, they get a warning, or at worst, a reduced citation. If they try the lgal crap, theyre getting the full ride."

I realize that they give you guys discretion in some instances, but the old "If you don't act a certain way toward me and respect my authority you will be penalized with a ticket/trip downtown" is really bothersome.....
CT

 

[Old Dog]

Now, that's a stretch. Why should cops have to put up with someone b.s.'ing them? If a LEO indicates that if someone is merely honest, they get a pass, but when that person feeds him a line of crap trying to weasel out of a ticket, why is that

the old "If you don't act a certain way toward me and respect my authority you will be penalized with a ticket/trip downtown"

Respect is a two-way street. This goes in any occupation -- what if you're a clerk at a retail store and someone is attempting to buy an item on which they've switched out the price tag (for a tag with a lower price)? It's the same friggin' thing -- lack of basic honesty, which translates to respect for people trying to do their job.

And while we're on the subject -- Turtle Club titles his thread, "Stupid Cops" when it may have been only one stupid cop -- by labeling his post thusly, he indicates his lack of respect for all cops. I'm not saying one should automatically respect an entire class of people, but if you disrepect an entire class of people, why should you expect any respect for what you do?