Topic: Question about police traffic stops...

[762]

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Apparently not in Suffolk County, NY. I've seen multiple times in traffic court where cops will say X and defendant will say Y, and cop always wins.

That's because most of the time, the defendant is lying.  

But the judge doesn't know that.  

[Demandred]

Police should have to prove what they claim. In this day and age, any fool can get the evidence on camera - even traffic police.

[SL-Punisher]

Depends on what you mean by proof. Eyewitness testimony is the least credible form of evidence, but it's still commonly accepted in courts. Since a traffic stop is usually a civil matter they don't have a heavy burden of proof...and when it comes down to "He said, she said" situations the police officer always wins out.

Of course, cops HATE to go to court so you might be able to get off if you show up in person and the cop isn't present.

[762]

That's my point pun. "He said she said" does not meet the standard anywhere else except in traffic court. They should require more than that, like a permanent record from the radar gun.

[IntgrSpin]

Prove it was MY car the gun was pointed at.

I think we can let the cops some leeway here. If an officer is repeatedly called a liar, I'd guess internal affairs would investigate.  

[762]

No! No leeway!!

Tickets BAD!! Speeding GOOD!!

[Dogmatix!]

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No! No leeway!!

Tickets BAD!! Speeding GOOD!!  

YESH!


100 mph in a 70 mph zone = Teh win!


(that was my last ticket, though the CHP officer wrote it down to 86 in a 70 zone...  (thanky kindly, Officer Friendly)

[Hilton]

I work security and have a lot of cop friends. I can answer these questions for you.

1. Stop when you see the blue light unless it is entirely too dangerous or it is at night and lighting is bad.

2. Yes good idea. Besure he can see both of your hands all all time and do not make sudden unexpected movements.

3. Correct do not change.

4. Always play dumb. "Really?! I had no idea I was going that fast. I was just listening to my radio and didn't notice." It'll get you off with a warning most of the time.  

[SL-Punisher]

I was driving home on the freeway from a friends house tonight and I also happend to be speeding a bit I wasn't paying attention and the next thing I know I see flashing lights in my rear view mirror. I took the next exit off the freeway and pulled over to the side of the road. Anyway to make a long story short the cop turned out to be someone from my High School that I had lost touch with. Given the fact that we were pretty good friends back then he decided to let me go without a ticket, but this brought up a couple questions in my mind while I was driving home.

1) Do police officers want you to pull over to the emergency lane on the highway when they stop you, or do they generally prefer you exit as soon as possible and then pull over? (This is assuming that there is an exit nearby)

2) I generally turn on my dome light and keep my hands firmly on the wheel until he walks up to my window...good idea?

3) I don't get out my walet or open my glove compartment until he askes me for my drivers license and insurance. (IE I don't want him to think im looking for a weapon)

4) I don't lie, I'll admit that I'm speeding and offer no excuse for it other than the fact that I wanted to get home quicker. I'll always show the officer proper respect by addressing him in a polite tone and using Sir or officer.

So any ex highway patrol officers that could provide some insight? Feel free to add any other pieces of advice

[Javora]

Some of this stuff depends on the state that you live in.  My question is why didn't you ask that person when you had the chance?    You are right on about number three (3) although IMHO I would wait until the officer comes up to the side of the car before you take your hands off the wheel, even if it's to turn on the dome light.  Again IMHO number four (4) is the quickest way to get out of a ticket.  As for number one (1).  If there is a off ramp right there when you when the police signals you to pull over and you can get back onto the highway then I would take the off ramp.  However I'm not going to drive five (5) miles just to find an off ramp and risk going to jail.
 

[lloyd007]

I've had experience with 4 officers in my driving career 2 have been nice 1 business and 1 jerk. I used all the things you outline.

Cop 1 in Rochester caught going 60 in a 40 mph zone at 2am after grabbing a late night snack... warning...

Cop 2 at a BIG speed trap (as I found out later after observation) no bones about it ticket pled down by lawyer.

Cop 3 after I totaled my car on black ice in the early morning (nothing I could do really). First he doesn't beleive my story 'I don't see any black ice' I wanted to reply, "Well you won't after 500 cars and trucks pass over it slowly to gawk at me!" but I had been in 5 degree F temps for over 40 minutes and was frozen solid. The %^^* officer gives me a catch all ticket which if not for a lawyer WOULD have been worth 8 fvcking points! Grr  

Cop 4 was pretty nice he gave me a moving violation failing to signal rather than a speeding ticket outright which would have been 6 points and required good old superlawyer again.

None were as bad as my friends experience though he was pulled over for speeding and the cop without permission/warrant or plain sight ransacked his car even going so far as to slash seat cusions and put him in handcuffs!(finding nothing). Luckily he was driving some freinds around and had plenty of witnesses and he himself was polite (well not SO polite when the guy is tearing up the car) They got that car replaced and a written apology after a lawsuit there.

[KOTH-Steel Claw]

1. If I am 20 miles form an exit., I pull over.

2. I always keep my hands in sight so there is no mistaking what I am doing.

3. Never offer anytihng unless asked for it.

4. Honesty is the best policy. I haven't always gotten out of a ticket, but I have been let go with a warning more times than not.  

[Iceman]

My one experience so far (I'm only 17 ya know!)

I was following a friend to his house in Fitchburg, ma.  We were both speeding a bit, about 100 in a 55.  The third friend (behind me) falls back for some reason (i hadn't noticed at the time).  My cell phone rings JUST as I can see the headlights like 2 feet away from my rear bumper.  The cop pulls in front of me and gets the friend in fronts license plate too.  Pulls us BOTH over.  

"Where you boys goin tonight?"  So I told him
"What are you doing up that way?"  We were doing some pilot training.
"You think this car is an aircraft?" No, Sir.
Goes back to talk with friend again.  Comes back.

"Do you know what the fine is for 100 in a 55?"
"Stupid, Sir?"
"Besides that it's a $350 ticket."
*lowers head into lap*
"Now slow the [bleep] down". Walks away with the ticket in his hand.

It was so close.  My friends and I think the only reaason we didn't get tickets is because he would have had to arrest us all, and the shift was almost over.

[SL-Punisher]

Well the thought occured to me after I pulled away. Interesting bit of information, around 75% of traffic stops on the high way are either in the fast or the slow lane, and most of the time they'll pull you over if you're changing lanes frequently.

[Tremok]

 I have been driving for many years now and I have not yet been pulled over.  

I'll go 10-15 over if I am relatively alone on the road. In traffic go with the flow of traffic. Get in the lane I need to be in and stay in the lane. Go nice and slow through interchanges and stoplights. Go slow enough so that drivers joining the road have a chance to see you.

If pulled over, put wallet, license, and insurance on dash before officer arrives. Probably good idea to take keys out of ignition and put them on the dash as well. Hands on steering wheel so the officer can see them. Be polite and honest.

Has worked for me so far.    

[GE-Raven]

If/when I am pulled over I normally do the following.

As soon as car is stopped I jump out and run back towards the police cruiser while reaching inside my jacket for my I.D.

Then I wait for the cop to get out.

When he does I try and distract him and grab his gun.  Cops appreciate you helping them keep on their tows.  They normally have a good laugh when they realize it was all in good fun.

If the police officer is a male I look at his name on the uniform and then begin musing on how I once 'banged" a chic with that name, ask him if his wife or sister lives nearby your local bar.

If the officer is female I normally ask if it is true that most female police officers are lesbians.  Then I ask if she and her girlfriend would be up for a threesome.  If she gets rough I tell her how much it turns me on and then make a comment about how I bet she wishes she had a penis.

So far this has worked well for me.

GE-Raven
 

[Tremok]

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So far this has worked well for me.  

 What is your objective?    

[Dogmatix!]

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So far this has worked well for me.  

 What is your objective?    

I think it was to be funny.  I'll leave it up to you to decide whether he was.  I have no comment.  


 

[Matsukasi]

1. Pull off the highway. We lose cops every year when rubberneckers stop paying attention to the road and fixate on the shiny flashing lights.

2. Keeping your hands on the wheel is sufficient. Odds are you're going to have high beams going through your rear window anyway.

3. Wait until he asks. Then when he does ask, tell him you need to reach into your pocket to get it.

4. Lying is stupid, and no matter what BS story you think you've invented, he's heard it a thousand times before. Why annoy the guy responsible for writing or NOT writing you an expensive ticket?

 

[Kortez]

I have a certain disrespect for traffic cops.  Perhaps that's because I have been badly dealt with by such cops on a few occasions.  It has tinged my attitude towards them in a negative way.  I am biased against traffic cops.  I am prejudiced against them--yes, I admit it.  I am a traffic-coppist.  Hell, just today one almost crashed into me in his haste to speed away, all without use of his signals, his cop lights, and with extreme recklessness, for what reason I know not.

I have had shouting matches with traffic cops.  I've mocked them, asked them if they were eating donuts, and I once told one he lied to me.  He WAS lying, too.  Never mind that I was risking my safety.  Whenever I have been fairly pulled I have not said a word impolitely.

I do not keep my hands on the wheel.  I keep them at my sides, for that is where they naturally go.  I don't reach for anything, and if he asks me for my license I have never asked for permission to reach into my wallet.  I figure since he has made the demand he must expect me to get the license and registration.

During my life, I have been misticketed 4 separate times, the most recently at a time when the cop absolutely lied about using radar on me.

Do I think all traffic cops are bad?  No way.  I have even gotten away with speeding a couple of times, just with a creative excuse once, and when I was 18, I think I once made a traffic cop want to kill me, but in the end in exchange for my admission I sped to beat a red light, he let me go, telling me I reminded him of his son.