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High Man
Activist
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
Posts: 238
Location: Space
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 Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:58 am Post subject: Police Encounters? |
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Yay first post!
In my experience with being pulled over by police for whatever reason, I have never had an officer ask to search my vehicle/person, or order me out of a vehicle for any reason and try to get a search either before or after giving a citation/warning, or bring in drug dogs.
Now, I have never been pulled over for more than speeding, headlight out, expired inspection sticker, etc., never an OUI or for cannabis or other road violation and I have a clean record.
Police officers will ask me if I have drank any alcohol that night or have done drugs. I would say once, maybe twice, in asking if I had consumed any alcohol or drugs, that officer asked if had I consumed any alcohol or drugs or have any alcohol or drugs in the car/with me, or something to that affect.
As always its nothing but 'no's' and smiles from me and complete compliance and I am sent on my way.
I haven't had an officer try to detain me longer for information (a tactic Barry shows himself doing in his first video), after he wrote a citation or gave a warning, they would simply let me on my way.
Is it possibly the way or manner in which I answer their questions?
Could it be they are just not trying that hard (cannabis is considered a class b where I am) or have not had effective narcotics interdiction training (I haven't had one lean their head in to get a real good wiff like Barry does on his video)? I'll also say that the majority of police I have encountered, even ones who pulled me over when I was speeding a few times, were very polite and professional and seemed merely interested in just giving me a ticket or warning and sending me on my way. I've encountered a couple "hard ass" (perhaps assholeish) style of police officer but most are I've run into are actually really nice and just trying to do their job.
My main question is WHY? Granted, I am cautious enough to have not given probable cause in the event of a traffic stop, but I recognize that I could be profiled and sometimes they could smell cannabis on me or somewhere. Or they could ask for a search just because they can, and make me have to say either yes or no, but they never even bother to ask (and as Barry has said, when you refuse consent to a search, it raises huge red flags and suspicions).
Why don't they ask me? Like that one who asked if I had consumed any alcohol or drugs, I said no, asked if I have any alcohol or drugs, said no, but didn't ask "can I search your vehicle"? I knew he suspected me of having something, at least user quantities, but he didn't proceed with this line of questioning and the entire encounter was very non-threatening and he was very quick and polite. Granted, he pulled me over for having a headlight out, it had just blown, and it had just got dark, but he could have tried to proceed further and get me on something. Why not? Could he not have legally asked me anything more or proceeded further to try to get consent to a search or probable cause?
Is this kind of treatment typical of the majority of encounters with law enforcement officers and (perhaps routine?) traffic stops? Are most really just that nice, just trying to help people and maintain a general order? Do they usually just want to give you the ticket and go, or are they always seemingly trying to make that bust?
I can only wonder what people think and the majority of experiences, especially those of current and ex law enforcement. Unless you are doing something more than speeding, or they smell or see something to give them probable cause, are most peoples police encounters generally routine? Or will they fish for info and try and get a search? Will only certain officers, generally those more experienced or perhaps those specifically looking for narcotics (or those who are just "hard assed"), try to detain after giving a citation to get consent to a search or probable cause?
After 2 speeding tickets and a warning so far I've found a surefire method for not getting pulled over - obey the rules of the road! Seriously! Don't speed, don't drive drunk, don't screw up on the road when driving. Second, make sure plates, stickers, insurance, etc. is up to date and if a headlight goes out, fix it immediately before it gets dark. If you can't, just try and not get pulled over. Know where the cops are and where they like to hide, whether this be in your city or within your state, or the areas you travel to/from and frequent. Learn to spot cop cars by their headlights (most all cop cars I see are fords), license plates, and undercover car markers (which may have regular plates but may have spotlights, extra antennas, tinted windows, special front bumper, any other markers?).
But I do worry about just getting pulled over for no reason, and I know it happens to people, so in addition I remember to check to make sure I have no way of giving an officer probable cause in the event of a stop. Be prepared with an excuse, answer quick, make eye contact, and keep to your stories! And easy to say but hard to do, don't be nervous! At least too nervous.
1 out of 100 adults is in a prison, there is no reason to increase this number. In this kind of world you cannot ever be too safe, even when posting on message boards anonymously  |
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narcdet
Civil Libertarian
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Cops know that getting pulled over is nerve racking for people, so some nervousness is expected. But there is a difference between being nervous because you don't want a speeding ticket and being nervous because you don't want the cop to find your stash, and an experienced officer can tell the difference.
Some cops are masters at reading people and they can spot a lie in a heartbeat. I have had people do ride alongs with me and I can usually tell them what someone will do or say before they do it. They are always amazed at that, thinking I have some sort of psychic ability or something, but it's really just my experience coupled with my ability to pay close attention to everything.
However, cops are human too. So if you are able to put them at ease, make them comfortable with you, you have a much better chance of being let go with a warning or ticket but no search. But there are some cops out there that will search, or attempt to search, every vehicle they pull over. There is nothing you can do about them except hope you have hidden your stash well or hope that even though they want to search you have given them no real reason and they can't. |
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trox9999
Antiprohibitionist
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
Posts: 64
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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Narcdet,
Does it make a difference if you leave the car running or not when the officer pulls you over?
Also do people react like they are angry or iritated but not rude or very angry just a little saucey or "smart" when you pull them over does this reaction strike you as normal verses very friendly and happy?
I think normally when I was pulled over once I was angry he said I looked like someone they were looking for in the area. I thought he was profiling because I was going under 50 under 30 actually I had just turned the corner literally 40 seconds from my house. I think thats what struck me as odd and immediately I got iritated because I knew he profiled me and I didn't like his excuse. |
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narcdet
Civil Libertarian
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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As a cop, I like it when someone turns the car off, takes the keys out of the ignition, and puts them on the dash. I know that is expecting alot because people don't think of stuff like that, but it just assures the cop that you aren't planning on going anywhere.
Also, if someone snaps at me when I walk up to the car, they are pretty much assured of getting a ticket. To tell you the truth, half the time people write their own tickets just by being asses. As a cop I'm doing my job by enforcing traffic violations, and I don't need crap from you when I do it..lol
And even if I pulled you over just because I wanted a closer look at you or your car it does not guarantee that I will search you or write you a ticket. I may spend a few minutes with you and feel everything is good and send you on your way. But if you are an ass you will leave with a ticket, even if the stop was for something like failure to use your turn signal when changing lanes etc.
Ya'll may not like it, but I will speak the truth..lol |
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trox9999
Antiprohibitionist
Joined: 17 Feb 2008
Posts: 64
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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I like truth it's not a problem 
Just to clarify more in regards to preventing the officer from searching the vehicle b4 he ask too, does it deter him if you are iritated kinda like I'm late what do you want but not snappy... or would it encourage him to search if your happy and friendly. I think I would be more supicious of someone who is happy they just got pulled over dunno just me. |
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narcdet
Civil Libertarian
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:21 am Post subject: |
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We don't expect anyone to be happy they got pulled over. There is no problem with sounding exasperated and saying something like "Man, I'm late for work"
Also, don't tell the cop you were not doing what he pulled you over for. I know people on here seem to think that police pull people over for made up stuff, but the truth is that there are so many ways to violate traffic-related laws that a cop can find a legal, valid reason for a stop, so it is unlikely that he is lying about why he stopped you. Of course, he may have technically stopped you for that broken taillight when he really wants to search your car. This is known as a pretextual stop, and the courts have ruled that it is legal as long as the cop does have a valid reason, no matter how trivial, for pulling you over.
The truth is that cops are human with all different kinds of personalities so what may work well with one cop may not work with another. I can say, without question, that being an asshole or a jerk to the cop will NEVER work in your favor. |
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dawsonspaw
Pink Floydian slip
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Posts: 347
Location: Somewhere in the temporal space inside my mind
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| Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 10:39 am Post subject: |
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That also works in,life,work,and every other social interaction you may have.......try to be like what most of the pot heads preach on this forum. passive and non confrontmental,it seems to work for me  |
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von
Jerry Garcia
Joined: 25 Jan 2008
Posts: 354
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:56 am Post subject: |
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its wrong to stop a car just because you want a closer look at the driver or look at the car. go car shopping. then you think of anything to say why you stopped them. try stopping the ones that actually break the law. you say there are many laws a cop can find to make a valid reason for a stop. 'i have quoted you'. you sound like the cop that takes the blow j offer from the woman you are about to give a ticket to. 'very trivial' sorry i had to say it. LOL sorry i said a nasty. i'm punished, i'm going medicate myself. this is to much. LOL
peace, von |
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narcdet
Civil Libertarian
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:17 am Post subject: |
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von,
You are free to say anything you like. However, I will tell you that nothing pisses me off more than when someone questions my ethics. I am a cop, that's true. I do my job and I don't break laws to do it. Nor do I take bribes...or blowjobs, as you say, from a woman wanting to get out of a ticket. Get a life.
You may disagree with a traffic stop for pretextual reasons, but take your gripe to the supreme court since they are the ones that ruled they are legal and valid. I do not have to "make up" things to say when I stop a car because I stop them for legally valid reasons. |
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socrateez
Stoned Philosopher
Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 1226
Location: I'm the person to your right.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:43 am Post subject: |
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 Narcdet didnt actually say why he would want to get a closer look at the vehicle or driver. I presume for closer examination based on already mounting reasonable suspicions or traffic infraction as outlined in our laws and deemed just by the Supreme Court of the land. |
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socrateez
Stoned Philosopher
Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Posts: 1226
Location: I'm the person to your right.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:48 am Post subject: |
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Thats probally why I'm not a cop. I would have a hard time not looking at some hot womans cleavage while I ruin her day (and my chances with her) by writing her a ticket. Thats discipline I lack! LOL! I can appreciate your defense of ethic Narcdet.
Have you personally ever heard of anything like that happening? Getting out a ticket for sex? Or is that Hollywood Myth? Wondering minds want to know... |
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von
Jerry Garcia
Joined: 25 Jan 2008
Posts: 354
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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sorry i pissed you off narcdet, i never questioned your ethics. i said you sound like the cop, not you were the cop. its the way you worded your answer. and thanks, i do have a great life, full of joy and wealth.
peace, |
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narcdet
Civil Libertarian
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Forgive me if I don't buy that response. Only children play the game of "I didn't say you were that I just said you sounded like it" In grown up world saying "You sound like an idiot" means "You are an idiot" I'm glad that you have a good life. It would probably be even better if you found actual ethically challenged people to bash instead of those that take their ethics seriously. |
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von
Jerry Garcia
Joined: 25 Jan 2008
Posts: 354
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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you know its better being pissed off than being pissed on. you make me regret i said i'm sorry. i ment what i said you came off as such, i dont find it childish i tried to apoligise, you are so ate up with being a cop you want take it. you think you are better than us on this board. a big cop WOW.
peace, |
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narcdet
Civil Libertarian
Joined: 21 Aug 2007
Posts: 100
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| Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:51 am Post subject: |
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| If you are remotely familiar with any of my previous posts you will quite clearly see that I do not think I am better than anyone on this forum. I also do not think that my comments made me sound like an ethically challenged cop. If there are others on this forum that agree with you on this I would like them to go ahead and say so. What I think is that you are simply looking for reasons to think cops are inherently immoral so you read things into my statements that are not even remotely there. |
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