No Sir, I was not going 54

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by Bowtie Guy Z28

Okay so color of vehicle has no bearing. But what about the race? The way I see it is if I was a suspect for something based on the information this cop had written, they would be looking for a White guy in a Red Camaro... I'm a Black guy in an Orange Camaro. How could that hold up? I'm just trying to understand this...

Well, the traffic citations are informational. NOT used for criminal aspects such as race, color of car etc.

The reason race, sex, height, weight, hair, eyes are on there are for two reasons. Say if I pull you over and you do not have a drivers license and I have to run your name on the computer. I write you and add that info, then the charge DWLS or drive W/O license. You go to court and claim "that wasn't me"!..Well, after I give you your copy, I add that info so that all other copies are replicated in 5 copies. Traffic citations are used also for non driving offenses such as pedestrian infractions or loitering. No license information is required, yet the descriptors (sex, race, weight...et al) are included.

I have NEVER used any race, sex, weight infor on my tickets because it is tantamount to profiling and according to our general orders, that info should not be added when identity is NOT in question.

What officers percieve is one thing. If he wrote red 2010 Chevy Camaro liscense plate 123-WER and the only issue is that your car is orange, you have no stance. Now if the color written is black and the plate is wrong, you have stance.

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by jrhaus76

I agree that most cops are good people. It is the bad experiences we have all had with the not so decent ones that stereotype "all" cops together. I have had my share of run ins and I will say I got off A LOT more times for bad shit being nice and respecting the cop then the few times when I was young and dumd and smarted off...

For example, last August i had just got my IROC. It was late (3am) and my wife had to work late so I took her to work. As I said it was late, the car was new (to me) and I started to play a little. Turned down this Industrial Raod and hit it. Now a stock 89 IROC, hitting it isnt much but it will break the 35 mph speed limit. I am "hauling" about 60 in a 35 and I see head lights WAYYY back... first thought, no way, not on this road, so I get to the red light, its red but I am going right so i zip around, no stop, get a little squirley and hit it again. HMMM those head lights are MUCH closee now! POW, there goes the blue and reds... damn! Well cop walks up to the car... I had the engine off, the interior lights on and all my paperwork ready. i was polite, explained that it was new and I was playing around a bit. Gave my stuff back and told me to have a nice night... no ticket for speeding or running the red light.

Just be nice... doesn't always work but i can tell you being a a$$hole to the cop NEVER works!

We all have had run in's with bad waitresses, lawn fertilizer services, party store owners, plumbers, family, doctors..

What makes us police any different? Because we cost you money and our job simply is to say "no"? This is not all about coffers and money for revenue. Yes, there are municipalities that have quotas..thats why I left the suburbs. I write and write and write...and the people I stop have long driving records.

Yes, alot of you who have no common sense or respect will bad mouth police..why? because you are a bad driver perhaps? My father and mother have not had a ticket since 1965. Why? good drivers, respect the road and other drivers and do not put themselves in a position or situation to be f-ed with.

Now we get into everything else. Yes, there are bad cops, yes, there are pricks, yes there are better than you attitudes. I CAN'T disagree. but to typify all cops because YOU broke the law, you know you broke the law and spew off here accomplishes what?

[Scrappy Doo]

Originally Posted by Banshee

We all have had run in's with bad waitresses, lawn fertilizer services, party store owners, plumbers, family, doctors..

What makes us police any different? Because we cost you money and our job simply is to say "no"? This is not all about coffers and money for revenue. Yes, there are municipalities that have quotas..thats why I left the suburbs. I write and write and write...and the people I stop have long driving records.

Yes, alot of you who have no common sense or respect will bad mouth police..why? because you are a bad driver perhaps? My father and mother have not had a ticket since 1965. Why? good drivers, respect the road and other drivers and do not put themselves in a position or situation to be f-ed with.

Now we get into everything else. Yes, there are bad cops, yes, there are pricks, yes there are better than you attitudes. I CAN'T disagree. but to typify all cops because YOU broke the law, you know you broke the law and spew off here accomplishes what?

I couldn't have said it better myself.

[rachelcb80]

Originally Posted by Banshee

We all have had run in's with bad waitresses, lawn fertilizer services, party store owners, plumbers, family, doctors..

What makes us police any different? Because we cost you money and our job simply is to say "no"? This is not all about coffers and money for revenue. Yes, there are municipalities that have quotas..thats why I left the suburbs. I write and write and write...and the people I stop have long driving records.

Yes, alot of you who have no common sense or respect will bad mouth police..why? because you are a bad driver perhaps? My father and mother have not had a ticket since 1965. Why? good drivers, respect the road and other drivers and do not put themselves in a position or situation to be f-ed with.

Now we get into everything else. Yes, there are bad cops, yes, there are pricks, yes there are better than you attitudes. I CAN'T disagree. but to typify all cops because YOU broke the law, you know you broke the law and spew off here accomplishes what?

I may be reading into this wrong but it sounds like you took what jrhaus76 said the wrong way. He wasn't spewing off or saying anything bad about cops. He was suggesting people be nice because sometimes that can go a long ways. Again, maybe I'm not understanding your post correctly and if so, sorry.

[jbgz28]

I have great respect for police officers. They provide a service few of us could imagine trying to perform. All I know is that I wasn't going 54mpg.

[jbgz28]

Originally Posted by Banshee

You are Absolutely correct! Not from the authority standpoint, but the technology, training in order to use LIDAR and the accuracy. I have NEVER in 15 years heard of a LIDAR thrown out on a technicality.

My only suggestion? Get a really good radar detector..Valentine/Escort or Passport.

I will answer ANY questions you guys have about anything regarding tickets, fighting them, how to approach an officer..ANYTHING!

I can get you out of a ticket most times IF you are 100% honest with me regarding what you were doing and your attitude.

I believe if you tried on your own to research your avenues or options, you could get out of it on your own, but will give you very good advice.

#1...even if you "think/believe" you didn't do anything, be POLITE, courteous and DO NOT make the officer wait for your credentials. Especially true in the rain.

2. Make NO excuses!

3. Do not admit ANYTHING! I mean ANYTHING. Play stupid unless you were obviously doing 60 in a 30...then see #4.

4. If you got pants down busted as in a certain something the parents shouldn't see... Be humble and HONEST! NOT Apologetic, defensive or use ANY EXCUSE!

I hate excuses..I have been around the block, a mechanic, fast driver, was a kid once, have had emergencies, etc. I can pick apart your bullshit faster than you can spew it, not because I am cynical, it's my job. Your body language, eye movement, responses to my questions are all indicative signs.

Hey...Just be cool...like Fonzie. We know what time it is. You will go farther with me being honest than giving me BS.

I believe I was courteous. I did address him with Sir. I did admit to going 42 in 35. But as stated before, I was not going 54. I have to admit that most of the tickest I have gotten im my life were deserved

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by rachelcb80

I may be reading into this wrong but it sounds like you took what jrhaus76 said the wrong way. He wasn't spewing off or saying anything bad about cops. He was suggesting people be nice because sometimes that can go a long ways. Again, maybe I'm not understanding your post correctly and if so, sorry.

Rachel..

Not at all....what I wrote was general and NOT specific towards any particular poster. Seems that a majority of police centered posts are negative. We have to ask ourselves why? Out of the 60 men and women on my shift, there are 2 that are complete pricks. Sometimes, in Detroit we HAVE to be. Why? element, attitude, location, condition, circumstance. Justified? maybe. If most of you walked in our shoes and just understood why we react to what you do, you would have better clarification to cause and effect.

It is easy to vent here and stereotype police and get away with it because there is free reign to say what you want.

No, I am not at all taking any particular post personal. Hell, I work in Detroit 60-80 hours a week..I have more important issues than to vocalize or criticize a member here. Only being general. I re-read the last sentence in my post you refer to...I understand it appears I am upset at him, not at all.

I jumped the gun and misread another topic/post and kind of went off on tangents and I was wrong. I didn't read it thoroughly.

[JGinLA]

Our department (AST) got moving radar in the early 70's while I was still fairly new. Eventually I was responsible for training new people and re-certifying old ones. They were required to estimate speeds and satisfy the instructor that they were competent to use a radar after passing a written test.
The one rookie that couldn't do it was sent to the capital to guard the governor's mansion. I recommended that we let him go based on this and other problems but was overruled.

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by jbgz28

I believe I was courteous. I did address him with Sir. I did admit to going 42 in 35. But as stated before, I was not going 54. I have to admit that most of the tickest I have gotten im my life were deserved

I have made errors...I wrote a girl a ticket for running a red light. She thoroughly denied she did, yet respected me. I did not deserve her respect as I found out from having a funny feeling to check the light. It was red for me, yet green for her direction...an unusual staggered light.

She made a court date and I first apologized to her for having to come to court in front of Judge, then explained that the light was improperly sequenced, that I was wrong then requested a dismissal.

So...with that, YES, we do make errors. If you feel erred, please make a court date and fight it.

[IROCanSS]

Originally Posted by rachelcb80

I may be reading into this wrong but it sounds like you took what jrhaus76 said the wrong way. He wasn't spewing off or saying anything bad about cops. He was suggesting people be nice because sometimes that can go a long ways. Again, maybe I'm not understanding your post correctly and if so, sorry.

I thought so too... but he cleared it up.

[SleepWarz]

Originally Posted by Banshee

So...with that, YES, we do make errors. If you feel erred, please make a court date and fight it.

Always do ^_^