Are cops easier on people who make a living driving?

[Sam_Julier]

I was pulled over on I-84 by a young, totally jacked gym rat Mass State Trouper. At the end of the month. I was polite, he was a jerk. Threw my license, registration and summons back to me.

I appeared in court. The judge had the head of the State Police unit with him. I told the judge I would pay the fine as I was over the speed limit. I also told the judge the officer made up some of the things on the summons. And that he was a jerk.

I declined another meeting this time with the officer saying if he could make up stuff on my summons he couldn’t be trusted in person. It will just be my word against his.

I thanked the judge and the senior trouper.

 

[John105]

Dunno how true but there was a YouTube showing NJ State Police let go people who had those gold cards. That surprised me, even alcohol related offenses. On body cam. I've seen those cards and they look like stuff you'd have made up in Time Square back in the 80's.

p.s. pretty sure I've posted this before, the only states where cops have been not nice to me personally is NYS and CT. It's easier to list out the 2 bad states, than it is the 16 other good ones.

 

[Mainia]

Well said.

I was fortunate with my dept here in SC to have discretion on how I did my job and also having support from not only the admin., but the citizens as well. With regard to how I enforced the law, I treated it as behavior modification and attitude does play a big part. Pull over, be polite, understand and acknowledge what you did wrong and the impact it has on traffic safety? You probably got a warning from me. Act disrespectful, challenge what you did wrong or my authority to do my job, have a record of habitually doing the same type violation? I give you an invitation to see a real live judge. This was my sole variable in the totality of circumstances that would sway me one way ot another, didn't matter what you did for a living or who you were. If I thought the mere fact, along with the trauma, of being stopped and pointing out what you did wrong would keep you from avoiding said behavior in the future, I had done my job.

Short answer is “No”; professional drivers aren’t afforded any extra consideration.

Attitude and previous history are the key factors, subject to dept policy.

I have a question to the officers and X officers on this site, If I get stopped, my car has dark tinted windows (OEM) on the back doors and hatchback. I always thought if I were an officer coming up to a car I would like to see no one was in the back as I was coming up to the car. A poster above said he opens both windows, I will assume he means the back. Do you guys like that? or does it make you a "couple clicks" higher worried why did they open that window? If you were in the hood I would worry a bit on that one because they have been known to open fire on officers coming up to the car. Do you like to see this action or don't you, also as a group. You may not dislike this, but as a whole do others on the force as whole dislike this action a newly pulled over driver may do?

 

[shortyb]

I, personally, want to see all of what goes on inside the car, especially at night. I always appreciate when someone rolls down the windows to let me see that, but never let my guard down because they do. I'm always hyper vigilant on traffic stops and try to devise ways of approach that the occupants don't expect. Passenger side approach is one my favorites. Plus I always have plans A, B, C, D all the way through the alphabet ready to go just in case things go sideways. Traffic stops are one of the worst and you have to expect just about anything. This why training is important and must be done ALL the time if you want to go home at the end of your shift.

 

[eljefino]

My daughter in law is a RN and her husband ( My son ) is a Deputy . She could get away with almost anything .
My wife has a decal on her back window that says Deputy Sheriff's Mom . That has gotten her special treatment before .

Distant relative has a decal on the back of her license reading "In case of emergency contact my brother, Sgt. so-and-so, LMNO-PD." She gets away with a lot.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Yes, they do get a break as long as it's within reason. There are always exceptions but it's all about being decent and not doing anything completely stupid. I was told in the summertime to open all windows so the officer can check the contents of the vehicle quickly. It's basically all about common sense, a good attitude and treating the officer with the respect he/she deserves.

 

[The motor guy]

I was pulled over on I-84 by a young, totally jacked gym rat Mass State Trouper. At the end of the month. I was polite, he was a jerk. Threw my license, registration and summons back to me.

I appeared in court. The judge had the head of the State Police unit with him. I told the judge I would pay the fine as I was over the speed limit. I also told the judge the officer made up some of the things on the summons. And that he was a jerk.

I declined another meeting this time with the officer saying if he could make up stuff on my summons he couldn’t be trusted in person. It will just be my word against his.

I thanked the judge and the senior trouper.

What did that accomplish?

 

[Lyman]

I have had a CDL since 1982. I have had a few Officers let me slide on a few things over the years as they knew after running my license that I had a spotless record.

 

[Cropduster172]

I’ll just tell 1/3 of the incidents. Back in 2005, I was driving home having partied at the shore. NJSP lit it up. I thought man I have just changed my life for the worse. Long story short? The trooper told me you need to get off the road, take a rest, and don’t leave until you’re rested, understand? I had exited the expressway and pulled into a Wendy’s. I was courteous and so was the trooper. In retrospect he used his discretion and it was not wasted and was genuinely appreciated. 19 years have passed and I haven’t had any more incidents. Every type of police officer I’ve encountered in my life has been courteous and professional, and I will make 2 exceptions. CT and NY. And no offense if anyone works there it’s just my limited experience….

That was well before NJSP Troopers wore bodycams. Wouldn't happen today.

 

[alarmguy]

Depends on the officer and courtesy of the driver.
I was always upfront, honest and polite to officers. In decades even as a kid I got less than a handful of tickets in 50 years. As a teenager I was pulled over MANY times, always respectful, one ticket. One time I was going to take a police exam to be an officer.

As a cop who deals with the lowest forms of grudge in society they may have some sympathy for a polite hardworking driver running food, making an honest dollar. It only makes sense as we are all human.

Good point though, with everything recorded now there maybe less wiggle room.

 

[SaberOne]

I gave big rig truck driving a shot, but honestly, I wasn’t great at it. It’s tough work and takes a lot more brainpower than people think—dealing with logbooks and everything else. If I were in law enforcement today, I wouldn’t hassle truck drivers unless it was for something serious.

 

[Cropduster172]

I was a cop in NJ. Discretion for minor MV violations...treat me like a human doing my job, I'll treat you accordingly.
Bodycams changed a lot of that. DUI traffic stops now are off the table entirely.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

My dad was a truck driver and worked for a guy whose name could get you out of anything. At least locally. I can remember a few times I was with him and he got pulled over and simply mentioned who he worked for and the officer immediately responded with - Have a nice day! and that was that.

It was never anything crazy. His personal truck not having an inspection. Or the 18 wheeler with a light out or something.

 

[Snagglefoot]

My daughter in law is a RN and her husband ( My son ) is a Deputy . She could get away with almost anything .
My wife has a decal on her back window that says Deputy Sheriff's Mom . That has gotten her special treatment before .

For sure if you are a first responder or nurse, show your ID card along with your license when stopped by the RCMP. In most cases, they’ll let you go.