Confessions of a Traffic Cop

[buster]

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/confessions-of-a-traffic-cop-214425046.html


Some good questions answered.

From 2000-2008, I was averaging 50,000 miles per year of driving. Usually from South Jersey to Princeton to NY State.

One thing I've always noticed in this area is that in a 65 mph speed limit, you can do up to 80 mph w/o getting pulled over. I've noticed this on 295 and the TP. I've actually had state troopers fly up behind while I'm in the left lane doing 80mph and pass by me. (pushing me out of the left lane).

 

[Darren270]

I was friends with a trooper from the Colorado State Patrol and used to pester him with all sorts of annoying "what if...?" questions. His answers pretty much mirrored what the officer said in the article.

Specifically I remember he told me that...

1. If you're doing about 10-15 mph over the speed limit or less, he couldn't care less. Pulling you over usually wasn't worth his time. Also time of day had a lot to do with it. If you were doing say 85 in a 65 on the freeway at 3 in the morning when there is little to no traffic, he wouldn't bother to pull you over.

2. One of his pet peeves and a great source of amusement (and I'm sure we've all seen this and done this) though was how traffic bunched up behind him whenever he was driving down the street. Its like people are afraid to pass police officers even though many times they are traveling at less than the posted limit. He joked that they would sometimes do this on purpose (drive slow) and watch everyone get behind him and never pass. Oh and he added that you should feel free to pass...you're not going to get pulled over.

3. Weather also determined if you would get pulled over or not. If it's pouring down rain or 10 degrees and snowing...it was less likely he would pull someone over.

4. Never lie. They hate that. If you get pulled over speeding, they know you were speeding and you know you were too. They've heard every excuse imaginable. If you just say "yeah, sorry about that", he said that often times he would let you go with a warning. The moment you lie or argue...guaranteed ticket every single time!

5. And just to lay it to rest in case you're wondering...yes they do have ticket quotas and yes they have to fill them.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: Darren270

2. One of his pet peeves and a great source of amusement (and I'm sure we've all seen this and done this) though was how traffic bunched up behind him whenever he was driving down the street. Its like people are afraid to pass police officers even though many times they are traveling at less than the posted limit. He joked that they would sometimes do this on purpose (drive slow) and watch everyone get behind him and never pass. Oh and he added that you should feel free to pass...you're not going to get pulled over.



I've always thought it makes you look suspicious if you don't pass a cop that's going under the speed limit!

 

[gfh77665]

Read this part carefully:

Besides speeding, which is the reason for most tickets, what's most likely to get a traffic cop's attention?

Seatbelts, cell phones, red lights, and stop signs. I concentrate on all the things that can cause an accident. There are some cops who write tickets for expired plates, for having no insurance or registration, but you're not going to crash because of any of that. I focused on safety issues—that's what I like to do.

FIRST thing he mentions is SEATBETS. How many times has not wearing a seatbelt CAUSED and accident? What an idiot.

 

[HerrStig]

You can add ten MPH to your "safe" speed with an "under the radar" car like a nice stock looking mid size Toyota sedan . Even better is a Crown Vic with blackwalls and plain wheels. Put a Larsen or Antenna Secialists VHF highband antenna on the back (many hams use them) and they WAVE at you. ( A big ole ZeeBeee whip doesn't help) Buddy of mine with such a car used to park near a big courthouse in Boston...never got a parking ticket. I had a neighbor who was a busy OB/GYn, always delivering babies, including the local cop's kids. He often picked up a police escort on the way to the hospital, even, as he put it, when that WASN'T were he was actually going. He'd park in the ER lot, run inside, and wait for the cruiser to leave.
MY tips, stay OUT of the passing lane except to pass, Get the bleep out of the way when you see flashing lights behind you, don't FOLLOW a cruiser or rescue which is really moving, ( the dumbest thing I have ever heard is the "if HE can speed, so can I arguement) and DON'T put a "STOP RACIAL PROFILING" (or the like) bumper sticker on your Dieter Wagon, and expect a break. Most cops DON'T profile, their trouble antenna are well developed as it is.

 

[The_Jeff]

I had a police scanner a few years back (when I had time on my hands) and at the time a seat belt was a secondary infraction; you needed something else to get pulled over.

There was an incredible rash of dreamcatchers, air fresheners and other junk blocking windscreens with seat belt violations going hand in hand.

I have a little secret I'll share, if I see a cop pull out behind me or do a U-ey and I was speeding substantially, I just pull over before he has to give pursuit. It shows I'm paying attention, subserviant, etc and I've gotten warnings both times I've pulled "that stunt".

 

[rjundi]

If you are good looking and have a great personality (at least female) they let you go.

My wife's two friends(hot moms) get pulled over constantly. The cops know them and they get warned for things like no inspection sticker, speeding, rolling stops. My wife has been let go a few times also for speeding. She again is great with people and good looking.

The worst was wife's friend passing a school bus with lights on(she was unaware) and the cop pulled her over so parents would not flip out who saw. Let her go.

Car seems to make a difference. One of them gets pulled over way more in a 1998 Accord DX with some tint with scratches and dirty. Her husband is a Dr but spends his money on vacation and really nice things. It looks like a drug car.

 

[highmilegeguy]

I call [censored] on the ticket quota.

There is no way there is any WRITTEN policy about tickets. But, much like in baseball's unwritten rules ( like a little chin music for a batter crowding the plate ) I'm sure they need a certain amount to not get a sideways look from the watch commander. And any promotion.

 

[John_K]

Originally Posted By: highmilegeguy
I call [censored] on the ticket quota.

There is no way there is any WRITTEN policy about tickets. But, much like in baseball's unwritten rules ( like a little chin music for a batter crowding the plate ) I'm sure they need a certain amount to not get a sideways look from the watch commander. And any promotion.


Yes, we have off duty cops at work for security and this is exactly what they say.

John

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: John_K
Originally Posted By: highmilegeguy
I call [censored] on the ticket quota.

There is no way there is any WRITTEN policy about tickets. But, much like in baseball's unwritten rules ( like a little chin music for a batter crowding the plate ) I'm sure they need a certain amount to not get a sideways look from the watch commander. And any promotion.


Yes, we have off duty cops at work for security and this is exactly what they say.

John


For the state troopers in WI, the quota is not for tickets written but for number of cars pulled over for each type of infraction. Our freind needs to record occurances for speeding, OWI and other various catagories of moving violations each month or have good reason why he didn't make the quota.

 

[Tempest]

Quote:
Do traffic cops think it's cheating to hide behind billboards?

No. You've got a radar detector; you know where we hide. If you are thinking we are hiding somewhere, it's because you're speeding.

Quote:
I'll park under overpasses, on bridges.


Muggers hide in dark places so as to surprise you and forcefully remove your property. What is the difference as to what these people are doing?

These people do it under the color of law which makes them even worse. Muggers with badges is all they are.

 

[Donald]

I think having a "Budwiser University" bumper sticker might get you a ticket.

 

[PandaBear]

From my experience, they don't pull you over if you are not in the fastest lane and drive faster than others (passing), and they only ticket people for at least 15mph over because the fine is a lot higher when it is at least 15mph. The gov don't want to waste resource and want to catch big fish.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear
From my experience, they don't pull you over if you are not in the fastest lane and drive faster than others (passing), and they only ticket people for at least 15mph over because the fine is a lot higher when it is at least 15mph. The gov don't want to waste resource and want to catch big fish.


Pretty much. I can set the cruise at 13-14mph over and they don't bother me. 79/65 and 69/55 on my way to/from work

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
If you are good looking and have a great personality (at least female) they let you go.

My wife's two friends(hot moms) get pulled over constantly. The cops know them and they get warned for things like no inspection sticker, speeding, rolling stops. My wife has been let go a few times also for speeding. She again is great with people and good looking.

The worst was wife's friend passing a school bus with lights on(she was unaware) and the cop pulled her over so parents would not flip out who saw. Let her go.

Car seems to make a difference. One of them gets pulled over way more in a 1998 Accord DX with some tint with scratches and dirty. Her husband is a Dr but spends his money on vacation and really nice things. It looks like a drug car.
How many warnings are traded for an air atart?

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
Quote:
Do traffic cops think it's cheating to hide behind billboards?

No. You've got a radar detector; you know where we hide. If you are thinking we are hiding somewhere, it's because you're speeding.

Quote:
I'll park under overpasses, on bridges.


Muggers hide in dark places so as to surprise you and forcefully remove your property. What is the difference as to what these people are doing?

These people do it under the color of law which makes them even worse. Muggers with badges is all they are.
Far more agressive drivers and just plain BAD drivers are caught by officers out in plain sight looking for moving violations than are nailed by the guy hiding behind a bridge abutment filling a quota. You can go by them SIDEWAYS at the speed limit and they won't even look up from the gun.

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
Muggers hide in dark places so as to surprise you and forcefully remove your property. What is the difference as to what these people are doing?

These people do it under the color of law which makes them even worse. Muggers with badges is all they are.


As much as I hate paying for tickets I disagree with you. Government needs money and this is what you get when you have budget problems. I'll leave it at that.

These muggers with badge also respond to 911 calls, Amber alerts, stopping drunk drivers, accidents, etc, but when they are idle they give out tickets that are avoidable (don't speed too much). Insurance cos know a thing or two when they give out different prices for drivers with different amount of tickets.

 

[Kruse]

Somewhat off topic, but a dealer I worked at sold the city police department a Crown Vic police cruiser. It was a slow day, so I had to do the new car inspection. (Check to make sure that everything on the check list for a new car was checked off and working) The car had already had the decals put on, lights installed and the only thing it needed after I was done inspecting it was for the police radio equipment to be installed. I took it on the highway cruise (to check for road noise, front end pull, etc.) and I noticed that all on-coming traffic applied their brakes and the front of their cars did the nose dive. I also wonder what I would do it I came along a highway accident or witnessed a crime and somebody would try to wave down a cop.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Seatbelt law is a revenue generator only. It' a *nanny law* so the government can save us from ourselves.

 

[stockrex]

ticket quota is not there but there are cities that DEPEND on the ticket income to pay for their drugs and alcohol for their police and city officials.
I can give you quite a few examples of little towns where state police came and took over for their illegal tickets.