Stopped by a really nice cop

[Stelth]

A couple of weeks ago, I was driving my work van through downtown San Diego, when a dazzling display of multi-colored lights appeared suddenly in my mirrors. I pulled over as soon as I could, and rolled down my window. The cop came walking up, and told me that he had stopped me because my brake lights were acting very strangely - sometimes not working, other times blinking rapidly, and so on. I told him that I was surprised to hear that, since after I got this van, I had gone through the lights, replacing bulbs where necessary, and one complete turn signal assembly (all true). He said, "Well, step on the brakes a few times, and I'll go look and see what's happening." He came back and said that they mostly weren't working. I supplied him with the requisite paperwork, and he returned to his car. A few minutes later, he returned, and I told him I would find out what was wrong, and fix it as soon as possible. He said something friendly, and turned to leave (No ticket!) I thanked him for letting me know that I had a problem.

It turned out to be a bad brake light switch, which was an easy replacement. The officer was so pleasant that I feel bad that I didn't get his name and call or email his department to compliment him.

 

[The motor guy]

Some people are so [censored] and have an attitude with cops when they get pulled over that I guess they treat people who are normal a lot better.

 

[Dave Hess]

Most cops are good and will give you a warning.

I was pulled over for a headlight out and didn't run my license or ask me for registration / insurance paperwork.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Most cops are good and will give you a warning.

I was pulled over for a headlight out and didn't run my license or ask me for registration / insurance paperwork.


I think it all depends on your driving record too

 

[AirgunSavant]

Great for you. That cop did you a great service too.

 

[DBMaster]

I'm not disputing that he was a nice guy and it may just be standard procedure, but why check all the documents if his goal wasn't to write a citation? The "nice" thing to do would have been to simply tell you about the brake light issue and, if you were respectful, let you go on your way.

BTW, giving out tickets doesn't make a cop inherently a "not nice" guy, either. Just an observation.

 

[4wd]

Nice post - ours are in it for the fines - all black cars and tucked away lights - not very friendly here.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I'm not disputing that he was a nice guy and it may just be standard procedure, but why check all the documents if his goal wasn't to write a citation? The "nice" thing to do would have been to simply tell you about the brake light issue and, if you were respectful, let you go on your way.

BTW, giving out tickets doesn't make a cop inherently a "not nice" guy, either. Just an observation.


They have to just in case the driver is some mass murderer.

 

[spiritrider]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I'm not disputing that he was a nice guy and it may just be standard procedure, but why check all the documents if his goal wasn't to write a citation? The "nice" thing to do would have been to simply tell you about the brake light issue and, if you were respectful, let you go on your way.

BTW, giving out tickets doesn't make a cop inherently a "not nice" guy, either. Just an observation.

They have to just in case the driver is some mass murderer.

A lot of people with active warrants are arrested during routine traffic stops. Believe it or not, a very high percentage of those are for equipment problems. It appears that criminals are very poor at routine maintenance.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Or the car is stolen.

 

[bbhero]

Well that's very likely a great point spiritrider. Most police officers are good guys and ladies. I had a time where I had stopped to help a poor lady stuck in side of the road. And this very pretty state trooper lady came up. I was like, "wow didn't know we had hot lady state troopers now." She was very nice and asked what was going on. I told her well being the fact you are here it's all good so I left.

Of course, with any profession there are tinhorn dictators who have the attitude of "respect my authoriti". Which is highly annoying at times. Even in my profession people have that problem as well. And thus, creating unnecessary drama at times.

 

[gathermewool]

I've only been pulled over four times. Two were great and two were [censored]. Two gave me warnings on account of my being truthful and respectful . One I went to court for and won, because the officer was wrong and it was easy to prove.

The last stuck, with a bogus infraction still on my record. This cop was a liar. Pull over the speeding car in the lead? Nope. Better pull over the sports car and slap him with an ambiguous, "disobeying posted speed limits" citation. When I went to court the judge was flabbergasted . He told me that the officer was trained in use of the radar gun and the radar gun was in calibration; therefore, there was such a preponderance of evidence hat I was lucky he didn't double my fine for having the audacity to show up I. His court!

 

[Kruse]

One of the last times that a cop pulled up behind me was when it was about -10F, it was snowing hard and the wind was about 30 MPH while I was changing a flat tire. Since visibility was poor, he put his flashers on so that traffic wouldn't slam into me.
I was very thankful.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: bbhero
Well that's very likely a great point spiritrider. Most police officers are good guys and ladies. I had a time where I had stopped to help a poor lady stuck in side of the road. And this very pretty state trooper lady came up. I was like, "wow didn't know we had hot lady state troopers now." She was very nice and asked what was going on. I told her well being the fact you are here it's all good so I left.

Of course, with any profession there are tinhorn dictators who have the attitude of "respect my authoriti". Which is highly annoying at times. Even in my profession people have that problem as well. And thus, creating unnecessary drama at times.


I grew up in a small city and I swear all the cops were power hungry *****. You couldn't ask them a question they thought you were trying to argue with them.

 

[SatinSilver]

Good to hear. My only negative experience with an officer was in San Diego. Two of the other officers he was with seemed fine. After he gave me the jay walking ticket he was nice as can be but prior to that he wasn't. I crossed in the cross walk just didn't have the walk light. I crossed since there were no cars around. When I mentioned what happened to a friend that lives there she said the same thing happened to her. She didn't pay it and when she moved there many years later the fine went from 100 to around 1200.

 

[Lyman]

The traffic cops downtown San Diego are [censored] nice. I was making a left turn where I shouldn't have been. It's real easy to do there. A Motor cop pulled up next to me and pointed to the sign. I thanked him and drove away in shock.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I'm not disputing that he was a nice guy and it may just be standard procedure, but why check all the documents if his goal wasn't to write a citation? The "nice" thing to do would have been to simply tell you about the brake light issue and, if you were respectful, let you go on your way.

BTW, giving out tickets doesn't make a cop inherently a "not nice" guy, either. Just an observation.


I have seen more than a few suspects arrested do to traffic stops. Often they have warrants for violent crimes, sex offenses, and drug/human trafficking. One instance in particular the suspect was stopped because his headlights were out of order. The officer ran his paperwork and he had a warrant for assaulting his baby's mamma. The balance between personal freedom and protection of the public is a very fine line which must be debated and observed everyday.

 

[DBMaster]

I appreciate the posts pointing out how people who have outstanding warrants and serial killers are sometimes caught via routine traffic stops. I think the yield on those is infinitesimally small. To pull someone over for a minor issue in the hopes of netting a big bust sounds an awful lot like police state tactics to me.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: DBMaster
I appreciate the posts pointing out how people who have outstanding warrants and serial killers are sometimes caught via routine traffic stops. I think the yield on those is infinitesimally small. To pull someone over for a minor issue in the hopes of netting a big bust sounds an awful lot like police state tactics to me.


That is quite common where I live. I don't mind it too much. When I had a headlight out I saw one running radar and looking for stuff. Sure enough he pulls behind me, runs the plates then turns around and goes back to his spot. The city isn't affluent but is ranked as one of the safest in the state and the country. Somewhere close to 8th and 27th respectively. Three K9 units in a small community and a rival NFL quarterback just donated $10k to help get a new one. Since one is retiring soon.

Several businesses thank law enforcement for keeping the community safe with signs out in front.

 

[wheelman1991]

That's most of them here. They like to power trip like nobody's business. It doesn't help that my area is "quota & crooked cop land". Meth heads and heroin junkies running around rampantly, yet they are too "busy" with dealing with slappy, and his loud muffler or god forbid falsely writing speeding tickets. (It happened to me. (I was doing 55 in a 55, was passed like I was doing 25, then pulled over. She got a 72, I got 68 in a 55. Took it it to court and lost because "the radar is always right" both my speedometer and GPS read 55 mph the whole time......