When questioned by the cops....

Sounds like fun and joy!
But really, I'd just chalk it up to him doing his job and trying to make sure someone didn't get away with being a jerk. Your car was near and fit the description, however vague, so if it had been me run off the road, I'd have appreciated his attempt to help me. They're ALWAYS going to assume that a potential suspect is lying because the type of person who would do that is not the type to say "yep, that was me!"

I spent some time in Ohio being just plain harassed. At the time I was married to an Asian and living in a town where being anything but white was enough to make you suspicious. They stopped my then-husband for stuff like "you were driving really close to the center line and we wanted to make sure you weren't drinking." There's nothing illegal about driving close to the center line! I got stopped numerous times. They knew me from stopping me all the time, but always came up with ideas that even made me laugh. At one point, my vehicle fit the description of a stolen car. Mhm. A green Camry with a permanent plate that had been in my possession a couple years. One time they stopped me and simply told me to vacuum the back seat. Another time they stopped me because my car slid on the ice and just happened to have gone a fraction of an inch beyond the stop sign during the slide. At another time a group of teenagers was trying to run me off the road. I drove straight to the station for help and they just laughed. The guys doing it knew nothing would be done so they SAT ACROSS FROM THE STATION and pulled out behind me when I left...three toddlers in the car.
But the ultimate ridiculous interaction? I was sitting out on the front steps with a friend who had just gotten back from a war zone and was on leave. We were sitting there talking politics when the officer pulled up and approached me. He told me there had been a "report of loud laughter" and threatened me with a fine of a few hundred dollars since it was after 9pm. When I pointed out the pot smoke billowing from the window next to us and that they had a baby in there, he got angry and told me he wasn't there about that, he was there about ME! I admit I couldn't resist being a smart alec on that one at all, by the time he left he was red and steaming and as he walked away I called out that I'd just heard not a plain laugh, but a GUFFAW from some obvious scofflaws coming from "thataway" as I pointed.
I got a speeding ticket the next day...worth every penny. :laugh:

Some places are better than others. That town was just plain stupid. I love the officers in Oregon area...they're polite and respectful and don't stop you unless needed. What's funny is that there was an officer on every corner where I lived in Ohio and people always broke traffic laws. Where I lived in Oregon, there were very few officers or none in some areas so very little presence of authority, yet people still followed the laws like I've never seen. I think there's something about having someone watch over your shoulder that brings out the worst in people. And getting falsely accused, no matter if the guy was just doing his job, would be tough for most anyone to swallow.

But yeah, I know we should always remain polite and Christian. I guess that's generally easier for me now that I've experienced being harassed consistently and can appreciate it when they're just doing their job vs being jerky. For what they do daily they do deserve respect, they are in authority, and even if they act like jerks, I guess everyone's entitled to a bad day.

 

What part of Ohio did you live in Gina?

 

Up top, as in go swimming in Lake Erie on weekends. (about an hour and a half from Cleveland)

 

More years ago than I like to think that it could be I had my license for about a month. I made a left turn and a patroll car turned behind me. I was nervously driving very carefully.
!!BLUE LIGHTS!!
I began thinking what could “I have done”
The officer asked for my license. Trembling, I handed it to him. His expression changed. He looked at my inspection sticker and said “Oh that’s a 7 (July). I thought it was a 1 (expired). Have a good day.”
Later, I realized that I looked about 11 years old. I guess he didn’t think I was old enough to drive.
That started a long list of being pulled over for: Driving While Looking Young, Driving After Midnight (assumed drunk), Riding a Motorcycle (assumed maniac), . . . ETC.

 

I only ask because I lived in the Cleveland area, caught many many yellow lake perch over in Vermillion, which are the best fish on earth for fish fries. Also born in Columbus.

 

Perch and bass, perch and bass. Yep, I do miss the fishing out there. Although they'd started putting warnings out about eating the fish from Lake Erie because of contamination. My doctor encouraged me not to eat any while pregnant and that doctors there put the question "Do you eat fish from Lake Erie" on their intake sheet was enough to keep me fishing elsewhere. (Bass Lake to be exact)

I only went to Columbus a couple times, for the French Quarter shopping and just because it's so pretty right there.

Nice to meet someone who knows the area! Last time I was there (Euclid) I was kinda shocked by how much more crime is taking place in previously nice areas.

 

PUUUUUULEEEEEEZZZZZZEE!!!!!

:laugh::laugh:

 

I know dealiong with cops can be frustrating. They do want to tick you off. They enjoy it.

I also enjoy watching them slam people to the ground, for no apparent reason to cuff them. I've seen this happen many times where there is no threat. They love to be violent. Generally they are angry. I've ministered to wives of officers. This is the general attitude of officers.

I've not had great run-ins with police. Selling cars during a period of my life, one pulled over my customer, and rightfully so, who was test driving with me. She rolled down the window, and he started screaming vehemently at us for having no plate on the car. Ooops. He continued his beligerent rant turning blue in the face, I calmly ask him to cease the yelling and spitting, which made him go off even worse. A friend from the dealer brought us a tag. This guy (cop) calls the dealer to say I was irrate. A lie. And only citizens lie, not cops? Yeah right. As soon as we walked in the door however, uncoached, the customer went to the sales desk and said "I want you to know your salesman was 100% professional and that cop was out of control." Neither of us knew he had called and lied about the incident. This cops behavior is not rare at all.

Another incident I got a speeding ticket. I've gotten several in my life, and was guilty as charged. I seem to just be the one who gets caught. Anyhow, not this time. I pulled on to a highway, 2 lane, right behind a silverado who was speeding big time. As I drove behind him I noticed a highway patrol heading toward us the other direction. Looked in my rearview as the patrol passed. Sure enough, she was turning around to go get him. I looked at my speedometer as soon as I saw the patrol, I was doing 62. It was a 65. But lo and behold, she pulls me over. She comes to my door irrate as she can be yelling of course "I pulled you over for 2 reasons, speeding and not using your signal to pull off." Uh. Sure. "You got the wrong person ma'am, and I know it won't matter to you, go ahead and write me your ticket. I guarantee it won't stick. It didn't." Thank God.

There is no reason for their attitude and yelling and trying to provoke to a fight and to get you mad. Yeah yeah, I know, they deal with lot's of people. So what? That's not an excuse.

The out of control anger, slamming people when it is not necessary wears on my respect for them. They've earned it all by themselves.

 

Remember all the cop shows and movies. #1, don't volunteer information. Answer questions with as few words as possible. "Yes" or "no" preferred. Don't make any off-hand remarks. Don't make any fast moves reaching for stuff. You can always try, "Please restate your question."

You can always ask if you are under arrest as a last resort but THAT can go wrong. If you are under arrest don't say anything without a lawyer.

 

Cops are trained to expect confrontation. The dumb ones use anger and arrogance to attempt to control a situation before it becomes one. There are smarter cops out there. (just a few)

My husband and I, when we were quite young, were driving home from work one evening when I saw a sheriff's car coming along a service road that ran parallel to the road we were on. I told my husband to check his speed because we were about to be pulled over. Husband says, "I'm not speeding!" To which I replied, "doesn't matter we are about to be pulled over." and just about that time the deputy puts on his blue lights and proceeds to pull us over.

Guy comes to the window, takes one look and says, "oh, you're the wrong color, I couldn't tell in this light." Wrong color? What color are we supposed to be?

The guy laughs and says, "Not white. Two black guys in a car identical to yours just robbed the Handy Dandy. We'll go look elsewhere." And walks off without even checking our ID.

They have to check out all the suspects. Its their job. Keep your sense of humor about you, keep your mouth shut and let them do it.

 

I must confess, I have done a lot of travelling in the USA, and have never had an ill confontation with the police there. They have always been polite and courteous. Have things changed that much since the 70's?

Cheers,

Jim

 

We've had some recent exchanges with the police and they couldn't have been kinder.

I only remember one from the past where the officer got snippy with me. Any others - nothing I remember but them professionally doing their job.

 

It depends on where you are, Jim. Most the cops in our area are just hard working individuals doing a difficult job that they aren't paid nearly enough for. And most of the time, they are polite and respectful. Occassionally we get a bad apple, but they don't usually last long.

Other places however seem to let just whoever applies onto the force and then give them very little oversight OR support and that's when you get officers who are out of control.

 

...they treated me rather rudely when I was running down an alley with a bag of hundreds. :saint:

 

Thats clearly profiling.....you may have a lawsuit!:laugh:

 

LOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!! I mean? What's wrong with jogging with your "nest egg" in an alley, with all black on, and a ski mask? :laugh:

Perhaps what angered them was when I asked "Your eyes are glazed, have you been eating doughnuts?" That's the last thing I remember 'til the next day.

 

Remember this is the US of A ....you have your rights under the Constitution. And I watch Judge Neapolitano on Fox...:thumbs: My hero, :love2:

 

Well, if I were and English bobbie and saw you running down a back alley, in middle of night, with a bag of money, I would slam you with my billie, blow me whistle, and ask questions later. You would look rather suspicious to me.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Well, then you must be gifted with seeing and expressing the glaringly obvious! :thumbsup: