Traffic Stops: The Basics 101

[Hank_Si]

I watch cops too, a lot, probably too much. I noticed same thing too, but what you have to keep in mind is I dont think the entire traffic stop is filmed, well it is but parts are cut out or you miss something, like maybe other cops asking the person to search the car. Believe me I work with police officers everyday and I have all these same questions so I asked them. They "technically" cannot search through your car without a warrant or your permission. When I say search I mean open glove box, look under seats, open any other compartments, etc. They can only look for anything out in open. I know an officer who would have had a real good case, he pulled someone over found some coke on them. Meanwhile another officer searched through the car and found more. Guess what happened, case was thrown out by judge cause of illegal search. If anything I am saying is not true or not right anyone can jump in at any time, I get all my info on this stuff straight from the po-pos.

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[stevedogg8]

Good advice thanks

[varner88]

cops will pull you over in my area for any little thing.. i had no front license plate because i hate the way they look and not even a day later i was pulled over for it..

[PiNoYxRaCeRxRH]

[ley]

pulled 3 times. 1 for racing. 1 for running a red light. 1 for running a stopsign.

On the racing one I cried and let the officer know that my parents will punish me enough for it, he let me go with a warning. Red light - "Do you know why I stopped you" I replied with a sigh "Yes officer, I am an extreme Idiot I was just trying to make it home in time before my father belts me with the belt for being late again. I apologize" - Warning ticket.

Stop sign - This was just sure luck. I said maybe 2 words. I was even a sarcastic asshole to him too. He was like "Good Evening sir I am officer ___ With the Pineville Police dept. The reason why I pulled you over was because you completely rolled through that stop sign and did not give any regaurd what so ever. Now I will let you off with a warning pending your license and registeration checks out. - I proceeded to say after thinking in my head (wow holy shit) "Ok." I handed him my shit. He asked me "Sir have you been drinking anything tonight?" "I said, "Coca Cola." He then came back after getting in his car said "be safe drive careful and don't run any more stopsigns..
I was like wow.

[ley]

Originally Posted by gearbox

you guys really should watch cops more often. i've learned alot about what not to do. but usually those people are idiots anyway that have beer in the cupholder open and clutter everywhere. and most of the time they get pulled for driving wrong or having some kind of light out on their car. people, its not hard to spend 1 minute and do a walk around your car to make sure all the lights are working. They even pulled over someone for having A (one) license plate light out.

you need to know a cop to actually know what they think. Watching cops doesn't do anything beacuse on Cops of the time the cops over exaggurate, and overdo the procedure to look good on T.V.

[gearbox]

well ya thats true too, obviously on film they never let anyone go, and its always something serious like drugs or gun cause thats what people like to watch. but like i was saying, they will find any reason to pull you over if they think you are doing something bad. so if you dont make any mistake, or have any burnt lights, they cant pull you over.

[Matt300]

Working traffic for awhile before getting reassigned left me a lot of different impressions of stopping cars. First off, we have to follow a plain view doctrine, meaning that it was to be immediately visible. Besides that, a stop can be for anything (checking IDs, registration, etc.) It only progresses is you allow it to or give reason. Just say no to any searches and keep the smart-ass replies stowed away. All the more reason to show up to court. Going over the speed limit depends on the area. I have zero tolerance for neighborhoods/school & church zones. I love running my cars too, but I know when and where.

[dariusld]

Originally Posted by gearbox

so if you dont make any mistake, or have any burnt lights, they cant pull you over.

The police have all the power, I have been pulled over for no reason. I did nothing wrong and nothing wrong with my truck. Cop says "I just want to check your registration", tags were perfect. Give him my registration and he sends me on my way. Another time cops wanted to know why I was out so late and what was in my trunk. Show the trunk and my license and I'm on my way. Both times I could of caused a stink, but I knew better.

[gearbox]

yea that happened to me once too actually, cop said he couldnt read my tag, even tho my car is always clean. that was a long time ago but its interesting. i didnt think they could do that.

[CG89DXHB]

Ok.. several things.. in all actuality, you cna represent yourself and get away with ALOT of tickets.. i even got out of a wreckless driving ticket representing myself due to a technicality in how the law was written, and that technicality was the constant that evne if tires are locked up for a controlled e brake skid, their is still firction and thusly traction..

ANyway, IF you do so choose to represent yourself, here are very key tips! First, when you have free time sit in and watch magistrate court hearings, ( it does get them nervous when you do this though and you have no tickets) you will then learn not onyl WHAT to say but HOW to say it, Also, the courthouses SHOULD contain a law book library that has all the laws applicable in your state, and these lawbooks are open to the public, so go in, make a request, sit down and EDUCATE YOURSELF!

I've gotten out of several tickets jsut by knowing my rights, and out of several more by knowing what i was being charged with.

For instance, representing myself versus the state in regards to a speedign ticket i was given in a datsun 280ZX i asked if the officer if i coudl see his radar, he replied "no, i don't have one, but i know you where speeding" Bingo! my ticket was based on opinion rather then fact, and because in the courtroom i brought up his lack of a radar, and the fact i requested to see it, the prosecuting county attorney himself alogn with the judge dismissed the case.

i've gotten out fo several other tickets that i can't remember off the top of my head, but alot of them have been in regards to speeding tickets leavign town where we have a four lane highway and any speeding ticket on that road can be easily fought because the radar gives speed, the officer decides which car it's referring to.

Oh yeah, by the way, when representign yoruself, DRESS THE PART TOO! the guy in a t-shirt and jeans get's it worse then the guy who's dressed in the armoni double brested suit, why? cause oen says " i just want to get out of this ticket and go home" the other says "i'm here to take care of business!"

anyway long story short, i dont' really get pulled over anymore, and if i do, i can show up in my t and jeans cause it's already been made known i'm there for business, and only business. hell i've only been pulled over once by an officer since i got my ED9 civic, and got a no insurance ticket ( which won't even make it to court since i now have the insurance cards) and all i gotta do is walk up to the clerk of court with a copy of my ticket and the new insurance cards and BAM, doesn't see a judge, doesn't even see court, the officer's happy, i'm happy, the judge is happy, all cause they don't have to see me in that room

also i got 30 days to plate and register, so i've been driving around with no plates yet, and haven't been pulled over in the one town i shoudl be gettign nailed to a wall with a charger green and purple ripped paintjob and no plates LOL

[jjoe1984]

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