I want to know what goes through a cops mind before he pulls someone over.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Because it can't make sense. This morning on my way home, I was cruising at between 75 and 80 mph as per normal (the Ford doesn't do 80 well...takes effort, so probably closer to 75). As I finished rounding a long sweeping curve, a HP merged and I could tell he was scouting for someone to pull over. I slowed to 75 (I let off the gas, I didn't hit my brakes and cause a problem like a lot of people do) as I was coming up on the left of a bright red B14 Sentra SE-R. The car is bone stock (appearance anyway) save for a massive coffee can. It sounds like a cheap ricer civic. This car can't be going even 65, so he's most definitely NOT speeding. As I'm passing him on his left, I see the cop switch into his lane (second from the right). I was thinking "crap, he got me before it slowed down." I get ready for him to move into my lane and the lights to come on.

Then the lights came on. He got the SE-R. The guy who was possibly not even going 60 mph. So...If I was doing 80 or 75, and the SE-R was doing 60-65 WHY did he pull over the SE-R. Not that I'm complaining that I didn't get a ticket or anything, but if I were the driver of the Sentra, I'd have been PISSED. He was doing nothing wrong. But because he had a spoiler and a fart can, the cop went after him. As much as I despise rice, that's just plain wrong. And you know that the cop probably came up with some BS that the kid at least has to show up and fight, if he didn't just give him a ticket anyway.

So what gives. Ford pickup doing 75 (in a 65) or a Sentra doing 65...What the hell?

Most of the time I will defend cops, but that's just bull.

[Jesda]

Probably didnt clock anyone and heard the noise from the exhaust.

If I were approaching a vehicle, I'd wonder if the driver was 1) Armed 2) Drunk

[Red-KAT]

There are tuns of things you can be pulled over for...

For one if he is pissd at ricers that day he can pull em over and ticket him for not havin a trash can in his car...

Or for driving to slow and impeding traffic...

[nsrZ32]

happens all the time. Its a profiling type thing. I get pulled over in the Z all the time.

[ForsakenTH]

jon and i got pulled over on the way back from the Cleavland NICO meet. his altima had a big *** wing from the previous owner. the cop said he pulled us over cause he couldnt see the licence plate

[AZhitman]

It's human nature, cops are people too. Putting on a uniform doesn't automatically erase opinion, predisposition and bias.

You never know what the cause of the stop was - He may have been alerted via radio that this car was wreaking havoc a few miles back. Car may have had expired tags. Driver may have done something you didn't see.

At any rate, the numerous traffic officers I know personally will let someone get away with damn near anything with JUST a warning as long as they have a valid license, registration, and insurance. If any one of the three is missing, POW. Busted.

And hey, let's be realistic - these guys and gals are typically between 22 and 35. Maybe they don't like riced-out cars. Maybe the guy owns a big Ford truck and decided to let you go about your business. Maybe his wife left him for a punk in a fartcanned Sentra... So many variables come into play...

[MainEvent212]

I can answer this very easily actually

Reasons as to why he pulled over the Sentra and not you:

1. In order to cite a speeding violation, a police officer needs to either: a. clock you with a stationary and recently calibrated laser or radar or b. pace you for a given amout of time/distance as set by your local government legislature

2. Since you had slowed down and you were passing by the moving police officer, he had no way of clocking you, and would have had to pace you

3. He saw the Sentra's exhaust and knew it was illegal.

>10 mph over the limit it a meer slap on the wrist and probably would get dropped in court, therefore he would look like a douche bag for wasting everyone's time. exhaust tickets on the other hand can range up to i believe 100+ dollars, as well as the fact that he will probably be praised for helping keep illegal equipment off of the street.

nothing against us in the way of profiling...it just has to do with the fact that modified cars ARE (by law and obvious fact) illegal in many ways.

[Thrwnsprkz]

jon and i got pulled over on the way back from the Cleavland NICO meet. his altima had a big *** wing from the previous owner. the cop said he pulled us over cause he couldnt see the licence plate

ya it was bs, it was just annoying cause it delayed us... woke you up... and was nerveracking... plus did he have to follow me in my blind spot for 2 miles?but i think he wanted to make sure we werent drunk or something, we fit the college steriotype

[hannibal]

OMG, A cop pulling someone over for virtually no reason! Since when do they do that??

Where the hell have you been? That's just a glimpse of the other side.

Edit: Nevermind, youre from Utah. Theres no one to discriminate against out there...

[onosqv]

What goes thru their mind: "Cha-ching, another easy comission check."

Seriously though, profiling like the other guys have said is one of the biggest things. It pissed me off a lot.

I got a speeding ticket (doing 80mph on a clear night with no traffic in 65mph freeway) basically because I was driving in an old stock 89 240sx in a nice area. Took it to court, even the judge was on my side a little and the officer said "there is a major racing problem in this part of Orange County and my 10+ years of experience, bla bla bla" - it was a rainy day, a bunch of other people (some of whom did 100+ on the freeway) got away w/ their ticket because their officer (some had the same as mine) did not show up. My officer shows up just after I get dismissed and almost left the room!

Anyway, that was like 4 years ago, and after I modified my car (w/ multi colored body kits, intakes, header, exhaust, pulleys, racing seats, etc), cops haven't pulled me over... yet. Weird.

Also, I've been driving a 2002 Blue Cavalier rental car for 2 months now - and man, you can get away w/ ANYTHING in a cavalier, I pass cops, they pass me, we're all speeding. Cops don't pull over Cavaliers, or at least don't pay attention to them nearly as much. Hmmmm, Cavalier = the ultimate sleeper car?

[Florida240sx]

happens all the time. Its a profiling type thing. I get pulled over in the Z all the time.

How fast was it you were goign again? Maybe that's why...if my car would go tht fast I would be right there with you, it was 180 wasn't it?

[Rex]

Another thing he may have seen is either an out of state or expired tag. Or some other "thing" - busted tail light, crack in window/windshield, etc.

Not to say profiling or the like doesn't happen, but don't assume they didn't see something you didn't as that's why they are out there.

[MinisterofDOOM]

OMG, A cop pulling someone over for virtually no reason! Since when do they do that??

Where the hell have you been? That's just a glimpse of the other side.

Edit: Nevermind, youre from Utah. Theres no one to discriminate against out there...

I'm not saying I don't expect this, or know about it. I just felt like ranting. I was in a bad mood that day, so it pissed me off more than it normally would have. I've been the target of profiling myself (me and two friends in the Max got taken down for 15 over when I wasn't doing 5 over, and a Rav4 got away, easily doing 20 over. This on a city street, with driveways on it. I wasn't even watching my speedo, but the reason I know I wasn't speeding is because I know how fast I'm going judging by gear and RPM. That wouldn't have helped much in court, so I just paid it.

And actually, I think Utah got hit the hardest (or at least as hard as Cali) by the whole ricer FnF fad aftermath. There are plenty of people for cops to discriminate against in that regard.

I wasn't posting this out of naiivete, it was out of pissed-offed-ness.

[infinitiI30]

hey mainevent, yesterday i recieved a ticket for going 65 in a 35, at the time the officer told me ' you know why i pulled u over right?" i knew i was speeding so i didnt reply. then he goes "i clocked u at 65 thats almost DOUBLE" once again i didnt say anything. well anywayz on the ticket itself, the radar and clocked were NOT checked off, instead he checked off 'other' what is other in this case?also keep in mind there was also a 4x4 speeding with me, actually he was ahead of me, i was right behind him. and the ******* cop decides to pull me over instead of him!!! and i got pulled over when i was ALREADY in my school parking lot. IM ASSUMING cause i was driven the infiniti with 5% tints and the other driver had a plain white 4x4. should i fight it? i really cant afford anymore points

[Mr1der]

laser?

I'd like to ask people not complain bout this stuff...profiling racism etc....more good cops then bad and jesus two of you have already stated you were speeding and got pulled over for it...

if you can't afford anymore points, I suggest not speeding too.

the window tint shouldn't take off points on a license though.

if I were a cop (actually almost happened, hell, could still happen) I'd probably be thinking "wonder if I'm gonna get back in my patrol car in one piece...wonder if I'm gonna have to take someone's live to protect mine or an innocent" I could probably sit here and make an enormous list of the millions of things that run through their mind in a fraction of a second.

[AZhitman]

^ Brilliant post.

I know it's not politically correct to say so, and lots of folks get their panties in a bunch over it, but as a grad student in criminal justice administration with over a decade in the field, I can tell you this quite simply:

Profiling works.

[MinisterofDOOM]

more good cops then bad

I know... And to be quite honest, there are few professions I respect more than cops. They don't get paid jack for what they do, and they could be shot dead at any time, on or off the job. I could never be one. I think the only worse ones would be a fireman or having been a miner in the early half of the century.I probably shouldn't have made this thread I guess. Just been in a bad mood since my car's screwed up so I felt like venting.

[Nathan]

If I was a cop, I'd DEFINITELY pull over cars I didn't like. Good thing I'm not or a LOT of people would be screwed

[Kr0n1k]

Also, I've been driving a 2002 Blue Cavalier rental car for 2 months now - and man, you can get away w/ ANYTHING in a cavalier, I pass cops, they pass me, we're all speeding. Cops don't pull over Cavaliers, or at least don't pay attention to them nearly as much. Hmmmm, Cavalier = the ultimate sleeper car?

I can vouch for that. Drove my brother's girlfriend's 97 Cavalier from Rochester, NY to Pittsburgh, PA for a concert. Just as I was crossing the state line between the 2 on the way there, I blew past a trooper doin' 85 in a 65. I thought for sure I was gettin pulled over, because usually I see them ahead of time, and slow down. He never budged. However, someone was saying something about getting pulled over in an old car in a nice neighborhood. That has also happened to me. What sucked worse is that the car was my dad's, and I had no idea his tags were expired, although if it was mine, I probably would've been hauled off to jail.

[sanioll]

Its all about the image. Image is everything!

Ex: happened here in richmond, va:

I drift on intersection on second gear, to my luck cop in a private looking car sitting on a traffic light and watching me on a red light. Speed limit is 35mph.then I hit redline on 2nd, shift to 3rd and hit redline again. I'm going about 90mph by now. suddenlly i see this vehicle approaching behind me.

i slow down and take right turn into some neghborhood, this car turns right behind me, and voila, blue lights are on. i think to myself, Damn! 90 on a 35 zone, i m dead for 6 months.

he comes to window, looks at me. well to my luck, i'm coming from an official party at work, all dressed up. complete formal.

i play angry, saying had a bad day at work, use unpleasent lang against my boss. and cop beieves me.

he said don't worry about it, we all have our bad days at work.

he said, didn't clock me, but he was driving about 70mph to catch up with me. pheww, certainly didn't pay attention to his speedo.

no ticket, but i am all certain taht if i was wearing regular stuff like t-shirt and jeans, i would have no lisence for 6 motnhs.

Its all about the cover and image.

[Mr1der]

don't think I've ever seen a hot chick in traffic court...

[skydragoness]

If I was a cop, I'd DEFINITELY pull over cars I didn't like. Good thing I'm not or a LOT of people would be screwed

ROFL. If i were a cop I'd definitely would be pulling over 90% of college students who drive on campus where i live. They're absolute MORONS. I'd get 'em for running stop signs, illegal turns, illegal parking, speeding, speeding in parking lots, loitering at the local BurgerKing (always 100 cars there on a friday or saturday night, stupid stuff always happens there) and street-racing..oh man it would be great..SO GREAT.

should i fight it? i really cant afford anymore points

Fight it? How? You were doing 65 in a 35! How do you even have a car still?(sorry to be harsh, but it's the truth)

I got to say to everybody the best way to get 'the need for speed' out of your system is doing some kind of legally sanctioned motorsport. You'll find that the urge is satiated enough that you don't feel the need to do something stupid and get caught for it. I've been down that road before (no pun intended). Driving is not a right, everybody forgets that.

[nsrZ32]

I got to say to everybody the best way to get 'the need for speed' out of your system is doing some kind of legally sanctioned motorsport. You'll find that the urge is satiated enough that you don't feel the need to do something stupid and get caught for it. I've been down that road before (no pun intended). Driving is not a right, everybody forgets that.

[PoorManQ45]

Fight it? How? You were doing 65 in a 35! How do you even have a car still?(sorry to be harsh, but it's the truth)

Well, if the Cop improperly wrote the ticket, he has a definite chance.

Greg Profiling does not work! It is unconstitutional! The citizens of the United States shall not be discriminated by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or age.

[nsrZ32]

Profiling does not work!

Actually you're wrong. Yeah its not right and not the way to do things....but sadly it works. I have a lot of friends in law enforcement and in many different fields and they'll all tell you the same thing Greg did.

[MinisterofDOOM]

So...we are admitting to doing something wrong, and yet angry at the officer who caught us AND we want to find a way out of paying for it? I think maybe there are some people who don't need licenses anymore. If you can't obey the laws, you have to be willing to pay for it. I would love to see anyone who blocks up the left lane or weaves through traffic or speeds excessively (I find nothing wrong with 75 in a 65, hell you're in the way if you don't go that fast) ESPECIALLY in residential areas or on roads with lots of intersections get their licenses revoked or huge fines. Especially the left-lane blocking, though, as all that ends up doing is aggravating other drivers, which leads to angry people who do stupid things.

Friday morning on the way home from work, I was cruising at 75 (that's how fast traffic goes. Anyone slower is in the way and creating an unnecessary hazard, I don't care what the cops say). I there is a silver Camry on the right of me, in the slow lane. As I get near to passing him, he just moves on over into my lane, no signal, no looking where he was going. The dude is not even doing 65 (why...WHY would you ever go below the speed limit...that one baffles the hell out of me! You are only in the way. Unless the roads are icy or there is some bad weather, GO WITH THE FLOW of traffic). As he comes over, I flash my brights. Not out of anger, but because I'm pretty sure he didn't even see me, and I wanted to make sure he did...I don't need BOTH cars out of commission. What does he do, he SLAMS on his brakes. I hit mine as hard as I can without locking them up, and I nearly hit the guy. The whole time I'm wondering if someone is going to hit me from behind...Then, after I regain total control of my truck, as we are doing about 25 mph on the bloody freeway (!!!!), the guy swerves violently back over to the slow lane, and off onto the shoulder. He slows down to be next to me, rolls down the window, and starts screaming and flipping me off. He's not watching where he's going, he's only halfway on the road, and he's not going anywhere close to the speed limit. I keep going like normal, and he pulls up behind me and starts flashing his brights. I held up my cell phone so he could see as I dialed, hoping he'd realize that I was calling the police department (I had to wait 'till I got home for that, I don't know the number). He the pulled up on the left of me, again staring ans yelling out the window at me instead of watching the road. He kept pointing off to the side of the road as though he wanted me to pull off....yeah. That's a smart idea. Let's make this confrontation MORE personal. I ignored him as he pointed more and more violently until I was sure his finger was going to come flying through my window. Eventually, he ended up speeding off and I passed him later, riding the bumper of a pikcup truck as I exited to get to my house. I then reported him to the police (his plate was easy to remember, stupid bragging about his expensive Camry) once I got home. I hope he's been ticketed.

The point here: stupid people getting mad makes things WORSE not better. Don't be one of them.

[navysnail]

antlanta drivers are some of the worst i swear

but yeah, a few over isnt that bad, the only places i wont do a few over are school zones and residential areas

[AZhitman]

Greg Profiling does not work! It is unconstitutional!

When you get a Master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration specializing in research methodologies you can argue this point.

Until then, you're ill-equipped to discuss this matter with me.

What works and what's constitutional are two widely divergent concepts.

Let me say this again very clearly: Profiling works.

[elwesso]

Being unconstitutional does not mean that they can let you go for breaking the law...

[HashiriyaS14]

What gets me is that imports constantly get pulled for having loud exhausts, and yet Mustangs/Camaros/Corvettes/Harleys have LOUDER exhausts and yet never seem to get pulled....