[Fat Albert]

Hey y'all,

My older brother is a sargeant in a big-city police force. Don't worry, he's a good guy. (though he knows *NOTHING* about my "hobby" LOL) He said that the day he retires he's going to smoke a joint; he's got 9 years to go! Anyway, he's shared numerous stories with me of traffic stops and how they can go wrong, so I figured that I'd do a small write-up of what I've heard from him. Here goes:


*Check ALL lights on the car before leaving!
Have a friend walk around the car while you sit inside, turning on headlights, parking lights, turn signals, brake lights, etc. If you have auxillary lights, such as fog lamps, and one is burnt out, turn the other one off! They're not necessary for travel, and while you can't get pulled over for a burnt-out fog light, the asymmetry of your light pattern WILL be noticed by the cops. Driving with a broken reflector, even if the bulb works, is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED!

*Make sure that you have no outstanding warrants or reasons for you to be taken into custody if you are detained and your name is run through the computer.

*Obey ALL rules of the road and traffic signals. Resist the urge to blast Cypress Hill at 120 db. Duh!

*IF YOU ARE PULLED OVER:

*Stop IMMEDIATELY. Cops don't like it if you keep driving, even if it's for a little bit. ONLY continue driving if there is no safe place to pull over where you currently are.

*Take your keys out of the ignition, roll down your window, and PUT YOUR KEYS ON THE ROOF OF YOUR CAR. This will reassure the cop that you don't have your foot on the gas and your hand on the gearshift, waiting to floor it.

*Keep your hands on the steering wheel or otherwise in view of the cop AT ALL TIMES! AT ALL TIMES! AT ALL TIMES! You know who YOU are and what you are capable or not capable of doing. A cop who pulls you over, especially at night, has no such reassurances. Unfortunately, for any cop their next traffic stop may be their last. Their threat/response level is in overdrive when they pull anybody over, since people have gunned down cops during a traffic stop in broad daylight. You want to do everything you can to assuage the cop that you are not a threat to them.

****Keep your registration, license, and insurance in your driver's side visor****
When the cop asks, it's a matter of flipping down your visor and handing them these items in one fell swoop. FACT: while drunks and stoners are FUMBLING AROUND IN THEIR GLOVE COMPARTMENT, CENTER CONSOLE, ETC., THE COPS ARE TAKING A DETAILED VISUAL INVENTORY OF THE INSIDE OF THEIR CAR!!!!
I can't stress this point enough! You don't want to give them time to stand there and stare inside your car!!!!

*Keep all incriminating items in the trunk of your car! DO NOT SMOKE IN THE CAR AT ANY TIME!!!!! Keep your ashtrays free of roaches or telltale ashes!

*If you're traveling with companions, MAKE SURE YOUR ALIBIS MATCH! Ships have been sunk SO MANY TIMES by people who are acting nervous and whose stories don't match each other's.

*Lastly, BE COURTEOUS, POLITE, and RESPECTFUL. The proper salutation is "Officer" or "Sir." Although some cops may not be "Sirs" you have to show them respect! So many people DON'T, that when the select few DO, the cops will oftentimes return that respect to you. Kill them with kindness, because they almost never experience that (through fault or no fault of their own) If you DID roll through a stop sign, fail to use a turn signal, ADMIT IT! Admit it, and APOLOGIZE! The line that's NEVER failed me is "I'm sorry, Officer; I realize I did not make a full stop. You have every right to give me a ticket, and I apologize." NEVER ONCE have I received a ticket when I am polite, contrite, and calm. If you're humble and cooperative, your chances for driving away in one piece are greatly increased.

I hope this info can be of use to people here. If anyone can think of anything that I missed, please feel free to post a reply.

Stay safe and sound, people!
Fat A

[Brownpants]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

[redbone]

Also, if you have a criminal record let somebody else drive. The only time I ever came close to being busted was when I was driving and smoking in the car. (Stupid, but I was really, really young.) He must have seen me from an overpass and I was driving an Audi which was real exotic back then so I guess he thought he'd stop me and see what it was all about. I know he smelled it on me and I was less than cordial when he stopped me. When he "ran" my license it came up suspended for non payment of parking tickets so I had to go down to the station and have someone come get me. The officer was pissed because he knew I had something on me but since I had no warrants and was female he had to get permission from the desk Sargeant to search me and impound the car.
As we were leaving I snatched the bag out of the ashtray (bad move)and put it in my pocket. So here I am sitting in the station with a fucking dime bag of reefer in my pocket waiting to get picked up. The officers at the station all knew I had something on me from the way I was sweating and they started teasing me asking me if I needed to use the bathroom. As I got up to go I saw a female officer go in ahead of me and spun around like a top. That made everbody laugh out loud.
Long story short, it was close call. I was happy to provide the afternoon's entertainment.

[omega7]

Very good info. Id like to add that remebering the cops name and using "trooper ___" I was told this by a cop. And also never ever ever ever ever consent to a search! Even if he says he smells something.

[GreatLakes THC]

Great advice!

GreatLakes THC

[Youareborg]

Very good reading. I am in your, as well as your brother's, debt.

[Verite]

Good stuff maynard. Couple of follow ups.

Know your laws and politely state them when asked to break them by the officer. IE, in my state because of all the racial profiling they have made it illegal for an officer to ask to search the vehicle without any probable cause. The officer must state the probable cause first and then ask for consent to search. Without probable cause they arent even allowed to ask to search the car.

If pulled over at night put your inside lights on before putting the hands on the wheel so the officer can clearly see inside that you have nothing to hide. If youre driving with shit in plain view then you deserve the experience.

If you had a beer you can bet a sober officer is going to be able to smell it, fess up and do the tests and hope you pass as its better than lying to the guy when he can tell the obvious.

Some officers will cut you a break if they think you have military or some official background when you address them by rank, 2 stripes on the arm is Lieutenant and 3 is for Sergeants.

Last but not least everyone should know their complete driving and criminal background from the age 18 on up since this is what they will be looking at when they go back to the squad car and run your information. They dont just go back a few years they look at the whole thing.

[Fat Albert]

*BUMP*


Fat A

[Pythagllio]

You mean we should treat them like human beings that are out pulling their shift to feed the family? Wow, what a concept.

The keys on the roof of the car is a new idea to me, and I will do that if I ever get pulled over again. All your other advice was given to me by my brother in law who was a small town cop for years. It really amazed me that I had never tried to view the perspective of the cop as a guy doing a job which includes dealing with some really egregious assholes 48 out of 50 hours every week, week after week.

Originally Posted by Pythagllio

The keys on the roof of the car is a new idea to me, and I will do that if I ever get pulled over again.

I've never heard of this before, to me it seems that if you are pulled over and do that, that would leave the impression to the officer that you are a pro at being stopped, or maybe too eager to create an air of safety and cooperation. I always immediately pull over, roll down both the driver and rear driverside windows and put both hands on the wheel though. Police do not like tints.