Interesting article about a State Trooper

[hammersley]

here in Washington State..... imagine - removing the official State PLate from the Unmarked Car and then using His OWN OUT of STATE PLATE - Oregon - to catch speeders ..... for example... . why would any woman or a Man for hat matter allow a prson with an out of state license pull them over!!!! There have been cases out here with fake police - gathering information on people from these "fake stops"



Trooper doesn't have license to bend rules, speeding driver grouses- Columbian.com, Clark County, Washington, Vancouver, Breaking News, U. S. , World, Entertainment, Video, Weather, Sports

 

[DCreed]

I think ANY unmarked car is a waste of taxpayers money and bad for police image. "To serve and protect" is a lost part of the police creed for many, it is unfortunate for me to say as I have met many an upstanding cop but too many crooked or gung-ho types. A badge is not an excuse to break the very laws you are upholding, but many do. It's a tough position to regulate how much power police have VS. our rights in order to keep us ALL safe, even from ourselves at times. They are human and make choices and should be held liable ,maybe more so than most as ignorance is not even a possiblity.

 

[JDiepstra]

That is pretty scandalous and unethical.

 

[Midnite]

While I think a marked police vehicle, being highly visible is much more effective at generally reducing the speed of traffic, I guarantee that the only reason the guy's hopping mad was because he got a ticket. If the Trooper pulled him over and only gave him a warning, we'd have never heard a word about this.

Consider what had to have been going through the mind of the guy who was pulled over: "Hmm... that can't be a cop--those aren't government plates. I'm going to keep speeding. " That's a guy who *knows* he's in the wrong and has no problem about continuing to risk other lives. Let's face it--the guy was doing 56 in a 35 mph zone! There are some who would argue he needs a lot more than a simple traffic ticket.

 

[DCreed]

I've been passed in 30 zones by cops and I dont think 60mph was out of the question. and no... they weren't heading off a criminal with their wife in the car!

 

[hammersley]

While I think a marked police vehicle, being highly visible is much more effective at generally reducing the speed of traffic, I guarantee that the only reason the guy's hopping mad was because he got a ticket. If the Trooper pulled him over and only gave him a warning, we'd have never heard a word about this.



Consider what had to have been going through the mind of the guy who was pulled over: "Hmm... that can't be a cop--those aren't government plates. I'm going to keep speeding. " That's a guy who *knows* he's in the wrong and has no problem about continuing to risk other lives. Let's face it--the guy was doing 56 in a 35 mph zone! There are some who would argue he needs a lot more than a simple traffic ticket.

While what you say I generally agree with - just think - If he hadn't committed the infraction - how much longer would this trooper been doing this????

 

[Grizzly]

While what you say I generally agree with - just think - If he hadn't committed the infraction - how much longer would this trooper been doing this????

I totally agree with you.

 

[dd76522]

i agree with DCreed they're a watse of our money and with the dealings i've had with le folks..... for starters i've got family in le there are good cops and there are bad cops it seems like nowadays i run into more of the former though

 

[PGAdams]

How many violations?

Improperly registered vehicle, wrong vehicle wrong license plate

Impersonating a state (un-marked) vehicle illegally.

With wrong vehicle tag, impersonating out of State HP



All of these violations (if state law applies) should be ticketed and the officer should be suspended, unpaid.



If John Q Citizen violated the laws, how many citations would that person recieve.

All applicable violations should be applied + double because the law enforcer, violated the obvious laws.

Has nothing to do with creativity, has to do with breaking the law.

 

[steved]

I've been passed in 30 zones by cops and I dont think 60mph was out of the question. and no... they weren't heading off a criminal with their wife in the car!

Hmmm, I've been cruising 60mph in a 35mph zone (Route 1, Roosevelt Blvd... Philadelphia) and been passed by police before...



I've been sitting near Franklin, PA and watched two Sugar Creek Boro police cruiser drag racing (light and sirens going) down Route 8 through Reno, PA...



Two Titusville policeman total a NEW cruiser doing "test runs" at the Titusville Airport (A deer supposedly ran out in front of them)...



It happens... the only difference between SOME police and the criminals is the police have a badge.



steved

 

[MAleshire]

Hmmm, I've been cruising 60mph in a 35mph zone (Route 1, Roosevelt Blvd... Philadelphia) and been passed by police before...



I've been sitting near Franklin, PA and watched two Sugar Creek Boro police cruiser drag racing (light and sirens going) down Route 8 through Reno, PA...



Two Titusville policeman total a NEW cruiser doing "test runs" at the Titusville Airport (A deer supposedly ran out in front of them)...



It happens... the only difference between SOME police and the criminals is the police have a badge.



steved

Drive the posted limit, follow rules, and there's no problem. If an officer is violating rules/laws there's a process to hold them accountable. Initiate that process. Whining after the fact doesn't address the problem.



Skip

 

[DCreed]

Drive the posted limit, follow rules, and there's no problem.



Skip

I've been stopped for "looking suspicious" I then got arrested for arguing:-{} with the officer and then they skipped me in court and I went directly to jail for the weekend#@$%!. Finally got to bail on sat night! The following court date the judge "gave me a break" and dismissed the bogus charges. GEE Thanks!!:-laf

 

[JasonCzerak]

I've seen many of cop perched on an on ramp. visible for 1/2 mile slow 70mph (60 zone. ) traffic down to a farking stop just about. More so idiot drivers. being idiots and unable to control their rate of speed and slowage is the issue..... your not going to get pullover in the middle of the traffic when EVERYONE is doing 70.



I've seen many of the cops perched after a long 1 hour DELAY in RUSH HOUR for 10 miles of "putzing". Thanks officer for making me late for work, we know there wasn't a "crash" there. .



Then you wonder why people are doing 90mph for the last leg of the trip.



Personally. I like the idea of undercover cars with civilian plates. And random car types too!



If anything is going to be slow people down, stop tailgating, cutting people off, restarted (non)use of the blinker, going 40mph in a 65mph in the middle lane cuz your do farking old to drive! (had 2 of these yesterday at 5pm!), under cover cops cars will do it. cuz you never know who you'll cut off, tail gate, or whatever with. They will see much more then "speeding".



I bet $$$ that a full force wide change to un-marked cars would calm the drivers down big time.



And then and only then can we double the speed limits traffic will be able to handle with with people following ALL the rules, not just the ones they want when it benefits them.



Yes, street racing will be difficult But I'll give up doing that 100% if they make laws and rules that make scene to today's world, not 1950's. For crying out loud, make the traffic lights TIMED! Save in fuel here too! Hear that you liberal, hypocritical, hippy, "green" state of MN!)

 

[JasonCzerak]

I've been stopped for "looking suspicious" I then got arrested for arguing:-{} with the officer and then they skipped me in court and I went directly to jail for the weekend#@$%!. Finally got to bail on sat night! The following court date the judge "gave me a break" and dismissed the bogus charges. GEE Thanks!!:-laf

Surprised you you didn't get tazzed.



Did they pay for your impound fees too?



I got a bogus ticket driving tough Chicago. Pay the $75 fine or you go to jail I was told. Apparently "class 3 trucks" can't drive on Lake Shore Drive. The definition of Class 3 was something like commercially used trucks over 8000#... I was prolly over 8000# cuz I was MOVING my personal belongings in my PERSONAL truck with VANITY PLATES to MN with REGISTRATION that wasn't COMMERCIAL. And I made a stop in Chicago to visit a friend.



So, here I am, with MI plates, and the entrance to the road did not have a sign about said weight restriction. Apparently not all of them do. . Nice, out of stater supposed to know about a rule that specific to this road in chicago only. Nice. . So I see this cop whipping though traffic. I was doing 5mph under WITH traffic and I get nabbed...



The cop explained the rule to me. He said COMMERCIAL TRUCK. . I pointed out. This isn't a COMMMERCIAL truck, heck, it's not even a 3500. and I pointed out pieces of info that would show that would be considered commercial, and I didn't have any of that. Including my lack of U. S. DOT number. To my face he essentially told me, I'm writing you a ticket because I want to and I can, even tho I know I'm blatantly wrong". I shut up quick after I realized this guy possibly didn't even graduate high school.



Followed the cop to pay the ticket. He was watching as I was paying the cashier and went over it with her as a "side conversation". She looked over at the cop briefly but kept saying, well, need to take it to court. But her body language was "retard cop!"...



The look in his eyes when I said, "see you in court, I'm bringing the local news with me kiddo". Was priceless.



Naturally I couldn't fight it out of economics (what they wanted, Minneapolis is more then $75 worth of fuel to drive to and back)). And It was my first weeks at my new job out here. if I could I would of out of principle and made a mockery of the system

 

[DCreed]

with out of state plates, that was probably HIS reasoning, too.
... and no I had to pay ALL expenses. Like I said I got a "break".

 

[steved]

I've been stopped for "looking suspicious"

Same here... been stopped several times in the same county... once by a sheriff (they don't have traffic authority in PA) and twice by locals. All three times they walked very cocky to the window to look confused that I was sitting in the driver's seat... one every said under his breath "your not him!" Keep in mind, my 99 was anything but ordinary looking.



I've seen a lot of policeman that have a chip on their shoulder (bad attitude) and are nothing more than power-tripping because there is no one to keep them in check.



I've been pulled over for DUI in MD (out of state tags)... we were at a bar, but I was the designated driver! I didn't make it a block before the lights popped on AHEAD of me, then pulled out behind me... he accused me of drinking, gave me all the sobriety tests. He then accused me of speeding... "OK, how fast?"... "35mph in a 25 zone. "... ""Hey Chet, how fast was I going?"... "25mph or less, why?". Then I was told I was pulled over for a burnt out license plate light... ok, how'd you see that when you were pulling out BEFORE I passed you??? I then told him I wanted his supervisor on the spot... once the supervisor showed up, it was all over for him... he got chewed on! The guy though I'd be an easy target that night... jerk.



A coworker and I were heading to the jobsite in New Mexico... they had I40 closed for snow, but we didn't need it anyhow as we were right off old Route 66. We got about a mile from town and a young officer flagged us down... "road is closed. " My coworker (a older EOD tech) looks at this kid and asks "why?" The kids response was "its snowing!" My coworker responded "Son, I'm from North Dakota, and he's from PA... you don't know what snow is... have a nice day. " And we proceeded to drive another 5 miles to the job site... never heard anything more about it!



steved

 

[bmoeller]

I've seen many of the cops perched after a long 1 hour DELAY in RUSH HOUR for 10 miles of "putzing". Thanks officer for making me late for work, we know there wasn't a "crash" there. .

Saw the same in a road construction zone. The posted limit was 45mph. We were backed up for 4 frickin' miles. Get up to the bridge that down to 1 lane (with NO workers OR equipment present), and we are doing 25mph. WTF?



No accidents, workers or any other problem OTHER THAN THE DANG COP! #@$%! #@$%! #@$%!

 

[FYarcho]

In Calif the Vehicle Code is very clear. If an officer is assigned to enforce traffic violations He is required to be in uniform and in a clearly marked law enforcement vehicle. Now this doesn't prohibit an unmarked vehicle from making stops for traffic violations, as long as the officer operating it as part of his assignment is not enforcing traffic ie detective's and such. There have been in Calif several cases where people have refused to stop for an unmarked car, and have gotten off because they were not convinced that the vehicle trying to stop them was in fact a real police officer. Which basically brought about the law in the first place.

 

[JasonCzerak]

In Calif the Vehicle Code is very clear. If an officer is assigned to enforce traffic violations He is required to be in uniform and in a clearly marked law enforcement vehicle. Now this doesn't prohibit an unmarked vehicle from making stops for traffic violations, as long as the officer operating it as part of his assignment is not enforcing traffic ie detective's and such. There have been in Calif several cases where people have refused to stop for an unmarked car, and have gotten off because they were not convinced that the vehicle trying to stop them was in fact a real police officer. Which basically brought about the law in the first place.

As much as I said that undercover cops would help over all traffic moral. I 100% agree with you about the un-marked car for traffic stops in this day and age. You never know the kinda nut case, may not be a real cop.



So, it's a no-win situation

 

[WStephens]

Same here... been stopped several times in the same county... once by a sheriff (they don't have traffic authority in PA) and twice by locals. All three times they walked very cocky to the window to look confused that I was sitting in the driver's seat... one every said under his breath "your not him!" Keep in mind, my 99 was anything but ordinary looking.



I've seen a lot of policeman that have a chip on their shoulder (bad attitude) and are nothing more than power-tripping because there is no one to keep them in check.



I've been pulled over for DUI in MD (out of state tags)... we were at a bar, but I was the designated driver! I didn't make it a block before the lights popped on AHEAD of me, then pulled out behind me... he accused me of drinking, gave me all the sobriety tests. He then accused me of speeding... "OK, how fast?"... "35mph in a 25 zone. "... ""Hey Chet, how fast was I going?"... "25mph or less, why?". Then I was told I was pulled over for a burnt out license plate light... ok, how'd you see that when you were pulling out BEFORE I passed you??? I then told him I wanted his supervisor on the spot... once the supervisor showed up, it was all over for him... he got chewed on! The guy though I'd be an easy target that night... jerk.



A coworker and I were heading to the jobsite in New Mexico... they had I40 closed for snow, but we didn't need it anyhow as we were right off old Route 66. We got about a mile from town and a young officer flagged us down... "road is closed. " My coworker (a older EOD tech) looks at this kid and asks "why?" The kids response was "its snowing!" My coworker responded "Son, I'm from North Dakota, and he's from PA... you don't know what snow is... have a nice day. " And we proceeded to drive another 5 miles to the job site... never heard anything more about it!



steved

I hate to break it to you but the hightest point on I-40 is in New Mexico and that point is over 8,000 ft and they know what snow is. I am from Wyoming and have worked in New Mexico between Grants, and Gallop, NM and Rout 66 is the north frontage road running along side I-40. I have done several outages at the power plant just off the interstate north of I-40 between Grants and Gallop. The last time I worked there I pulled a teacher out of the ditch because she slipped off of the road because of snow. I now live in PA and have seen less snow here than I have seen in NM, CO, WY, and MT.