OT: Jeeeesh!

Apparently he didn't know what everyone here knows. You're a crusty old fart just like the rest of us. :~) Art

Jim ain't like the rest of us. He's a whole lot more ignorant than most of us, and as complacent about it as krw (if not quite irredeemably ignorant as krw, since does occasionally learn new stuff).

That officer used profiling on you. Are you offended?

Mikek

He had no idea who he stopped until he came up to the passenger window. Although my plate "ANALOG" and analog-innovations.com on the holder might give a clue ;-)

My wife didn't like the "cute", I think "elderly" bothered me more. ...Jim Thompson

Yep. But I have an _absolute_ policy of not arguing with cops, so they can't discern that from a chance meeting. I also don't deny speeding if I was... last time I swiftly passed an unmarked sheriff's pick-up truck, I admitted, "Probably 90". She looked over my paperwork, handed it back and told me to take it easy. ...Jim Thompson

As the son of a cop, I learned early.

1. Do what they ask.
2. Hands in sight with no sudden movements.
3. Be polite. Don't give them any lip. And above all don't resist. He said if you follow these rules (and are not in the process of doing anything illegal) you should have no problems. This he told me back in the 70's. I have been pulled over a few times and have only been ticketed once (doing 60 in a 55 zone). Not bad in

Maybe he thought you was one of them leftist Pro Digital fanatics or he was a Luddite who thought ANALOG was some new terrorist group. (the British cell calls themselves ANALOGUE)

Do NOT take the initiative (to get out of the car, reach for your registration in the glove box, etc.)

A buddy came to visit me at school (back when TRex roamed the Earth). On his bus ride home, the bus was stopped by some State Troopers. After talking with the driver, they boarded the bus and casually walked down the aisle.

After the first smokey passed him -- but before the second did -- they both abruptly stopped, turned to him and LIFTED him out of his seat and *carried* him off the bus (keeping him restrained in the process).

They then had the driver open the luggage compartment under the bus. And, had my friend identify his luggage.

They proceeded to empty the bag, piece by piece -- until all that remained was some weed in the bottom of the bag. They paused (obviously seeing what it was) without continuing their search. Then, told him to repack the bag.

Apparently, there had been a bank robbery earlier and one of the suspects was believed to have boarded a bus leaving town. So, they'd sent troopers out to track down each bus that had departed and perform a similar search for anyone matching the suspect's description.

Obviously, my friend was shaken by the "unexpected" interaction. But, in hindsight, how else would you do this without jeopardizing the safety of the other passengers on the bus?

He was notably impressed that they didn't hassle him for the *obvious* felony possession charge they could have levied!

Perhaps he thought you might be that Santa Clause guy. But, the suspenders didn't quite fit in the picture, hence the 'cute' comment.

;D

Cheers

Santa doesn't have suspenders? ...Jim Thompson

Yeah, I read somewhere a long time ago that when the policeman is approaching the car you should *not* be fumbling in your glovebox, but rather have your hands on the steering wheel. I do that every time I am pulled over (a lot less often as I get older) and several times I have seen the police officer visibly relax when they see my hands. A relaxed police officer is my primary goal.

Alternatively, you should live in a civilized country, where not every Tom, Disk and Harriet has a gun in the glovebox, so the po-po don't have reason to fear for their lives on every traffic stop.

That must have been really traumatic, being forced to turn "left"... ;)

Paul

Well, yes, but visitors may not be aware of the correct procedure.

Many years ago a fellow Brit and I had to drive to Buffalo from Toronto to post some letters when Canada had one of its many postal strikes. We didn't know where the post offices were, so after we crossed into the US looked for one. Not seeing one, but seeing a cop on the sidewalk we stopped the car, got out and walked towards him. When we were a few yards away his hand went to his holster. As soon as our first words came out and he heard the Brit voices he relaxed and was very friendly and helpful.

But it did make us think.

That brings /strange/ images to mind.

Oh. Belay that. I presume you are using the American meaning of "suspenders".

Now that is funny. Sounds like a near miss!

John Wayne was turning over in his grave ;-)

The John Wayne Memorial Parkway is so-named because Maricopa is where his ranch was located. ...Jim Thompson

I really wouldn't mind living in Arizona, Texas or New Mexico but you all are just too crazy when it comes to "drugs". How the f*ck does it hurt anyone if I want to smoke a joint ? The shit grows in the ground !

1. Do what they ask.
2. Hands in sight with no sudden movements.
3. Be polite. Don't give them any lip. "

Also do not call them sir. When the interaction is going on, use no titles at all. Calling them sir establishes a form of authority they do not have a nd as human being they might tend to exploit it, even if subconsciously. It also could be interpreted as fear.

When they let you off with a warning, or kinda forget to write some tickets , or don't throw you in jail and make you post bail for something they coul d, THEN you say "Thank you sir" but not before.

Best bet is to have the driver's window open, hands on the wheel and if you can' your wallet in one of your hands. That actually saved me one time. I fixed my Ma's car and took it for a test drive. I was under suspension, and actually I usually am. (they don't even take me to jail for that anymore b ut the reasons are too complex to go into right now, let's just say they kn ow me) But I had my hands on the wheel and wallet in my hands and they didn 't even check my license. What happened was it was running so good it chirp ed the tires a bit around a curve. So they give me the talking to about tha t "You know how much the ticket is for that ?" kinda shit. Then I got a "Do n't do it again" and they just rode off into the sunset. Well there didn't go up to a thousand bucks and six months.

And the narcs. Pulled up on the wrong side of the road to give a friend a h oller who was sitting on the porch. He was renting the house from a guy who got busted for cultivation (but won the appeal) and actually that house go t raided again but they didn't find anything. But it was on a watch list. I told the narc "Hell yeah I smoke weed, I just happen to be out of it right now".

Cops have alot of discretion, you just have to get them to use it.

Comes down to cops, if they abuse their power I think they need a hole in t he head. No remorse. Tell their widow not to marry anymore cops. Tell their kids not to be cops. Just like a burglar climbing in me back window tell t heir Mother "Next time you have a litter tell them to respect other people' s shit".

But there are people out there who really need an ass kicking. I know someo ne who beat a cop's ass and took his gun and then went on a tri-state crime spree. Short little guy too. He is lucky to be alive, I am surprised they didn't shoot him on sight. They certainly could have.

Friend of mine shot someone in the back and got off scot free, why ? Becaus e the thug was running out if my friend's house with a gun he just stole. T he justification was that he didn't want to see his gun used in a crime. Th ey held him for 72 hours and investigated, which is kinds reasonable. They wanted to make sure there was no motive for murder, if so that would have t urned it into assault with a deadly weapon or possibly attempted murder. It ain't easy to get off shooting someone in the back. They released him with out any charges at all.