i was looking around on some other s2k forums and came across a thread which was about a guy getting a ticket, this led to a spirited debate anout how cops are asses and are there just to flaunt their power over us. it also went into how they don't really protect and serve, but they would rather pull us over for no reason and just give us a hard time.... you get the point.

now i can definately relate to some of these problems, especially in my teens, but i was just wondering is that was the general feeling here.

now i would like to tell my side, i have been a chp officer for the last 5 years, and i just like you love to run my car, i love to go through the twisties, and go hammer down getting on the freeway. but i also take into consideration that there are other people out there, i always stay withing 9mph of the limit and when gettng on the freeway in a spirited manner i shut down around 80 at the max. if i feel the need to drive on the edge i go to a track.

and to tell what i have seen as the thought cycle of officers myself and many of my friends, we honestly do not go out there looking to be jerks, we go out there to try and make the highway a safer place for everyone. and i agree that most of you could probably go 100mph day after day and never mess up, but eventually someone will cut you off, or something will happen which could change you life forever.

through the years what has stuck with me the most and makes me know that what i do can make a difference is what happened to me my 2nd year on the job. i pulled over some teen out having fun going about 90 in a 70 zone, i got up to his window and i could see how nervous he was and ifigured that he was shaken enough just by getting pulled over that he would probably slow down in the future, so i let him off, knowing what t was like to be a teen and that his insurance didn't really need to go up, i just said now slow it donw and keep it under 70. well twoo weeks later i got a dispatch and raced off to a crash... (first response is a lage part of our work) and low and behold same exact car same kid, he had been street racing with a friend and lost it, his car spun into oncoming traffic killing him, the driver of the car he hit as well as the 4 year old in the back seat. as i sat there looking at the wreck i couldn't help think, what if i had given him a ticket, maybe he would have slowed down, maybe this wouldn't have happened. i'll never know.


to this day, every time i pull someone over i rember this and i have to think, what do i need to do to get this person to slow down.

on average i give a ticket to less that half the people i pull over, i generally ust try to make sure that they get the message and will slow down. but sometimes the only way to get people to learn is through punishment.

i just wanted to let you all know where i come from on this subject and wanted to get your opinions.

don't hold back, i'd like honest thoughts, if you really think that chp just goes out to make your days worse than say so.

all that said, i love to take my car out find a nice windy piece of road and go have fun just as much as the next guy,

i hope none of this affects any of your future posting, and sorry for the novel, i tried to make it short but just couldn't.

you know where i'll be this weekend, where will you be.

 

Thanks for that. Sometimes we need to hear the "other" side. Something that people need to understand is you deal with a cop in this type of situation maybe 3-4-5 times in your life. Cops deal with this every day, day after day. They hear and see it all. They want to go home safely at night, and want you to do the same. No one is happy to see a cop, so think of the abuse and attitude that this 'person' gets day after day.

I have found that the "yes sir, no sir" attitude from myself has indeed gotten me out of situations that could have gone bad. Show some respect. They rarely pull someone over just for the hell of it..., your doing something wrong, and they are just doing their jobs.

 

When I'm pulled over, which is (thankfully) rare, I'm polite and cooperative. The cop's just doing his/her job even if some of us feel it is "revenueing". Sure it's true that some cops are not pleasant, but they are humans and as such span the range of human behavior. If you decide to be an ass when pulled over, you are more likely to be treated badly or cuffed. Should be common sense, but sadly for many, it's not.

In addition, some towns around here are known as places where considerable revenue is derived from tickets, so I simply don't speed in those jurisdictions. Using your head will avoid tickets altogether.

 

When I got pulled over as a teenager, I was generally nice to the officers. However, I still got my tickets hehe. Once driving 82 km/h in 70km/h zone, and once 82mph in a 70mph zone (yes ... the numbers were EXACTLY the same, but in different units in two different countries).

Also another time was when I went 86km/h in a 50km/h zone. The catch here is that there is a 80 zone coming up in approximately 400-500 feet, I sped up (and went over that limit) before the high speed limit section starts

Anyhow, I was a teenager back then and I think teenager going over limits generally is a bit harder to get by hehe. Nevertheless, when I look back now, I think it was the right thing to do by the officers, especially for kids ... because maybe I would have taken it lightly and ended up on the ditch one day ...

But then, sometimes I feel that speeding on an empty highway really isn't that bad -- well, not going 150mph in a 80mph zone. But more like 100 in 70 or something when it's clearly not risking other's people's lives ... (not talking about drag racing here)

 

There is a difference between drag racing on the street and exceeding the speed limit on an empty highway. One situation can be forgiven if the officer decides to be lienient and the other can't. I've had a lot of breaks in my lifetime and always try to remember these many breaks if I do get a ticket.

 

The trouble with police is that they possess an extreme power over us, which is not always exercised properly. I'm 70 years old, and do not have the highest opinion of police. I still remember rather vividly, police unkindness towards me (which was totally undeserved) inflicted when I was 16 years old. I also remember very vividly a couple of unfair traffic tickets, and I have truly gotten very few in my lifetime. A cop can run around and hand out a dozen or more tickets or reprimands daily. To him, it is just a part of the job, but to many on the other side, it is a lasting and painful memory.

They need a sense of fairness, and not all have that.

 

This might be unfairness- The last ticket I got I was on a two lane highway with medium traffic and traveling 60-65mph in a 55mph zone until I ran up behind a car traveling 30-35mph. I followed him for a couple of minutes until a safe pass could be made. I floored it to get around as quickly as possible and was probably doing 75-80 on the otherside. The car behind me was an unmarked patrol car that I hadn't recognised until he pulled me over. My question is = Why wasn't the car that was traveling 35mph on a hyw ticketed.?

 

I personally have a lot of respect for police officers (thinking about becoming one as a matter of fact). When pulled over i treat them with respect and avoid giving them any attitude. Not because i feel it will help me with the ticket, but because i always am aware how fast i am going and how i am driving and so, when i get pulled over, I know i deserve it.

Honestly the only time i can say i truly got harrassed by the police was in CA. I got pulled over three times while doing the speed limit (exactly the speed limit in fact. I got off work late at night and was tired and just had cruise control on the speed limit). One of the times the lady gave me a warning! I was livid after that one.

CHP popped me three times, but i was doing around 80 in two cases, and 110 the third (I know, young and stupid. I got lucky and that time i didn't get clocked, he only ticketed me for exceeding 65). I normally cruised the freeway at 75 though. While that is still speeding, i was usually going slower than most everyone in the fast lane, and never got noticed at that speed.

I feel that officers do not get nearly enough respect for the work that they do. It always bothers me when people say stuff like "they're supposed to serve and protect, but i don't feel safe. I don't feel like they are here for me". People expect police to be some kind of superhero, always knowing where things might happen and always in the right place when something bad goes down. People don't understand that there are not enough police in the world to protect you from everything, and they cannot be everywhere at once.

 

I have no problems with most police. I've been pulled over a couple of times and with the exception of one, they have all been polite and considerate.

I'm sure, like others have said, being respectful towards them during a stop will get you the same in return. That being said, I'm sure some are having bad days and just lack the ability to "turn it off for the job at hand". Others are just pricks. Those few ruin the reputation mostly because when someone gets stopped by a jerk, they are going to remember it and share/reshare the story over and over.

Case in point:
My one bad experience put me up against a cop who I found out (thanks to the public profile on the small town's website) had been a cop for less than 3 years and was a truck driver before that. He was also the only street cop for the town and I'm sure had a general cocky attitude about his job. He was one of those ones you could just tell by his picture. I was given the ticket even after explaining my situation (slight fib on my part) with no consideration of my driving record (clean) and as soon as he gave me the ticket, he hopped back in his car and drove off so I couldn't look it over and ask him anything.

It's kind of a shock when you expect an "Unnecessary acceleration" ticket and get "Speed racing on Highway" to the tune of $420.

On the other hand, some of the other times I was pulled over, I technically deserved it, and probably deserved getting a ticket, but I was talked to by the cop and let off with a warning (both times). You can't call a guy who lets you off the hook a bad egg.

 

I've never been pulled over for speeding as long as I wasn't doing anything dangerous while speeding.

I make a 1400 mile round trip every month, go 13-19 over every mile it's safely possible, and never get pulled over.

I respect our police officers, and give a friendly wave and smile when I pass by.



Driving through Illinois ~87 in a 65mph. The officer thought it was funny I took a picture of him, but let me follow him going ~87 until he got off at his exit.

If you're going to drive fast, drive safely. Don't tailgate or weave in and out of traffic. Use your turn signals early. =D Just a safe driving tip from a frequent speeder.