A possible (temporary) solution.

This thread is not political, it is not intended to address the underlying social problems that led to the tragic interactions between the police and motorists this past week. Rather it is an attempt to find a temporary solution in order to help to avoid these tragic events from ever happening again. It is my hope that those of us in the enthusiast community can come up with some ideas and make our voices heard. I hope that those of you reading this who belong to other enthusiast communities will post similar threads on them. If we put our heads and voices together, maybe we can come up with an answer. A solution must be found.

I was thinking that everyone driving could be required to put their driver’s license, registration and insurance card into a clear plastic sleeve, similar to those id tags that we wear around the office. The sleeve could be clipped to the car’s sun visor. When stopped by a police officer the driver could keep his/her hands on the steering wheel at all times, and all the officer would have to do would be to reach in and get the packet containing the documents. This would eliminate the driver having to reach for his/her wallet, and eliminate the police officer’s fear that the driver might be reaching for something else. The motorist could keep his/her hands on the steering wheel and in plain sight at all times. When leaving the car, the driver would simply have to take the plastic sleeve with him/her.

This certainly doesn’t solve any of society’s underlying problems, but maybe it would help to eliminate the tragic results that happen all too often when police and motorists interact.

This was only an idea that I had. I’m sure many of you can think of other possible ways to help to make the interactions between police and motorists better. Please post any ideas here, and please don’t get political.

 

Years ago,it was like that,in my neck of the woods,and people use to fold a couple $20.00 bills,in the plastic sleeve,to avoid a fine.

 

In all due respect it sounds like a proverbial pain. It would mean removing my license, registration, and insurance papers from my wallet or remote storage, packaging them each time I drove, and replacing them afterwards. I’ve read that it’s important not to store and to remove all personal information from your car in the event it’s broken into or stolen. That information you speak of gives thieves your address and an open invitation to visit your unoccupied home.

Now, if I was subject to profiling and apt to being pulled over and shot for my actions it may make some sense, but I’m not that. I believe it’s better to keep you hands exposed and ask permission for any and all actions when pulled over.

gary

 

Gary,

My understanding is that was exactly what Philando Castile (the motorist killed in Minnesota) did. He informed the police officer that he was carrying a legal gun and that he had to get his license from his wallet. In the split second that he reached for his wallet the officer had to decide whether he was reaching for his wallet or the gun. Unfortunately, the officer made the wrong decision.

Somehow we have to eliminate the need to make that split second decision.

 

Unless I'm under arrest I don't need anyone's permission do to anything other than sit in my car during a traffic stop.

Information from the license plate data on the police display screen covers who I am, etc. And in Ohio the police computer also notes I'm licensed to be armed. I still have to "inform" them if I'm carrying. The Ohio State Highway Patrol apparently fears legally drivers more than those without licenses.

-- Chuck

 

I believe that was an extremely isolated incident and in my opinion not worthy of the efforts that were described to prevent it.

gary

 

Here in New Jersey when a police officer stops you and approaches your car you have to produce your license, registration and insurance ID card. I thought it was like that in all 50 states. Apparently Ohio is different, but I'm sure Philando Castile was asked to produce his license and registration. He did advise the officer that he was carrying a gun legally.

I like your idea of getting the information from the license plate, but all that tells the cop is whether or not the car is registered and whether or not it's stolen. It doesn't address the issue of the driver being licensed.

I'd love to see the license and registration have a smart chip that could transmit to the cop all of the data without them having to approach the car.

 

I believe that was an extremely isolated incident and in my opinion not worthy of the efforts that were described to prevent it.

gary
[/quote]

Maybe, but I believe this type of thing has happened too often.

 

In Ohio, and everywhere else I've been stopped, I only have to produce those "Papers" if asked for them. Squirreling around in the car before the policeman arrives at the window isn't necessary. Ask for license, registration, and insurance and you get it.

I was once asked for my pilot's license during a traffic stop. Yeah, I was flying down I71! So, as instructed, I handed my pilot's license to the policeman and watched his puzzlement in my mirror while he talked on the radio and then threw the mic down and stormed back to my window demanding "What the hell is this?" "Just what you asked for." Long pause. Then he saw he was the victim of his own joke, laughed, and waived me on with a "fly slower" or similar comment.

-- Chuck

 

Most cops are decent and some even have a sense of humor. I'd say that was a pretty cool encounter.

Still, we ask the police to make split second, life and death decisions and we need to find a way to make it easier to get the decision right.