Ok that changes things a little. I would keep both hands on the grips and when the officer approaches you. Make sure that, that is one of the first things you tell tell the officer. I usually tell the officer right after they ask for my license. I will tell the officer I am armed and I have my police credentials in my left rear pocket. As for the helmet do you wear a half helmet or full face helmet. If you wear a full face helmet I would take it off because I want the officer to see my face.

 

I wear a 1/2 or 3/4 or none.
&nbsp\\;
Yeah,keeping my hands in plain/open sight on the grips&nbsp\\;is a good plan.
&nbsp\\;

 

As a former local and state officer with lots of traffic stop experience, I'd suggest you pull over where/when it's safe to do so (be reasonable...most officers will not make a traffic stop where it's unsafe for you or them).

Kick stand down, shut down motor, remain on the seat, and hands in plain view until the officer directs otherwise.

As stated in other posts, lots of cops should not be cops and lots of others really are there in the interest of public safety.&nbsp\\; But each officer has his/her own limit (assuming no regulation that dictates different) and will cut most a bit of slack.

Hope that helps.

 

Hey baggersam, you conduct business the same way I do.. that is the way that Police Work is to be done, IMHO.&nbsp\\; I just think that some people understand when you tell them that have done this wrong or that wrong, and others want to just argue and think they are higher than the law.&nbsp\\; If a verbal speech works then most of the time no Ticket is warranted.&nbsp\\; But if it doenst work or they have priors for the same offense that I stopped him for, then more than likely the hammer will have to fall.... Thats just the breaks.&nbsp\\; As far as stopping Harleys, not unless they deserve to be stopped, most of us riding HD's dont need to get stopped, unless its for speeding, but&nbsp\\;I have been stopped for Loud Exhaust, and I think that is just plain stupid.&nbsp\\; Just my thought.&nbsp\\;
&nbsp\\;
Happy to hear there are some other good coppers out there that use their best judgement and feel that a verbal talking to and common understanding, still works.&nbsp\\;
&nbsp\\;
For all of you that wear a badge and protect city streets, be safe!!&nbsp\\;
&nbsp\\;
RJ

 

In reading this thread I find the words of wisdom from BaggerSam "Police officers work a thankless job so respect goes along way " to be about the best advice one can heed. That attitude is why folks catch "breaks".&nbsp\\;
I'm nice until I find that someone won't allow me to be, and that attitude has been prevalent among all the police I've ever shared a zone with. On the other hand, expect to be bitten&nbsp\\;if you bark at me.

 

I have been stopped many, many times, and agree with baggersam all the way.
All they are looking for is a little respect, and some truth goes a long way!
I have taken many verbal warnings when I probably should have been written up.
I did that by showing respect, and admitting my error. I have also been arrested a few times,
and more than once, the officer has thanked me for acting nicely when they had to put me in cuffs.
I just can't understand how people can argue with the cops, don't they see that it is hurting their situation?
Be nice, show some respect, admit your wroing, and move on.
Thanks to all you LEO's out there.
Rags&nbsp\\;

 

I'm not here to bash cops.
I know that there are angels and a$$holes in all walks of life.

I've met some wonderful people who happen to be cops. I've met some real a$$holes who happen to be cops. The best friend I have used to be a cop. I haven't dealt with any of these people as cops so I don't know if I would see any difference in the way they would handle things.

I don't have a problem with getting pulled over and getting cited if I am doing something wrong. I'll take the ticket and either pay it or take it to court. I'm not going to give a cop a ration of crap for writing me a ticket.

I live in a small village in the most populated county in the state, adjacent to the largest city in the state. I deal with three different sets of leos. The village which leases its cops from the Sheriff's department, the Sheriff's department and the City Police. I have been pulled over by all three groups. I rarely see the State Police unless I'm on the Interstate.

I go to work a about 2am. It's about a four mile drive on surface streets. I usually get pulled over about once a month. I get followed very closely 2 or three times a month. I will be polite and provide my paperwork but where I am coming from, or going to, is none of anyones business. I am sure that you would be insulted if I started questioning your integrity and motives the way that you question mine. I live about a half a block from a Sheriffs substation and about a half a mile from a city police station. I pass both of them on my way to work. I have a radar detector so I generally know where the police are, and they run their radar all of the time. I don't like having my time wasted, so I follow the speed limit, make complete stops and make sure that all of my lights are working.

So why do I still get pulled over?

It typically goes like this.
I'm driving along at or just below the speed limit, or I am stopped at a light. There is usually no other traffic. A car pulls out and starts following me or pulls up behind me at the light. When we proceed I sometimes find that I am being tailgated. If I followed a cop car this closely, I would surely get a citation. I slow down a little to see if they will pass me. Usually they do pass me and I go on about my business. I get a little annoyed if they were tailgating me, but I realize that they are out trolling for drunks at this time of night. If I don't get passed, I am pretty sure of what is coming up. I change lanes, signaling properly, of course.&nbsp\\; They change lanes. Do they use their signals? Maybe. The lights come on. I pull over. The cop shines his spotlight on me so I adjust my mirrors so it isn't quite so annoying. He walks up and shines his flashlight in my eyes. More annoying, but I just deal with it.

He greets me and asks for my paper work.
I provide it. All current and in order.
He asks if my address is correct and I reply that it is.
He asks where I am going at this time of night. I ignore the question because it is none of his business.
I ask him politely,"Why did you stop me? Is there something wrong?
He answers, "No", and asks me again,"Where are you heading?"
I ask, again politely, "Did I do something wrong? Are you going to cite me for something? Is there a problem?"
I am not being rude, abusive or unreasonable. I just want to know why I am being stopped.
If I have a burned out light, all you have to do is tell me and/or write me a ticket and let me go. No hard feelings.
I am almost always sent on my way with no warning or ticket because I didn't do anything.

I am not saying that these cops are bad or rude, but they need a reason to stop me. Being out a 2 am is not a valid reason. If it is acceptable for the police to violate my right to travel freely and lawfully, then why should they get nasty and call me a smart a$$ when I hold their feet to the fire. It is a simple question. Just answer it. If you don't have a valid answer then don't stop me. If you can't deal with a simple and valid question without getting defensive you should probably find another line of work.


The last ticket I got on one of these stops was about seven years ago. I was written for having a license plate light out. There was one still working and the plate was plainly readable at night. He walked around the vehicle a half a dozen times and had to get on his knees to find that light. The cop made a u-turn to follow me that night so he had no valid reason to stop me. When I asked why he stopped me, he stammered and stuttered that there was a similar vehicle reported stolen. I asked him what year. He didn't know. I asked him what decade. He still didn't know. He was getting quite angry with me. I was driving a 72' SS El Camino. I wasn't angry that he wrote me a ticket. I took it to court. It nearly took an act of congress to get a court date. They wanted me to show a receipt for a light bulb or sign an affidavit that it had been repaired. I refused to sign because I wanted to tell the judge what an idiot he was. He didn't show. Hey, the judge probably wouldn't have cared but it would have made me feel better.



My office has moved three times in the last 20 years and it has happened on the way to all three locations.
It's not the neighborhood. If I was doing something wrong I would have a long list of traffic tickets. I don't.
Gee. It must be the cops. OOOOOOPPPPPPS. There I go. COP BASHING.


If this had happened once or twice I would just get over it. But it still goes on.

 

I was stopped for speeding (76 in a 60) by a local LEO on my way to Dallas from Houston.&nbsp\\; After he ran my plate and license, he asked all the usual questions, plus one.&nbsp\\; He asked me who was serving (I have a Blue Star flag).&nbsp\\; He instructed me to thank him for his service and to slow down. I did both and considered myself lucky to be able to!

 

No breaks for me!I've had an incredibly long string of bad luck lately.I got pulled over in the cage 3 weeks ago&nbsp\\;for doing 41 in a 25 zone.It was a $152 fine with points.He got me going down a steep hill while I was coasting.The cop was the biggest dick I ever met.He asked me if I knew why he pulled me over.I said,"Yes,I was speeding."I was never rude or impolite to him,but he insisted on chewing my *** out for 2 minutes.He comes back with my papers and the ticket.I asked him why he had to give me the points,since I have a perfect driving record.No accidents or speeding tickets in 18 years.He says,"I don't make the fing laws,I just enforce them."Nice,real nice.So much for professionalism!I pleaded not guilty and I can't wait to tell the judge what a jerk this cop was.Oh,and the judge is one of my good customers.I see her at least once a week,but I haven't told her we have a date later this month.I hope she drops the points.I don't care about the money.

 

Wow galtjunk, it sounds like your cops are bordering on harassment!