a question for leo's
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 923
Likes: 3
From: Southern Oregon
Like someone said, you ask 100 officers a question and you will get 100 different answers.
LE officers are only human. They have good days and bad days just like the rest of us. And they are lying if they say that doesn't have anything to do with giving a ticket or not.
Years ago I had a job where I got off at 11pm. It was a little after 11pm on Christmas Eve and I'm heading home. I got pulled over by some A-hole saying I was speeding, going 46 mph in a 45 zone. He wrote me a ticket.
When I went to court, the judge couldn't beleive the cop wasted everyone's time for 1 mph and threw it out. Obviously the cop was having a bad night. Back then his equipment or my speedometer could have been off that much.
The LE officers that I know (both friends and family) all say that they know BEFORE they pull over the person if they are going to write a ticket or not. Obviously there are always exceptions, after they actually talk to the person, the officer may change their mind.
Another thing to remember there IS a difference between the Police and the Highway Patrol.
LE officers are only human. They have good days and bad days just like the rest of us. And they are lying if they say that doesn't have anything to do with giving a ticket or not.
Years ago I had a job where I got off at 11pm. It was a little after 11pm on Christmas Eve and I'm heading home. I got pulled over by some A-hole saying I was speeding, going 46 mph in a 45 zone. He wrote me a ticket.
When I went to court, the judge couldn't beleive the cop wasted everyone's time for 1 mph and threw it out. Obviously the cop was having a bad night. Back then his equipment or my speedometer could have been off that much.
The LE officers that I know (both friends and family) all say that they know BEFORE they pull over the person if they are going to write a ticket or not. Obviously there are always exceptions, after they actually talk to the person, the officer may change their mind.
Another thing to remember there IS a difference between the Police and the Highway Patrol.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 95
From: Connecticut
I treat everyone the same. If I would not give a serior a ticket, I would not give a youngster a ticket. The cost of a ticket in Connecticut is really expensive. For some people, it could be a weeks pay. Plus there is all the whining,and crying, and complaining. Unless you are a real ********, I give everyone a written warning. You never know. A cop on the side of the road just may need some help. A guy that thinks he got treated fair might stop to help. A guy that is pissed becuase he got a ticket, might not. Ride safe.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 410
Likes: 2
From: Southern Utah
I do have to commend good LEO's. I do know several officers and I would not have their job for 3 times the pay. Think about it, us unruly bikers are probably their safest and easiest stops. They know we are all a half a bubble off but he can see what threat we present. The officers never know what is there to greet them behind the closed doors of a cage. Crazies are everwhere and the officer never knows when he will have to deal with one of them.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 423
Likes: 241
From: Pineville, Louisiana
LE officers are only human. They have good days and bad days just like the rest of us. And they are lying if they say that doesn't have anything to do with giving a ticket or not.
I usually stay out of these LEO threads for a reason: but that is
not true: what kind of day I'm having, has zero affect on your ticket:
traffic is my job: I write citations, very few warnings: and for the record I have never, ever wrote anyone on a harley: call it what you want
I usually stay out of these LEO threads for a reason: but that is
not true: what kind of day I'm having, has zero affect on your ticket:
traffic is my job: I write citations, very few warnings: and for the record I have never, ever wrote anyone on a harley: call it what you want
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,983
Likes: 49
From: Hell's Gate
Ask 100 cops you'll get 100 different answers. We all have discretion and use it. I tried very hard to avoid writing cops, doctors, nurses, firefighters, and military. I don't need to explain or justify. It's called discretion. If you ever worked the street you'd know why we did it. As far as military. They get paid crap, and often have to deal with command staff for getting a citation off base. You sign a blank check to Uncle Sam, I'm not giving you a ticket if I can help it. That doesn't mean we went out of our way to write lawyers (well, maybe), bus drivers, architects, actors, welders, bartenders, electricians, gypsys, cowboys, tramps and thieves. You could talk your way out of a ticket as easily as talk yourself into one. I was never a big ticket writer anyway. They issued us warning books and I used them extensively.
The officer that wrote the ticket, from the words written, young. Never assume, but more than not new on the job, maybe. Younger officers tend to follow "guidelines" as they are judged more under an FTO, watch commander, etc. As with anything, discretion comes with time.
Sorry you got a ticket, I would have understood your answer. Given you a "slow it down." But that was then and this is now. I do not write anymore tickets.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
And yes, as a rider I'm sure I tend to look at biker traffic situations a little differently than non-riders do. I have found that I tend to stop (and write) a lot of crotch rockets, seems most of the riders don't have licenses or registration and insurance.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Yes! I let them go a lot more often. I know discrimination is bad but I couldn't help it.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 923
Likes: 3
From: Southern Oregon
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 279
Likes: 2
From: USA
HarleyJoe said it....when I was writing tickets, it was totally up to the motorist whether or not he/she was getting some paper....I am a sucker for a good story...
Your demeanor/attitude is the deciding factor.....The only exception was if you were operating in such a fashion as to create a substantial risk of causing an accident: speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes all at the same time....
In 11 years, I never stopped/cited a biker for a simple VTL violation. For the most part, my co-workers were the same.
Your demeanor/attitude is the deciding factor.....The only exception was if you were operating in such a fashion as to create a substantial risk of causing an accident: speeding, tailgating, unsafe lane changes all at the same time....
In 11 years, I never stopped/cited a biker for a simple VTL violation. For the most part, my co-workers were the same.