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WTF I just read through this whole post....car dealers give each other breaks...mechanics give autobody shops breaks...if you work in retail you get a discount on your purchases from the store at which you work....you even get a discount of 15%, 20% for being a member of HD Forums at times... thats just how s**t rolls...so all this I never give breaks or receive them is BS...just live life and enjoy what you can...like its been said no one wins at this game of life we all die at some point ....so enjoy and let the BS go.
I disagree because there have been so many new members that have come on board since. And its good advice to post about being polite rather then mouthy when pulled over for what ever reason. And that in fact it does pay to be a decent person to another. Police have a job to do too and most appreciate being treated civilly(and hopefully reciprocate that as well, if not all bets are off as far as I'm concerned).
You'd think everyone would realize that and its mostly common sense but you'd be surprised.
Last edited by badinfluence63; Mar 29, 2009 at 12:05 PM.
Attitude is every thing...
I was never a summons writer but any first responder got a pass ..Its a little thank you for missing holiday birthdays etc with family...I know alot of people may disagree but professional curtouis is extend in every profession
What amazes me is this endless list of riders breaking every conceivable traffic safety law whether on their bike or in their cage and then these same people get indignent when one of us gets hurt or worse in a crash caused by "the other guy"... Think about it.
We all need to ride/drive a little safer and not just when someone is looking.
I've received a couple of tickets in my time (not what I would call more than average) but have had my share of warnings too when cops were serving as cops. Now, however there are times when they are not on a mission to "protect and serve" but rather to serve as "tax collectors" or revenue raisers for the city, municipality etc. that employees them. You know the scenario: Set up a speed trap at the bottom of a hill where the speed limit drops from 40 to 25 even when there are no houses, schools, playgrounds around (wonder "why" that is ) One car running the trap (VASCAR or whatever) and one or two cars pulling cars over left and right. and we are supposed to think this is for the purpose of "safety" right?? This is total B.S. and you are NOT getting a warning in this situation NO WAY NO HOW (unless you are one of the aforementioned "professionals" as admitted by the fine Men of Blue here on this forum...the hell with us "unprofessional" common folk). In this case and this case only I have made smart allec comments to the officer such as "Well hello Mr. Tax Collector, how are you this evening?" After they write the ticket and I sign it, I ask how much they figure they raised tonight and whether that means they will be having Steak and Shrimp at the Policeman's Banquet this year again, to say hello to the Mayor for me, and to keep up with the fine work, as I feel much safer now knowing that they're trying so hard to rid the area of these scumbag speeders in this stretch of heavily traveled (read that "income producing"), but mostly isolated road (isolated from dangers that is). In this case, they can kiss my a**!! What a waste of already highly compensated "professionals" (their salaries paid by the taxpayers they are now in the process of fleecing!) to serve as Girl Scouts doing their duty to raise money for the "organization" What a joke!
I'm not a ticket guy. I don't like writing them, unless you talk your way into it or you're a hardcore gangster or criminal. Most get a break or warning with me. I wouldn't want to put another LEO into a spot, so I try not to do anything that gets me pulled over. Similarly, if I pulled one over, he will get treated like everyone else, which is a break. All I can say is that if any of you are riding thru my neck of the woods, you won't have any problems with me. Heck, I will take the rest of my tour off and ride with ya!
The first thing to do when stopped by a cop is to speed dial your office voicemail on your cell and then leave the phone open so everything said is recorded. When he approaches, hand him your license and insurance card and immediately ask him why he pulled you over. Do not let him control the conversation. DO NOT let him ask you why you think he pulled you over. Be polite. Be honest and tell him that he must have had a good reason or he wouldn't have pulled you over. Say as little as possible. If the officer asks you a question like “Do you know why I pulled you over?” or “ Have you had anything to drink tonight?” ask him if you need a lawyer before you answer any of his questions. If he says that he's just asking you a few questions, repeat... "Do I need a lawyer? Make him answer that question. Make sure that this is all being recorded on your cell voicemail. If he gives you a warning, great! Otherwise sign the ticket and be on your way. If he gets lippy or in any way attempts to violate your constitutional rights, you will have it all recorded. The important thing to remember is that traffic cops are just meter maids with guns. It is not their job to determine innocence or guilt. Their job is to write tickets or give warnings unless their isobvious or immediate danger. They are trained to intimidate you into giving them information that you do not have to give them. You can just stay quiet and hand them your license and insurance. This is your right.
In my state, the officers never show up in court anymore. Their written statement is deemed sufficient evidence and is read by the judge at the contested hearing. However, the defendant (you) have the right to request a copy of the statement 10 days before the hearing if that statement if it is to be used as evidence. It’s called discovery. Send your request certified delivery on the last possible date allowed by the stipulation of defendant’s rights. Along with your discovery request, also ask for calibration records, training records, policies and procedures, a copy of the officer’s daily log and his time and method of calibration. Ask for the name and type of the radar device and any tolerances or percentage of error factor. Ask for the exact dates and records showing that the officer was properly trained in the use and calibration of the device. Ask for a copy of the owner’s manual and any update or tech orders that relate to the device. Basically bury the prosecutor with an immense discovery request. From that point forward, tell your wife that you do not want to know anything about anything that comes in the mail, do not check the mail and do not look at the mail for the next two weeks. In most cases the prosecutor will never respond due to the enormous discovery request. Even if they do respond, they are too cheap to send it certified receipt so you wil be able to say honestly that you never read or received it.
Now here is the clincher. The court and the prosecutor very rarely communicate that well. Once you are in court the judge will tell you that he will be reading the officers statement and the case against you. At that time, you inform the judge that you requested a copy of the statement, as is your right, and that you never received it.
Next inform the judge that he prosecutor did not comply with your discovery request and make a motion to suppress the statement. No statement . No case. Viola!!!
The above is EXACTLY what all of the sheep pay attorneys to do for them.
What? That's crap. Professional courtesy was always a given for me, unless you did something so stupid that I had to pinch you for something. It came with the job and I expected it just like I gave it... Wasn't like I didn't give an equal number of breaks to other folks I stopped that seemed like they deserved. In my book all fellow officers deserved and received it... I was consistantly one of the top three traffic officers on my 100 man department and only wrote about 50 - 60% of my stops. The rest were warnings..
and I didn't write bikes....
Well said.
Last edited by mike5511; Mar 30, 2009 at 02:20 AM.
The first thing to do when stopped by a cop is to speed dial your office voicemail on your cell and then leave the phone open so everything said is recorded. When he approaches, hand him your license and insurance card and immediately ask him why he pulled you over. Do not let him control the conversation. DO NOT let him ask you why you think he pulled you over. Be polite. Be honest and tell him that he must have had a good reason or he wouldn't have pulled you over. Say as little as possible. If the officer asks you a question like “Do you know why I pulled you over?” or “ Have you had anything to drink tonight?” ask him if you need a lawyer before you answer any of his questions. If he says that he's just asking you a few questions, repeat... "Do I need a lawyer? Make him answer that question. Make sure that this is all being recorded on your cell voicemail. If he gives you a warning, great! Otherwise sign the ticket and be on your way. If he gets lippy or in any way attempts to violate your constitutional rights, you will have it all recorded. The important thing to remember is that traffic cops are just meter maids with guns. It is not their job to determine innocence or guilt. Their job is to write tickets or give warnings unless their isobvious or immediate danger. They are trained to intimidate you into giving them information that you do not have to give them. You can just stay quiet and hand them your license and insurance. This is your right.
In my state, the officers never show up in court anymore. Their written statement is deemed sufficient evidence and is read by the judge at the contested hearing. However, the defendant (you) have the right to request a copy of the statement 10 days before the hearing if that statement if it is to be used as evidence. It’s called discovery. Send your request certified delivery on the last possible date allowed by the stipulation of defendant’s rights. Along with your discovery request, also ask for calibration records, training records, policies and procedures, a copy of the officer’s daily log and his time and method of calibration. Ask for the name and type of the radar device and any tolerances or percentage of error factor. Ask for the exact dates and records showing that the officer was properly trained in the use and calibration of the device. Ask for a copy of the owner’s manual and any update or tech orders that relate to the device. Basically bury the prosecutor with an immense discovery request. From that point forward, tell your wife that you do not want to know anything about anything that comes in the mail, do not check the mail and do not look at the mail for the next two weeks. In most cases the prosecutor will never respond due to the enormous discovery request. Even if they do respond, they are too cheap to send it certified receipt so you wil be able to say honestly that you never read or received it.
Now here is the clincher. The court and the prosecutor very rarely communicate that well. Once you are in court the judge will tell you that he will be reading the officers statement and the case against you. At that time, you inform the judge that you requested a copy of the statement, as is your right, and that you never received it.
Next inform the judge that he prosecutor did not comply with your discovery request and make a motion to suppress the statement. No statement . No case. Viola!!!
The above is EXACTLY what all of the sheep pay attorneys to do for them.
deleted..........
Last edited by mike5511; Mar 30, 2009 at 02:21 AM.
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