The official "Ask a cop/deputy anything!" thread
 

Over on E46Fanatics, we would regularly have these "Ask a....." threads pop up in our Off Topic section from time to time, so I thought I would start one here to see how the member base takes to it. So ask me anything related to the profession (...Why certain things are done? Do we really eat donuts every day? Etc... :) ).

This won't go as you expect...

Probably not! Lol! Nothing ever does when it comes to the forums.

If you're patrolling somewhere and suddenly really really need to take a shit, is it full lights/siren to the nearest restroom?

Not Code 3, but what we like to call Code 2.5. That's where you see us pull up to a traffic signal at an intersection, stop traffic using the squelch/siren and flash the lights briefly, and roll through the intersection.

Is "that time of the month" an urban legend? Is there a specific time of the month where cops try harder to issue citations?

Urban legend! Speaking for California (...and most urban cities) specifically, there's no quotas or anything like that. We do have directed enforcement periods - for example, DUI checkpoints/enforcement on NYE - but that's about it. The time of the month is largely irrelevant. Sure, I am/we are expected to write citations and make arrests (...some of this is driven by contract cities) as it's a component of our job, but it doesn't matter when I do it........just that it gets done. If I'm working a crime car, I'm not really enforcing traffic at all; I am focused on robberies, burglaries, DV calls or other calls for service. You'd have to do something flagrant in my presence for me to jam you up.

Note: As a CHP Officer I focused largely on traffic citations, accidents and DUI's (...with lots of car chases mixed in). As a Deputy, I deal with more robberies, burglaries, assaults, ADW's, parents wanting me to parent their child, elder abuse, missing persons, etc. As a result of the changing scope of my job, my perspective may be from that of a traffic/highway officer or a crime car Deputy. I have also worked jails, so I have perspective on that as well.

Nice thread and nice car you have there! :D

In regards to a traffic stop, what is the most pathetic/nauseating excuse you might routinely hear? Thanks for doing what you do btw! :D

Thanks! I love BMW's and I love what I do......even though I'm crazy for doing it.


I think the most common excuse usually begins with, "I didn't know.....", even though I know that the motorist knew that they were speeding, didn't have license plates, etc. With rare exception, we all know when we're breaking the law. I approach enforcement from the mindset that I try to avoid being hypocritical. I don't run a front plate on my car, for example, so I'm not going to jam somebody up over the lack of a front plate if that's the only infraction that I notice. I will, however, write tint citations (...or use it as cause to pull somebody over and hopefully find a way into that car). I don't have tint on any car though. The reason why tint matters [to me] is because it's a professional/occupational hazard, especially in low light conditions. Somebody could be pointing a gun at me and I wouldn't have the slightest clue, so I approach EVERY tinted car prepared for shit to hit the fan.

You got any crazy stories?

Ahh nice background on tint, I never thought of it in such a way.

So playing dumb pisses you off, rightfully so! :D

Thanks for letting the front plate slide too, you the man! :D

Tons! I could tell you about a TC where 7 people stuffed themselves into an '91 EG Honda Civic hatchback and crashed; bodies strewn all over the freeway.....

Or...

How CHP units were some of the first on scene for that San Bernardino, California terrorist attack that occurred in December 2015. Surreal is an understatement.


Or...

How an inmate pulled his eye out and ate it.


It doesn't piss me off so much as it makes me just roll my eyes. It's for that reason that it's a refreshing change for somebody to just say, "Hey Sir! I know I was speeding, but I'm tired and just trying to get home. Can I be given some leniency?! I'll slow it down."
For me, I would probably let the motorist go absent any other issues (...suspended or revoked license, no registration and/or insurance, etc.).

As for tint.....


....I just want to help people realize and/or understand why cops might have a hard-on for that type of infraction, and to not take it personal if they are cited for it. If the motorist worked a job where tint could be the difference between life and death, they might better understand where a cop is coming from.

I'll be honest I wasn't expecting something as horrific as even the small descriptions you just said. Yet I'm intrigued :confused2:

As for window tint, would it be better if someone with dark tint were to roll all their windows all the way down during a traffic stop?

If you write tint tickets, I'll assume you're doing that 24/7 and not have time to even do the rest of your duties since literally every car on the road has tint, right? Or do you just happen to pick someone randomly to ticket since its your job? Just saying, I personally think ticketing someone who has tint is ridiculous. I understand your reasoning if you pull them over for another reason and the dark tint is a safety hazard for you to approach the car, but pulling them over for tint alone is a horrible reason to give someone a ticket and fuck up someones day.

He said he lets the plates slide since he doesn't have them on his own vehicle... Now if he had front plates, I'm sure it'd be a diff story.

Does flirting with the cop help get one out of a ticket? Asking for a friend ...

Well if you're intrigued, I'll tell you. :)


During a T-stop.....


.....turn off the car, roll down all windows, turn on the interior lights, and place your hands on the steering wheel. Have your license and registration easily/readily accessible, and have your front passenger place their hands on their knees; rear passengers hands on the headrests. Doing that will ease law enforcement. We are always looking at hands and watching for movement, so making it easier for us will keep tension at a minimum.

The reality is that we do pick and choose. It's just like speeding; everybody does it. Sometimes it's your lucky day and sometimes we have your number. The thing to remember is that tinting windows isn't just something a law abiding citizen does to vehicle to add style or reduce heat. The people who rob, harass, murder, traffic, etc. also use tinted windows to conceal. I know it sucks to be cited for it - I've been there before, too - but we all take risks, and therefore, must accept the conditions that come with those risks. Sometimes pulling somebody over for a simple infraction - like tint - leads to a bigger bust.

In some cases, yes! Not for me in particular, but men will be men, and a hot chick with nice breasts might cause an officer to use a little latitude. If I'm going to employ latitude during my stops, I seek to be fair about it.

In an effort to avoid coming across as "Holier than thou", allow me to clarify.....


....in the age of cell phone cameras, hidden cameras/mics in cars, etc., the last thing I want to do is end up on YouTube, somebody's video blog, or the news as that law enforcer who let a woman off simply because of sexualization/favortiism/objectification. It wouldn't be a good look for me, my department nor law enforcement in general.

Glad you agree with it's pretty much a pick and choose. Thanks for the clarification. Wouldn't you think if someone has a clean record and did absolutely nothing wrong to maybe let them slide the tint citation? That's what I don't get, I understand your reasoning but why not let someone off if that's the only reason you stop them for in the first place?

In many cases I/we do let people go. Just a few weeks ago during night shift, four gang members blew a stop sign at a 4-way intersection in a city I patrol. The 4-way intersection is a location where lots of accidents occur, and as a result that contracted city wants more cites written at that location (...that statement goes back to my "directed enforcement" comment earlier in this thread). When we pulled them over, they had tint so dark that my Streamlight couldn't penetrate it. They were cited only for running the stop sign; I would've cited them for the tint as well. It wasn't my handle, though, as I was the book man, so I let my partner handle the stop as he so desired.

Sometimes if tint is the sole reason for a stop and nothing shady reveals itself during the interaction between law enforcement and the motorist, they are often let go with just a warning.

Sure, why not :rolleyes:

That's good information to know. I've never been pulled over so that's pretty useful. I've been pretty stupid once though. Never even crossed my mind until after the event. A group of friends and I were out cruising around and whatnot, so we stopped at Taco Bell right before it closed. After we were done eating, we were just hanging out bullshitting and whatnot. Anyway, I guess there were reports of street racing in the area.. Three policemen approach us in the parking lot to ask questions and all that fun stuff

I had my hands in my hoodie pullover pocket that entire time we were talking, and I was still clueless as to why a couple of them had their hands on their holster. Clueless me :o

Anyways, I feel like rummaging around trying to find my registration or getting my wallet out from my back pocket would look suspicious? Once again, have never been pulled over.