I was driving with my girlfriend yesterday in a dilapidated part of town just cruising around... right before sunset when a cop pulled us over. Sitting there watching him talk enthusiastically into his radio, I'm looking at my little piece of paper-license-because the DMV cretins couldn't read my VIN-thingy and think this doesn't bode well. Just waiting for the multiple cruiser-stolen vehicle squad to come screeching around the corner. The top is down on my vert so I put my hands very visible and wait to explain the no license plate.

Apparently I had run a stop sign. Turns out that that I was fooled into thinking the "stop-sign-ahead" warning sign was for a stop sign two blocks ahead, instead of the one a block before that was hidden-behind-a-tree-and-a-gardeners-pickup-with-wooden-siding! :mad :mad Didn't argue with the cop-expressed remorse.

Now I see cops come into my work everyday. They are people like everyone else. Some good, some not so good. This cop fell into the latter category. Walked up and immediately began fabricating. Accused me of gunning my engine while running through the stop sign, and driving at an unsafe speed through a school-zone. I was livid, but really I kept my cool. I did indeed agree that the stop sign was hidden and therefor I had ran it. I firmly denied his accusation that I had gunned my engine or driven at any unsafe speed. He was like "there are kids around here!!' I said "that it is exactly why I was driving at a safe speed" " I don't want to make your job harder but, I wasn't driving fast, in fact my girlfriend and I were observing some kids on the street, so I was driving slower".
So he walks away, I'm waiting for the dude to write up his ticket, my girlfriend is just trying to be sweet and sympathetic- I'm thinking "I just want to get this over with so I can keep cruising with her, n' show her a good time, relax her a little bit" ... a couple walks by and the cop turns to them and starts joking around, for AWHILE. This is taking a long time. So I tune in to their conversation and hear this, I kid you not :" yeah, I never bagged a Vette before". :cuss :cuss :cuss So when he comes back with my ticket to sign, I ask him straight- you just said I never bagged a Vette before to that couple, is it really any of their business? He looks me straight in the eyes and says "I didn't say that, I said I never have owned a Vette"

Now I was only antagonistic once I received my ticket, only challenged him once I determined that he was a complete-a-hole and lier to boot. I even mentioned that he was just doing his job, but it was a bad brew. An officer of the law and a young man with a Vette. Just wish my girlfriend didn't have to go through the experience with me. She was already stressed out as it was because of her finals... So the score card is such- one encounter in the deserts of Texas- Good cop, one encounter in Santa Barbara California- Bad Cop. My beautiful ride is a target irresistible to the bad cop!

Anyhow I may try and fight it, tomorrow I'm taking pictures and taking them to a lawyer. Gunna see whether I can fight this a-hole. Now if someone had caught me speeding just a little bit, with my buddies on the freeway the other night, four a.m. a stretch of road with no on-ramps right out side of town... well then I would have kept my mouth shut and taken my lumps!!! :D :D

Reminds me my why I keep an inconspicuous sticker on my driver pickup that reads: "Question Authority". Be careful out there yall, even if you drive safe you can still get screwed!

 

Put one on the Vette that says "Follow me to Krispy Kreme / Duncan Donuts" and you may make more friends that way.


[Modified by BSeery, 5:42 PM 5/16/2002]

 

You don't necessarily need a lawyer. Just show up for the court date - he may not and you will probably walk away. At any rate, his badge number is on the ticket and you can file a complaint.

 

Don't waste ur money on a lawyer Push back ur court date and the officer may not show,,,U are allowed to do it once without a fine or a problem :cheers:

 

On the ticket, the officer wrote: "driver admitted at fault" doesn't that give me very little le-way, also if I fight this ticket and he shows, and I loose, do I pay more? Thanks for the comments yall.
Here's a good pic of the offending vehicle:



:cheers: :cheers: :chevy :) :) :)

 

Nope it is ur right to fight the ticket...The only way it would cost u more is by getting a lawyer unless it is a buddie..If he does not show u will win :cheers:

 

Never, I MEAN NEVER ADMIT FAULT! If you get stopped for speeding and the officer asks you if you know how fast you were going say you are not positive and don't care to estimate incorrectly, because they will write down what you say on the ticket as you found out. If you ran a stop sign and didn't see it because it was obstructed from your view, then tell them so. If they give you a ticket then take a picture if possible of the sign obstructed and take it to court, he would probably lose right then and there. And no matter how arrogant the cop is try your best to remain calm and polite...I know it's tough sometimes with these rambo wanna-be types but it's in your best interest when you get into court. When you get into court dress nice, shave and look presentable. Be honest and courteous to the judge, don't say officer so and so was an A-hole, just tell the judge he was highly unprofessional and rude. Then explain your side of the story, you may even have a chance to ask the officer questions so write them down before you get there because you WILL forget something. If you can poke holes in his version without coming off as a jerk you'll do much better, and by all means be truthful, the judge has probably heard a million excuses before. You should have asked the people he told that he never bagged a Vette before for their phone number, then have them write a statement of what the cop said to them.

Another thing, many departments are now requiring officers to make court dates, they have found that they are losing money.

I have many friends in law enforcement but this guy is obviously one of those bad apples, trust me I've met plenty of cops that shouldn't be cops. I ran into a Highway patrol officer here who basically challenged me to a fight right in the street because I didn't have a clue what he was screaming his head off about, it turns out he went bizerk because he said I revved my engine. I actually did rev once because it was about to stall out when some tool cut in front of me and I slammed on my brakes.....that's not an excuse to jump up and down like an organ grinder monkey in the road challenging someone to a fight, especially as a cop. Since many of my friends here are in law enforcement I handled this in a quiet manner and was told this cop is a known A-hole and it would be in my best interest to let it go unless I wanted him to start pulling me over everytime he saw me. IMO that's a pathetic cop, he gives the good ones out there a bad reputation.

 

Yeah, I've heard this old wives tale before. Both times the cop showed up. One was for a very similar situation. I had a defense all figured out based on what the cop originally told me, and then SHE went and changed her story on the stand rendering my defense useless. Still remember her name. Officer Cullpepper in Raleigh, NC... 22 years ago.

Don't waste your money on a lawyer, and you'll probably end up paying a fine. I did get 2 of the 3 charges she had on me dropped, but on the 3rd one, it was my word vs hers. The good thing was that the judge reduced the fine. Maybe it was because 2 of her charges were clearly fabricated and there was a credibility issue with her. :rolleyes: :crazy: :smash:


[Modified by 79MakoL82, 8:09 PM 5/16/2002]

 

[QUOTE]You don't necessarily need a lawyer. Just show up for the court date - he may not and you will probably walk away. At any rate, his badge number is on the ticket and you can file a complaint.

Yeah, I've heard this old wives tale before. Both times the cop showed up. ]
owing....
I guess I have had better luck with the cops not showing up

 

Ok that is what I am going to do then. However if I loose am I still eligible for traffic school?

 

:yesnod:

 

Well, from where I sit, that vehicle looks pretty guilty, amigo. And the little girl too.

:D

 

Sorry you had to go through that man...unfortunately, he was NOT doing his job, he was abusing his authority. Rob, there are jackasses everywhere...and it seems that we Corvette owners can be magnets for them. Hug the little missy for us and take her for another cruise! You BOTH will feel better :yesnod: .
Weasle :D

 

I just noticed this, but your Vette looks really familiar. Did you buy it from a guy in Louisiana? Anyone remember Eric70? I would swear that's his old Vette.

 

:yesnod: Yup. That's Eric's old Vette :)


That really sucks. I'd take some pics pronto of the area and schedule athe court date.

 

Remember Eric70? Yep!! He's a good friend of mine and stuck over in Bagram AB for the time being helping the A-10s wipe out ragheads.

You got yourself a great car there Rotten!!! :cheers:

 

If you fight a ticket in court and lose, you will NOT be allowed to take traffic school. I used to go to UCSB and still live in Los Angeles. I received a ticket a few months ago, and the papers in the mail specifically said that if contested in court and lost, traffic school would NOT be an option. Just something to think about. I would find out the officer's name, and call his department (anonamously of course) and request to know his days off (It's public information). Reschedule your court day on one of his days off (cops HATE showing up in court on their day off). Good luck!!!

 

Hey Rob, If you are getting tickets....then I know you are enjoying my (your) '70 stingray!!!!

 

If I were you, I would have told the officer after he denied saying that to couple, that you were going to get their info and have them appear in court with you to show his true integrity and intentions. That would have turned his face to this -----> :bb and he would have ripped the ticket apart....the officer doesn't want to appear in court and see a judge looking at him like this -----> :cuss

I have friends who are "good" cops...and they don't like their partners giving them bad raps.... so they tell me if your getting the wrong end of a false accusation, they say to look at what you can take to their superiors to squeeze them into being more credible....'good cops' also don't like the 'bad cops' :eek:
just my $.02 :D


[Modified by ylose, 9:03 AM 5/20/2002]