They sure don't seem to leave me alone. But, I'm only 17 and drive a much faster than stock '77. It's orange and has a pretty loud exhaust, so the combination of all these factors equals immediate police attention. They follow me, give me dirty looks and stares, and mainly the run my plates ALL the time. An anonymous source ;) got my police file of all the times my plate had been run, As of August 10th they had run my plates on 11 different occasions, and remember I only put the car on the road for the first time on June 25th. 11 times in 1 1/2 months. You think they would know who I was and that the car was legit after a couple times. So, seeing that's it's mid September now, that number should be into the 20's :crazy:. I've only been pulled over once at midnight on a Tuesday, I was the only car on the road and he obviusly had nothing better to do since he went by me, hit the brakes, kept driving for a couple hundred yards, then hit the brakes again and pulled a u-turn. Followed my for about a mile at about 5 feet from my bumper, and pulled me over for 50 in a 30 :mad . I'll be seeing him at the hearing this Friday. Sorry for the rant but they're starting to **** me off :yesnod:


[Modified by Ryan77, 6:49 PM 9/17/2002]

 

Stuff like that happens all the time...

You're not the only one

 

yep. I got pulled over the first night i had my vette. I asked them why they pulled me over and they said alot of these cars had been stolen lately and the wanted to check mine.

I Lived in Westport CT. at the time. Give me a break. This town hasnt had one crime in ten years :rolleyes:

Same story on another night. They told me that street signs had been stolen and mail boxes broken. the wanted to check my car out. :rolleyes:

I told them that this is the tenth time they had bothered me without a real reason to pull me over. If it happens again I would file a suit.

Havent been pulled over once since then. Guess they realized i wasnt there biggest problem :rolleyes:

 

Ryan,
They don't bother me, but I firmly believe that it's primarily because of the colors of my vettes (Mosport Green, Nassau Blue, Polo Green). If you have a screaming color like red, orange, or yellow I honestly believe they are more apt to target you (IMHO). :yesnod:

 

got pulled over no front plate twice warnning once 25.00 2nd time i now have
the only vette with front plate in the world i think

 

Never been stopped in the 'Vette (Mille Miglia red, by the way, and owned for over 15 years). Haven't had a ticket in fifteen years (knocking on wood or suitable substitute) but that's because I don't do anything to draw attention to myself especially when I know that there's a cop right behind me.

 

Got pulled over once Forgot to dim the lights :D just a warning He also gave me his card for if I ever sell her.
I'v only been followed once.

 

Any kind of muscle car will attract more attention. These days though, I see many more ricers getting pulled over then muscle cars. Ricers are good for somethin huh?


[Modified by Jvette73, 6:58 PM 9/17/2002]

 

As a former cop (13 years)I felt I should reply to your post from another point of view.

First of all, a 17 year old driving a car like yours is a little unusual. If you drove past me, I would probably run the plate to make sure the car had not been stolen or reported "taken without permission". Once I had the reg. info, however, and knew that there was no problem I would not run it again. I don't know how big the force is in Northampton, but if there are 20 officers, with 3-4 per shift, it is conceivable that your plate was run by a different officer each time. Once they get used to seeing you and the car, the registration inquiries should subside. If they don't, your plate is in plain view, and there's no law against them running it.

Secondly, with all the attention you say you are getting from the police, I would wonder if you are known to them for any other reason(s). Some of the kids who used to complain that we were harassing them because of the cars they drove had no idea that we knew about some of their less innocent activities. Not that this applies to you. But if some of your buddies are, or have in the past been up to no good, you know what they say: guilt by association.

As far as your speeding ticket goes: I suggest that you go to court, be polite and apologetic to the judge and/or prosecutor, and hope that they cut you a break. If the cop was 5 feet off your bumper, he was wrong. But, its his word against a 17-year-old in a hot rod. Unless the speedometer in his Crown Vic was faulty (they are calibrated and should be on a regular basis) and you can prove it, you will lose.

As to your friend with the inside info: in most states, it is a felony to disseminate NLETS or NCIC computer info to someone who is not eligible to receive it. If it's a police file, as you say, the info came from a DMV system that's tied into both these systems. FYI.

Not looking to preach to you here. There are jerks in every profession. I once had one of the troopers from your state search the U-Haul that I was riding in. This was after the driver, the other passenger, and I all showed him our badges. His excuse was that a police chief in that area had been indicted for using cops to run drugs. Which was probably BS. We let him search, and he found the furniture which we told him we were hauling in the first place. I was pissed, but I kept my mouth shut, and he went away. I hope you aren't dealing with cops like him.

My final suggestion would be for you to find the Northampton cop who's into muscle cars (there has to be at least 1). Get him talking cars, and you'll have found a friend. After a while the word should spread that you're ok - that should cut down on the dirty looks.

Good luck.

 

Only the "rookies" mess with me in the Vette. There must be something about Vettes in Cops 101 that makes em that way. :smash:

 

Never been stopped in the vette. But then I don't drive over the limit on public roads. :blueangel:

 

only when i get pulled over :lol:

 

4rensic22 Is right about one thing for sure, you had better not disclose that info you have about your record! They have to have "Probable Cause" to run an NCIC on you, but that can be justified using a "million reasons" It's a "Catch-22" and you will be the one that gets "Burned"! Be Cool, Be Polite, Go to court, pay your fine and like he said "get to know them" Take this advice, "You will catch more flies with honey than vinegar" :flag


[Modified by madmaxgt, 7:32 PM 9/17/2002]

 

I have never been pulled over in my Vette in over 7 years and 20 years ago when I had my '70 Cuda I never got pulled over in it either and I do not drive like and angel :D

 

and as the wise man said "if your breaking the law, don't break the law" :cheers:

 

Ryan, sorry for your troubles. As you know, Northampton is a college town so it is only reasonable to expect that the police will be survealing (sp) any young guys in fast cars. Like 4rensic said, best bet is to make friends with someone on the force so they know you are an alright guy. Also, it is extremely wise to apologize to the cop right at court (before and after trial would be great) for dragging him in and let him know that you aren't going to cause any trouble. If you must, just say you think the officer made an honest mistake. I know it sucks but you live there and he will really respect you for it. I have no problem here in Pittsfield, but I'm 45 and know several members of the police force :cheers: :seeya

 

Haven't been given a ticket yet in my Vette, but they have pulled me over just to look at the car. I also had 2 state troopers pull up along side me on the highway just to tell me nice vette!

All the advice you're getting sounds good and hopefully end all your troubles.

 

I have only been pulled over once and that was for having no tailights. The officer was very friendly and jsut gave me a warning. Im only 21 and I drive a bright red car with sidepipes. :cheers:

 

I'm a County Deputy and I know what you are talking about.

Nice car, loud pipes, maybe a little too fast on take offs, and then only 50 in a 30 ! Tuesday 12 midnight and out after curfew.What is wrong with that officer?:rolleyes:

Slow down, cruise easy, you'll look just as cool and then you won't have to worry about being stopped. If you aren't breaking the law, What have you got to worry about?

Usually I see a cruiser and have reasonable cause several times before I ever stop him. But, he still thinks I am picking on him if or when I do. I usually don't write traffic tickets and if I do, you deserved one and it was usually given because of attitude or you really showed out.


As for your friend with the access to Commujication Center Files, I hope he doesn't get caught. It is a felony to access them with out a case number.I and every other officer has to sign that he will not use NCIC for personel use.

Like someone earlier said. Act nice and be treated nice.....................#461CCSD :seeya

 

i'm no college kid but i go to school at night. last week i was driving on a road on campus that was heavily wooded by a pond. i stopped and lit 'em up just to see if my car would do it. who knew my '81 would peel out like that :D anyways, i went and parked. few minutes went by and this campus cop pulls up beside me. "you drivin' that silver vette?" "yessir" then he gets out and gives me hell about peeling out. treats me like some punk kid that he can bully around. i just said yessir, nosir to everything he said and was on my way. i know i was wrong but he didn't have to be a jerk.....made me want to go and light 'em up again just to see him turn red again. but i didn't! :blueangel: