First, let me preface this by saying that I truly believe that the vast majority of police officers are good and honest people.
I was watching some videos on youtube last night and somehow found a video on what to do if you’re pulled over during a traffic stop. Obviously, this video was produced by an attorney, looking to drum up business. In the video, they said if you’re pulled over, you should only crack the window enough to pass the officer your license and registration/insurance. And it went on to say that you should refuse any seaches simply by saying, “I don’t consent to any searches”. And, If the cop asks you to step out of the vehicle, you should removed your keys from the ignition and once you’re outside of the vehicle, you should lock the vehicle. To me, this is just asking for trouble. The cop in the video (an actor) went on a tirade and threatened to bring in a k-9 unit, which the narrarator said doesn’t change that fact that you don’t consent to a search. Eventually, the teenagers in the car are let go with a stern warning that they should always obey a cops demands.
It got me to thinking about a time when I was pulled over. I was at a busy downtown intersection, getting ready to make a legal right turn on red. I noticed a police car with it’s lights flashing about half a block (or less) up the street and a man, wearing jeans and a t-shirt in the middle of the intersection directing traffic. He pointed at me and motioned for me to stop, which I did, but after about 30 seconds, I decided to go ahead and make the right turn. Well, the guy directing traffic yelled something at me, but I kept going. Out of my rear view mirror, I saw him running toward an unmarked police car and immediately coming after me, with sirens blaring. I pulled over and he got out of the car and approached me and said, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” (exact words). I replied that I was driving to work. He went on a tirade about how I disobeyed him and that I was “going down”. He took my information and went back to the car and found that I had no warrants or anything. Then he went on another tirade about how I could’ve caused an accident (there were no cars coming and it was a legal turn). He then said, “I hope you have a good job, cuz you’re insurance rates are going to go thru the roof”. Then he told me to get out of the car and said he was gonna search my car. That’s when I said, “are you a cop?”…I was trying to be an asshole. This threw him and I think he suddenly realized that there was no way I could have possibly known that he was a cop. I assumed he was just a good citizen, directing traffic because of an accident up the street. He said he was a cop and then went back to the unmarked car and was gone for about 5 min. He eventually came back and said (still implying that I should have known he was a cop since he was directing traffic) that in the future, I should refrain from disobeying authority figures and told me to go. No ticket or anything, which I’d have fought.
I’ve always had a strong dislike for this type of cop. And I’m pretty sure that if he had given me a ticket, I’d have lost the fight in court. I’m a firm believer that the “good ol boy” system is alive and well in Virginia.
Anyone got any bad cop stories? (or asshole cop stories). Or stories about how you were wronged by a police officer? I’m sure most people think they were wronged, lol.