# Calling All Cops: Is This Standard Procedure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 19, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899 "2008-12-19T13:58:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/21 "2008-12-19T21:56:40Z")
Had it happen once, in Atlanta, pulled over for speeding when I was 17 or so. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/22 "2008-12-19T22:21:43Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Indiana and North Carolina as reference points. The one time I got pulled over in Indiana, with passengers, the cop approached me from the driver’s side, but he also had me come into his vehicle and sit in the passenger seat as he ran my details. I thought it was a little odd at first, but it was Indiana, and I have no idea how other police jurisdictions do their thing. Other than that little thing, which I wasn’t used to, the police’s conduct was completely professional and pleasant, and I just think that’s just the way they did things there. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/23 "2008-12-19T22:30:45Z")
I did question the need for me to give the cop a handjob while he wrote the ticket, but he assured me it was standard procedure. ---
**Author:** ![Craneop2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Craneop2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craneop2)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/24 "2008-12-20T02:10:50Z")
Did you ask if his name was Ron? ---
**Author:** ![ooglyboogly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ee59a6/32.png) [@ooglyboogly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ooglyboogly)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/25 "2008-12-20T02:46:37Z")
There is nothing out of the ordinary with this. I think somebody is trying to relive their youth. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/26 "2008-12-20T03:57:39Z")
> [@ooglyboogly](#): > > There is nothing out of the ordinary with this. I think somebody is trying to relive their youth. i fail to see how me questioning something unusual is me questioning my youth. But thanks for playing 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/27 "2008-12-20T04:04:22Z")
It happened to me once, and I was a long haired, filthy hippie at the time. It was cold. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/28 "2008-12-20T12:27:47Z")
> [@Craneop2](#): > > Did you ask if his name was Ron? Lol! **ooglyboogly** - I’m flattered that you just joined yesterday and I am the only post you have posted on so far . . . . ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/29 "2008-12-20T15:45:24Z")
I grew up in NC (near Charlotte, in fact) - lived there until 2003 - and sitting in the cop’s front seat during a traffic stop was standard for both males and females. Never seen it happen in Arizona, though. I wouldn’t be concerned if I were you; sounds like he was just being polite. Are you from somewhere else? ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/30 "2008-12-20T18:16:17Z")
My sister and her SO were stopped for his car windows being tinted too dark, and the cop came to her window (SO was driving), and she about had a heart attack. I can see where the cop would be much safer on that side, because of cops being killed by gawking drivers. I have been invited to sit in the cop car once. A 16-yr old football player had taken off the front left corner of my van, and it was cold and rainy, so we sat in the back while the cop dealt with things, and the poor boy sobbed on my shoulder. It probably depends on how nasty it is outside and how harmless/pathetic you look. Me=harmless. Him=pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/31 "2008-12-20T18:23:47Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Considering that I’ve seen articles/footage of incidents where police or others standing outside a car (people fixing a flat, emergency responders) on the side of a highway have been struck by other cars, I suspect both approaching on the passenger side and asking the OP to sit in the car were safety measures as well. This makes sense to me. The number one way for NH cops to die while working is being run over. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/32 "2008-12-20T18:51:53Z")
Speaking as a cop I would say it was slightly unusual. The passenger side window thing, not unusual. I do it if it is the highway or a busy street. Walking back to his car? I never do that. Not on a traffic stop at least. Sometimes on a minor accident I’ll have them come back to the car. I know in some parts of the county it seems to be SOP to have the driver come back to the police car. Seems like a bad idea to me and that is not how I was taught. Now the sitting in his car thing, that is right out. For one, my passenger seat is where I keep all my cop shit. There is a bag strapped in with ticket books, law books, flashlights, reports… Its a pain in the ass to move. I also wouldn’t want to be at the wrong end of a false accusation. If there is bad weather someone can sit in the back. I can’t comment on what his motives might be. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/33 "2008-12-21T16:02:46Z")
Call your Sheriff’s Office, & ask about it. Mention about how uncomfortable you were. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/34 "2008-12-22T23:08:56Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Are you from somewhere else? Yes, I am originally from NH, but have lived up and down the east coast as well as in Denver- only lived in Charlotte since June of this year. > [@Loach](#): > > Speaking as a cop I would say it was slightly unusual. . . I can’t comment on what his motives might be. Thank you! It just felt off to me, although he seemed nice enough. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/35 "2008-12-22T23:34:51Z")
I got a traffic ticket in NC and had pretty much the same experience. I was 18 and male at the time (still male) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Thalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f475e1/32.png) [@Thalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thalion)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899/36 "2008-12-23T03:10:36Z")
I agree with **Loach**. The passenger-side approach is a good tactic, but bringing somone back to your car seems crazy to me. I like them to stay in their car, where I can see them clearly and they have to twist around to see me or take a shot at me. Having them in the car with me would make it too easy for them to attack. I do know that some cops handle stops this way, but I would never do it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-cops-is-this-standard-procedure/477899.md?page=1)