# I think I almost got arrested... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 12, 2010, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880 "2010-04-12T20:49:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/21 "2010-04-13T14:57:15Z")
> [@acolva02](#): > > Think about it this way. You dont know what the officer has experienced in the past while doing his job. They encounter the worst in people and are the first person your gonna call if something bad is happening (this comment is for you answer #6) because their job is public safety. I understand there are some assholes, but they are human and at times make poor decisions like anyone else. That being said, I know I have made an ass out of myself when angry, especially at work…:smack: I just thought of this: If he really thought I was dangerous, why would he have run up to my car and started pounding on the window? Wouldn’t that put him at risk for getting shot? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/22 "2010-04-13T15:05:14Z")
> [@fluiddruid](#): > > I had the same thing happen to me a few days after I got my license at 16. I was on a bridge in a construction zone when I got the flashing lights. I put on my right turn signal to indicate I’d pull over, but there literally was no place to pull over – cones on both sides. If I stopped, I would have stopped heavy, congested, barely moving traffic. So, I went with traffic (about 5mph) for about 100 yards then took the immediate first pulloff. This took maybe 3 or so minutes. > > The cop came over to me screaming in rage that he was going to arrest me for starting a chase. Being 16 and intimidated by a large, angry cop screaming in my face, I started to cry. I tried to explain and he said “WHAT DO RED LIGHTS MEAN? WHAT DO RED LIGHTS MEAN?” (meaning the red lights on his cruiser). I said “stop… but I did stop as soon as I could.” He literally screamed that HE would decide when the best place to stop was, and it was when he turned the lights on. > > He went back to his car when I started crying really hard, and came back. He told me he pulled me over because I “didn’t make eye contact” when passing him coming from the other direction and that is a “bad sign”. Also I was apparently going 27 in a 25, but it wasn’t marked and appeared to be a 35. (Note, I was a cautious new driver, and going about 5-10mph less than everyone else.) What an asshole. The cop, not you. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/23 "2010-04-13T15:05:46Z")
> [@statsman1982](#): > > I saw him glaring at me while I was on the phone. I got scared and put the phone down. 😕Why were you scared? You were doing nothing illegal. I am in PA, where phone use is currently still legal. If I see a cop while I’m on the phone it would not bother me at all. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/24 "2010-04-13T15:09:42Z")
Almost the same thing happened to me as well, a few years ago. Only thing is, I wasn’t _sure_ whether I should pull over immediately or try to find someplace out of traffic, and I just couldn’t make that decision. You can see where this is going, right? I’d stop, inch forward a dozen or so yards, stop again, forward another dozen yards, and so on. I finally stop for real, the cop comes over: “Sir, when the lights go on, it means _stop_, not that stop-and-go-and-stop-and-go!” Fortunately, I was quite clearly terrified - I think that helped convince the cop that I really was just an idiot, not just playing games with him. It happens, man. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/25 "2010-04-13T15:20:10Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > 😕Why were you scared? You were doing nothing illegal. Because glaring cops are scary? My depression meds are even working, I’m much less of a speeder or scofflaw than the average around here (we get lots of Masshole\* tourists on our roads), and simply having a cop driving immediately behind me makes me feel a little shaky. - Masshole: Asshole aggressive, speeding, non-signaling driver with Massachusetts plates. Not all Mass drivers are Massholes (thank goodness). ---
**Author:** ![acolva02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@acolva02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acolva02)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/26 "2010-04-13T15:26:04Z")
> [@statsman1982](#): > > I just thought of this: If he really thought I was dangerous, why would he have run up to my car and started pounding on the window? Wouldn’t that put him at risk for getting shot? Once again…human error/bad decision…ever done that yourself? I have. ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/27 "2010-04-13T15:45:43Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > 😕Why were you scared? You were doing nothing illegal. I am in PA, where phone use is currently still legal. If I see a cop while I’m on the phone it would not bother me at all. Well, because cops have certain powers that the rest of us don’t have. Like the power to fine or arrest someone. In my case, the stop was ostensibly for my not wearing a seat belt. I’m never sure of anything these days, but I would bet the life of every person I know that it was on at the time the cop says that he saw me with it off. I think he: 1). Saw the cell phone 2). Got angry because of his pet dislike of cellphone use while driving. 3). Decided to make up an excuse to stop me, without the intention of actually fining me. I realize that it’s pretty bold of me to accuse a cop of lying. But it wouldn’t be the first time one has lied. And besides, if I said my belt was on, and he says it was off, how in the world am I supposed to argue against that? ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/28 "2010-04-13T15:48:44Z")
> [@acolva02](#): > > Once again…human error/bad decision…ever done that yourself? I have. Sure. I once took off some points on a student’s paper because I didn’t see something specific that I was looking for that turned out to be there after all. It happens. The student pointed this out to me, and I corrected the error. I _don’t_ have arrest powers or carry a firearm. Cops can and should be held to a higher standard. When I have a bad day, no one gets shot, Tasered, or taken to jail by mistake. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/29 "2010-04-13T16:08:48Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > 😕Why were you scared? You were doing nothing illegal. I am in PA, where phone use is currently still legal. If I see a cop while I’m on the phone it would not bother me at all. I am one of the most law abiding drivers around (and very law abiding in general for that matter). I still GET NERVOUS when pulled over. Why? Because of\*\* ASSHOLE \*\*cops, which in my experience (and my close friends) is in the 5 to 10 percent range. As for the OP. Fuck the cop if he wants me to pull over in a bad spot. If he/she is stupid enough to end up as a blood stain on the highway because of their power trip ego thingy, thats their problem. Buttt…I sure as hell aint pulling over in a bad spot so I can get to witness the carnage or worse yet, have my ass rear ended at 50 to 70 mph. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/30 "2010-04-13T16:38:04Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I was once pulled over for not having a front license plate. After the officer told me this, without a word I reached down under my seat to pull out the plate to show it to him. > > He did not like that one bit. I’ll bet he didn’t. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/31 "2010-04-13T16:45:21Z")
> [@statsman1982](#): > > I realize that it’s pretty bold of me to accuse a cop of lying. But it wouldn’t be the first time one has lied. And besides, if I said my belt was on, and he says it was off, how in the world am I supposed to argue against that? I agree. Twenty years ago I was a staunch defender of the police. However, just in the past few years I have been pulled over twice with manufactured probable cause. I also have a friend who used to come visit from time to time. She will not venture into my area anymore after she got pulled over on back to back visits for “driving while black”. I remember when my kids were little, teaching them to trust the police. That changed. They now are instructed to contact dad by cellphone instead. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/32 "2010-04-13T17:40:42Z")
Hang up the damn phone and drive. It’s dangerous, and you should know better. I’m not trying to berate you, but just last week, I saw a girl in a parking lot, on the phone, trying to back her car out. She hit both a pedestrian and the parked car behind her. ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/33 "2010-04-13T23:04:01Z")
I feel in fairness I should follow up. I’ve been pulled over a few other times and I always find a safe spot out of traffic to pull over. Usually the cop either doesn’t say anything or s/he thanks me for pulling out of traffic. That one cop was the only time I ever got hassled for considering both our safeties when pulling over. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/34 "2010-04-14T01:53:43Z")
> [@Koxinga](#): > > I was once pulled over for not having a front license plate. After the officer told me this, without a word I reached down under my seat to pull out the plate to show it to him. > > He did not like that one bit. What is this supposed to prove? I’d be more impressed if you had walked around the front of your car, ripped the plate off the screws holding it on and showed it to him. At least then you would have had the front license plate where it belongs. As far as the course of this thread in general goes, usually I get pulled over on freeways. Only once have I been pulled over with nowhere to go, and I pulled into a parking lot as soon as I could. The cop was fine with it; I think the OP just happened to pull a cop in a bad mood. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/35 "2010-04-14T02:20:47Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > What is this supposed to prove? I’d be more impressed if you had walked around the front of your car, ripped the plate off the screws holding it on and showed it to him. At least then you would have had the front license plate where it belongs. :dubious: It’s supposed to prove that, due to my own cluelessness, I almost got fucking shot by a cop, Frank. ---
**Author:** ![acolva02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@acolva02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acolva02)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/36 "2010-04-14T02:49:43Z")
A COP is a person… all that have commented with a “bad” experience act as if they are robots…I too have been pulled over and felt very nervous/anxious for the fear of a ticket. But this is just a natural response. Not that I felt like I was going to jail. I dont think it is fair to profile every cop as a person with a larger than life ego. ---
**Author:** ![acolva02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@acolva02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acolva02)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/37 "2010-04-14T02:55:01Z")
> [@statsman1982](#): > > Sure. I once took off some points on a student’s paper because I didn’t see something specific that I was looking for that turned out to be there after all. It happens. The student pointed this out to me, and I corrected the error. > > I _don’t_ have arrest powers or carry a firearm. Cops can and should be held to a higher standard. When I have a bad day, no one gets shot, Tasered, or taken to jail by mistake. No other bad days where something was said or done that you cant take back? ---
**Author:** ![statsman1982](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@statsman1982](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/statsman1982)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/38 "2010-04-14T03:16:31Z")
> [@acolva02](#): > > No other bad days where something was said or done that you cant take back? In my experience, no, not that I can think of. But, then again, they haven’t turned me loose yet (I’m just a lowly doctoral student. If a student complains to the right person, I’m easily overruled). I can only hope that my personality doesn’t completely change from what it is now, where I cannot imagine wanting to throw my weight around. Of course, that may mean that I’ll never be very successful as a professor, but so be it. Let me also be clear: I don’t have a problem with law enforcement in general, or a general dislike of cops. I’m looking at this strictly as one guy doing something that may or may not have been justified. Where the problem comes in is that guys like this one may be mentors to other, younger officers. If these younger officers think that behaving in a brutish, overbearing manner is “just part of the job,” then we have to worry about “one guy’s bad attitude” becoming systemic. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/39 "2010-04-14T03:46:39Z")
I vaguely remember reading somewhere that if you’re being pulled over and you’re scared (a woman driving alone, you’re in a bad neighborhood, etc.), it’s recommended that you call 911, inform them you’re being pulled over so they can verify it’s an actual cop and not someone posing as such, and then tell them you’re driving to a safe area so that the dispatcher can inform the cop you’re aware of the stop. For those of you with better memories and/or factual information, is this okay? Not okay? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880/40 "2010-04-14T05:26:04Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > I vaguely remember reading somewhere that if you’re being pulled over and you’re scared (a woman driving alone, you’re in a bad neighborhood, etc.), it’s recommended that you call 911, inform them you’re being pulled over so they can verify it’s an actual cop and not someone posing as such, and then tell them you’re driving to a safe area so that the dispatcher can inform the cop you’re aware of the stop. > > For those of you with better memories and/or factual information, is this okay? Not okay? Well, if you’re being pulled over for talking on the phone while driving, I can see how making another call might not help the situation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-i-almost-got-arrested/535880.md?page=3)