# My God, what decade are we IN? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2000, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992 "2000-09-29T13:37:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992/21 "2000-09-29T16:59:13Z")
Hey baglady, I agree that > [@](#): > > we need to have a little UncleBeer voice in our heads warning us any time we read things like this and the bells go off. but frankly, my voice works fine, thanks. I personally was not shocked at the racial aspect, but rather that two people driving down the street minding their own business were treated this way. Sorry for bothering to post it. My point was obviously missed or misconstrued. I’m not debating this story, just saying that I was amazed that it happened. Sorry I tripped your rant trigger. Zette ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992/22 "2000-09-29T17:11:43Z")
Thanks too, UB. The piece of info of “temp plates” was an important one to miss in the original article. The whole “why didn’t they check the license plates” thing was what bugged me. It takes LONGER to stop a vehicle, get folks out and then deal with it all, then it does to call in a tag. I didn’t think it was likely that BOTH vehicles had temp plates. But, that just shows once again, that “likely” does not equal “can’t happen”. Perhaps that explains why the people in question didn’t raise a big fuss originally. I also agree with Baglady about the description thing. I once had an argument with a coworker about a speeding ticket he got. He said it was an obvious “DWB” case. The facts were: He, a black male, was speeding Ionia MI in the evening. Now, Ionia is a pretty small city, has one industry - the HUGE prison that is there (the Big Boys is the “good” restaurant in that town). I conceded to him that a black male in that town not-during-shift-change time would be likely to be suspect. HOWEVER, I felt the real reason he got stopped for speeding was : HE was the ONLY car on the road at the time and he was SPEEDING. Zette - I applaud you for caring about injustices, even if they happen to be happening to other people. Unfortunately, the original article you cited left out some very pertinant information - like it wasn’t just a stolen car, it was a report of an armed carjacking, and that both cars involved had temp. tags. This, in my mind, makes the police action far more appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992/23 "2000-09-29T17:39:02Z")
Uncle Beer, Thanks for posting the additional information. It does seem like the media had taken the story and run with it, and that there was more to the tale than met the eye. I still believe that racial profiling runs rampant in the U.S., but I’ll seek more details before I react to the next story. Zette, This article made for a good discussion, and I’m glad you posted it. In my neck of the woods, I have met black people who have been hounded by the police. Ordinary, law-abiding folks who would get stopped often, and on flimsy pretexts. It’s getting better around here now, but it still happens. That had a lot to do with my initial response to the article. I was outraged by the story for the some reason that you were. –Kris ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992/24 "2000-09-29T17:40:01Z")
> [@](#): > > You know they conduct racial profiling at airports too, but you don’t hear much about THAT – because they’re targeting Arabs and other Middle Easterners (and I guess that’s not as sexy a story). Hell, US customs agents conduct “tattoo profiling” too – did you know that? They look out for Japanese men with extensive tattoos creeping out from under their clothes, because it’s a traditional sign of Yakuza (Japanese mob) membership. You don’t hear about that either. Sorry, but there’s a class action lawsuit against the customs service for “profiling”. Seems they’ve been systematically stopping black women as possible drug courriers. Despite the US customs statistics indicating that they would actually be the least likely to be carrying contraband. See this [report](http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n473/a02.html) I’m not saying that what you mentioned doesn’t happen, just thought I’d give you the sccop. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992/25 "2000-09-29T19:14:01Z")
This may have been covered (I didn’t see it anywhere, though) but if a car is stolen, running the plates isn’t enough. There’s enough “red cavaliers” or “blue mustangs” around here to match plates with. If you steal a car, find another just like it, take their front plate, put it on your rear location, and you _look_ legal. In this instance, you have to run VINs to check out. –Tim ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992/26 "2000-09-29T19:18:19Z")
Homer, yes it was covered. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Yes, UB, a theif COULD do this. Do you have any info that this is what Actually DOES happen? > > IME (working with folks who steal cars): > a. Basic impulse joy riding folk - Wow, lookee at that car, wouldn’t it be cool. They will NOT take the time to do anything like that. The person in this case, their aim is to drive the car, so they’d be driving around. > > b. Car theft for profit (for either chop shops or resale) while they DO have an agenda in mind, to find another similar car switch plates etc means that you’re spending a whole lot MORE time out driving the stolen one than you’d want. For these folks, the less time you’re on the road, the better. \*\* basically, the point is, that YES, there are multiple red firebirds out there. How often do you see them parked next to each other? That’s about the only time that trick would be of any benefit. The joyrider won’t take the time out, and the pro doesn’t want to be on the road long enough to drive around LOOKING for another pink mustang with a blue eagle airbrushed on the roof. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992/27 "2000-09-29T19:42:12Z")
well, I certainly came off like a shrew. Sorry for being so rude, baglady. I guess (now that I re-read my own thread title) I was partially shocked because they were black (with all the racial profiling going on) but more shocked to think something like this could happen to me and my husband (both white). I understand that the police are trying to do their jobs, but when innocent people are treated like that it makes me feel very scared. Bear in mind I live in East Assboink, NY where the biggest crimes we usually have are kids smashing pumpkins at Halloween time. Zette ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2000, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992/28 "2000-09-29T20:00:38Z")
One side note, I know someone posted (in jest, I’ll assume) that most Cops are white males. I’m in Mississippi, as you might have picked up. Most towns these days, most of the police force is Black Males and Females. Preferences in hiring seem to be for black male/female types, but with them being nearly 100 cops below their target, they are taking most anyone.Not that this has stopped the crime rate any, mind you. Any other questions? Just ask! 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-god-what-decade-are-we-in/34992.md?page=1)