# So a funny thing happened when I got pulled over today . . . **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2018, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666 "2018-05-05T21:52:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/21 "2018-05-06T19:03:07Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I must be dense - I’m still not getting what exactly happened. He said on camera that he wanted you to pull ahead and park so the car could be towed, but he made it clear to you (off-camera) that he would not be towing your car. > > Why the big on-camera charade? Wouldn’t that create an official record that he intended to tow your car? Wouldn’t that leave him with some explaining to do later (as to why he didn’t actually tow your car)? > > 😕 I am dense too. Simple question: Why all the winking and codespeak if the bodycam was off? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/22 "2018-05-06T19:35:57Z")
You’d think turning off the cam would be a red flag for anyone reviewing his footage. What’s to keep OP from making a complaint that he turned off his camera to offer to not tow the car in exchange for a bj? If he did what is being reported, he’s effing stupid. Besides, everybody knows you only turn off your body cam to plant evidence duuuuuhhhh. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/23 "2018-05-06T19:44:34Z")
Over the 20 years I lived in So Cal I was pulled over and cited exactly zero times. I’ve been in NJ 10 years and have been pulled over eight times and ticketed four times. None of these tix have been for a moving violation and three were outright dismissed in traffic court (including the license plate ticket). I paid the fourth ticket for a broken license plate light - I didn’t know it was out, so fair enough. So either I suddenly became an evil, middle-aged scofflaw when I moved here or cops are extremely ticket-oriented. One possibility is that we live on the border of Trenton, a violent and drug-filled area. Maybe I’m driving a type of car associated with drug running and cops find reasons to pull me over so they can check out the car? It’s odd that none of the citations have been for moving violations. Just wanna say I’m not anti-cop, other encounters with area police have been very positive and I’ve seen them do some brave things in dangerous situations, including chasing a drunk driver who hit and ran my parked car. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/24 "2018-05-06T19:57:42Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I am dense too. Simple question: Why all the winking and codespeak if the bodycam was off? What if the “customer’s” bodycam was on? > [@Chronos](#): > > Yeah, this sounds to me like a trap. He’s on camera telling you to pull over, he already has your plate, and the car isn’t going to show up at the impound lot. Now he has convincing evidence that you fled the scene, which could lead to officers coming to your house in the middle of the night to arrest you. And is there any reason for anyone to believe your version in court? Although this may sound more like paranoia than reality, I can say from personal experience that this tactic – letting the perp go so he can be nailed for a greater violation later – is actually used. It was tried against me. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/25 "2018-05-06T20:15:27Z")
I’m not comfortable with cops deciding they can turn their bodycams off during a traffic stop. It’s bound to be abused in a variety of ways, and I suspect that the largess won’t be distributed in a uniform manner. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/26 "2018-05-06T20:22:37Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > I’m assuming the cop knew the tape might be VIEWED by a superior, but there’d be no follow-through on the rest. If a town has 50 officers with cameras, wouldn’t it need 10 people (just a guess) to go through all the footage? Nobody has the time or money to hire enough people to watch and catalog all of it. I always figured that body camera footage was filed away; if there’s an injury, a major crime, or an allegation of malfeasance, they can see what happened, but nobody watches it all routinely. Unless I’m wrong. Maybe the town where this happened has been accused of racial profiling or something. There could be somebody reviewing their traffic stops to look for patterns or indications of bias. By letting Jennshark go on the Q.T., maybe that’s a way of letting her slide in a way that won’t show up in their stats. Just speculating, there. But why would an officer want to conceal that he was being too nice, and why only from the camera? > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Besides, everybody knows you only turn off your body cam to plant evidence duuuuuhhhh. Well, I kind of expect an officer to turn the camera off when he goes to the bathroom, or something. We should design them so the only way to turn them off is to put a bright, fluorescent blue cover on them. Still gives the officer some privacy, but it would be clear when they were, and weren’t recording. Catch someone too many times with their camera disabled when it shouldn’t be, and that goes on the officer’s record. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/27 "2018-05-06T23:48:27Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > It may be the law, but a majority of cars here don’t have the front plate on – in fact, many newer cars don’t even have the bumper indentation/drilled holes to mount a plate. I know “but everybody does it!” isn’t a defense, but spirit of the law and all that. I lived in Washington, a two plate state. For 20+ years. Exactly zero percent of the time did I have a front plate. Never got hassled for it. I went a least a year here in California without a front plate without issue and only finally put it on because it was cheaper than fixing an unsightly park8ng lot bumper ding someone gifted me with. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/28 "2018-05-07T12:48:19Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > So either I suddenly became an evil, middle-aged scofflaw when I moved here or cops are extremely ticket-oriented. Actually, I found the transition to “evil, middle-aged scofflaw” was a rather abrupt change. Perhaps you’re being too hard on the NJ cops. That said, you’ve probably become the patsy in some slick east coast criminalcop thing. You’re going to gaol, dude. Better call Saul! ---
**Author:** ![biometricks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@biometricks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biometricks)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/29 "2018-05-07T13:23:57Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > It may be the law, but a majority of cars here don’t have the front plate on – in fact, many newer cars don’t even have the bumper indentation/drilled holes to mount a plate. I know “but everybody does it!” isn’t a defense, but spirit of the law and all that. Since you’re in Trenton and near the PA border; are you sure you aren’t simply seeing PA cars with a single license plate instead of NJ cars. The overwhelming majority of cars in 2 plate states do in fact have two license plates. I once had my car towed because it had an expired registration and I didn’t have the current insurance card. When I was able to get it out of the impound lot a week or so later my GPS unit (this was about 10 years before GPS unit were ubiquitous) had been reset to factory defaults. I couldn’t get rid of that car fast enough because I’m still creeped out about what happened in that car that caused the GPS to be reset. I always assumed one of the lot attendants borrowed the GPS and then realized they needed to clear the history before I noticed. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/30 "2018-05-07T13:27:24Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > I live in NJ and I’m occasionally in your neck of the woods. FAR from everybody does it. The vast majority of vehicles in NJ have both plates affixed. Spirit of the law? What do you think the spirit of the law is? I’ve lived in NJ for more than 20 years, and some of those were pretty close to Trenton. Right now, one of my neighbors doesn’t have front plates (he has two Teslas, one big, one small, and they don’t seem to have those holes drilled), and I think it’s the only time I’ve notice NJ drivers without front plates. It’s so odd seeing their cars without them that I notice it every time. I have no idea what the OP is on about – not having a front plate in NJ is very, very unusual IMHumbleO (and HonestO as well). When you see cars without front plates, I expect to see PA license plates in the back. ---
**Author:** ![meow\_meow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@meow\_meow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meow_meow)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/31 "2018-05-07T13:57:47Z")
Were these Trenton cops? (I am in Trenton) Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/32 "2018-05-07T15:02:57Z")
> [@Grumbacher\_Red](#): > > I used to get treated really nice, like what you describe, but not anymore. I have been pulled over a few times in the last 2-3 years, once for going 32 in a 25 school zone, and yes, I deserved to get pulled over, and yes, I got a ticket, fine, fine…but the cop was rude and unnecessarily nasty despite my best efforts to be pleasant about it. I’m just some Lily-white Southern woman, and I will admit I am just not used to being treated that way, especially by a policeman. Call it privilege or whatever, but it has been eye-opening for me to get a taste of what other people have been complaining about. I’ve had this happen a few times as a young, white man. Infuriating. I want to say “I’m speaking to you respectfully, please show me the same respect,” but I’m sure it would end with him “smelling marijuana” and every one of my possessions getting peed on by a K9 unit. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/33 "2018-05-07T15:41:21Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > I’ve had this happen a few times as a young, white man. Infuriating. I want to say “I’m speaking to you respectfully, please show me the same respect,” but I’m sure it would end with him “smelling marijuana” and every one of my possessions getting peed on by a K9 unit. Further to this, I don’t mean to imply that my whiteness entitles me to different treatment, just providing my demographic for colour (ha!) to the story. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/34 "2018-05-07T16:43:23Z")
> [@meow\_meow](#): > > Were these Trenton cops? (I am in Trenton) Just curious. Yup! He pulled me over on Prospect (right off Olden), I was on the way to the car wash. I live in Ewing, right off Pennington – pro tip: don’t ever, ever, ever go over 40mph in the area. The Ewing cops have some crafty hiding places and they basically pick off speeding TCNJ students left and right 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/35 "2018-05-07T16:46:32Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Actually, I found the transition to “evil, middle-aged scofflaw” was a rather abrupt change. Perhaps you’re being too hard on the NJ cops. That said, you’ve probably become the patsy in some slick east coast criminalcop thing. You’re going to gaol, dude. Better call Saul! Y’know, that you say it, maybe I have turned evil and not realized it yet. Watch for my Law & Order episode, coming this fall 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![meow\_meow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@meow\_meow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meow_meow)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/36 "2018-05-07T16:59:08Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > Yup! He pulled me over on Prospect (right off Olden), I was on the way to the car wash. I live in Ewing, right off Pennington – pro tip: don’t ever, ever, ever go over 40mph in the area. The Ewing cops have some crafty hiding places and they basically pick off speeding TCNJ students left and right 😃 Haha, I don’t! I am familiar with that area. I live on the other side of Olden, South Olden, near Chambersburg. I work for Princeton University. Saw that you are an academic in another thread. I’m an admin. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/37 "2018-05-07T18:23:10Z")
RE: Front plate In Nevada, I heard (but never personally verified 😉 ) the law is you need a front plate _unless_ the vehicle doesn’t have a mounting location, or bracket. Not wanting a front plate, I simply removed the bracket. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/38 "2018-05-07T18:56:27Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > RE: Front plate > > In Nevada, I heard (but never personally verified 😉 ) the law is you need a front plate _unless_ the vehicle doesn’t have a mounting location, or bracket. > > Not wanting a front plate, I simply removed the bracket. Hmm. I wouldn’t take such a risk just because I heard something. Whoever told you that was close, but no cigar: > [@](#): > > 2.  If the motor vehicle was not manufactured to include a bracket, device or other contrivance to display and secure a front license plate, and if the manufacturer of the motor vehicle provided no other means or method by which a front license plate may be displayed upon and secured to the motor vehicle: > > ``` > (a) One license plate must be attached to the motor vehicle in the rear; and > > (b) The other license plate may, at the option of the owner of the vehicle, be attached to the motor vehicle in the front. > > ``` [https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-482.html#NRS482Sec275](https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-482.html#NRS482Sec275) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/39 "2018-05-07T20:04:17Z")
I love the look of a sports car’s nose without a plate, so I took my front bracket off, and usually successfully reasoned my way out of a ticket for it… but of course, that was _after_ I’d gotten pulled over. And it often took a long time to run my plates (and whatever else cops do)… So even if it’s legal, it can make you late on a regular basis. Now I have both plates on, and try not to look at the front of my car. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666/40 "2018-05-07T20:05:14Z")
> [@meow\_meow](#): > > Haha, I don’t! I am familiar with that area. I live on the other side of Olden, South Olden, near Chambersburg. I work for Princeton University. Saw that you are an academic in another thread. I’m an admin. 🙂 Very cool! I lived in the West Ward near Cadwalader Park when I first moved to NJ. Unfortunately the neighborhood became increasingly dangerous and I was living alone. I sold that house and moved a whole two miles away to Ewing. It’s so frustrating that parts of Trenton are troubled, I loved my house and neighbors but after the second shooting on my street I gave up. So many gorgeous homes, buildings, parks, and people here – it’s fucking shameful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-a-funny-thing-happened-when-i-got-pulled-over-today/813666.md?page=3)