# The traffic cop that pulled me over today. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 16, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699 "2006-10-16T23:13:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/41 "2006-10-18T17:50:46Z")
[QUOTE=Lissa] Out of curiosity, how many times have you been pulled over, meeting the aforementioned conditions, when you had not violated any laws? [/QUOTE] From recent memory, within the last four years, i’ve gotten pulled over twice for speeding when i was doing the speed limit. One time, the trooper said i was doing 75 in a 65, and gave me a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt, which isn’t too bad because it doesn’t give you an insurance surcharge. The other time, the officer said i was going “a little fast”, shined his flashlight around the inside of my car, asked me a couple questions, then let me go. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/42 "2006-10-18T18:38:52Z")
I don’t get where the cop in the OP was being a jerk. Looks to me like he was very nice: didn’t impound the vehicle and didn’t arrest the driver. Additionally, he informed the driver that registration can be renewed online. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/43 "2006-10-18T18:49:07Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] I don’t get where the cop in the OP was being a jerk. Looks to me like he was very nice: didn’t impound the vehicle and didn’t arrest the driver. Additionally, he informed the driver that registration can be renewed online. [/QUOTE] Agreed. The only thing in the OP that’s even **arguably** jerky is the “I don’t buy the grad student” thing. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/44 "2006-10-18T19:04:11Z")
Actually, I saw that remark as “I don’t buy that being a grad student would seriously cause you to neglect this matter that long.” ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/45 "2006-10-18T20:46:21Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] I’m glad this is a thread in the Pit so I can say that I don’t believe you. [/QUOTE] I don’t disbelieve him. The Athens police are better than they used to be, but they’re still pretty corrupt. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/46 "2006-10-18T20:56:26Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I was retruning from a ski trip late one night, blasting the radio and rocking out-when I see blue lights flashing in the mirror. i pulled over, and this little sh\*t of a state trooper (he was about 5’5") came over: -“What’s the problem , officer”? -" Do you realize you have a burned out tailight? I’ve been following you for 5 miles" -“Sorry, officer, i’ll get it fixed right away” he didn’t give me a ticket! [/QUOTE] Am I being whooshed? I accept full responsibility if I am. In case I’m not, what exactly is your complaint here? He took a minute to pull you over and let you know your car had a problem, you explained yourself, and he let you go. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![nameless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@nameless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nameless)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/47 "2006-10-18T21:15:30Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] I was retruning from a ski trip late one night, blasting the radio and rocking out-when I see blue lights flashing in the mirror. i pulled over, and this little sh\*t of a state trooper (he was about 5’5") came over: -“What’s the problem , officer”? -" Do you realize you have a burned out tailight? I’ve been following you for 5 miles" -“Sorry, officer, i’ll get it fixed right away” he didn’t give me a ticket! [/QUOTE] Did you then find $5? Like under the seat or something? That would really improve the story. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/48 "2006-10-18T22:24:47Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] I don’t disbelieve him. The Athens police are better than they used to be, but they’re still pretty corrupt. [/QUOTE] It’s utter BS that people are cruising around without plates on the rear of their vehicles. What do they do when they drive to the next county over? How does the parking enforcement in the next town know to whom the vehicle’s registered. And would you happen to have any actual proof that the AThens police are pretty corrupt or do you just like making a general swipe at a group of people you happen to dislike? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/49 "2006-10-18T22:54:42Z")
[QUOTE=Maus Magill] For instance, my brother got his car impounded and had to go to jail when he had improperly renewed his registration. [/QUOTE] What a lot of people don’t understand is that a ticket is actually a “courtesy arrest”. You get cited & released with the understanding that you’ll either pay the fine or show up on the court date. It doesn’t have to be that way. In most states on any violation of law, even ordinance violations and minor traffic offenses, you can be arrested, booked, and made to post bond before release. This, of course, would be a ridiculous waste of police manpower hours if it were done on everything. But it can be done. So in light of that, getting ones plates taken isn’t that much of a big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/50 "2006-10-18T22:57:30Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] It’s utter BS that people are cruising around without plates on the rear of their vehicles. [/QUOTE] This should, of course, have been: > [@](#): > > It’s utter BS that people are cruising around without plates on their vehicles just because they’re cops. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/51 "2006-10-18T23:06:05Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] It’s utter BS that people are cruising around without plates on the rear of their vehicles. What do they do when they drive to the next county over? [/QUOTE] Did you learn anything in the “Ask A Mason” thread? They simply bust out the _secret cop handshake_ and with a wink and a nod, the visiting officer is let go. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carterba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85e7bf/32.png) [@carterba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carterba)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/52 "2006-10-19T00:13:17Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] I don’t get where the cop in the OP was being a jerk. Looks to me like he was very nice: didn’t impound the vehicle and didn’t arrest the driver. Additionally, he informed the driver that registration can be renewed online. [/QUOTE] I felt he had a jerkish attitude, for these reasons:[list=a] [li]holding my registration up in my face and asking me to read it to him;[/li][li]bringing up troops overseas—what does that have to do with anything?[/li][li]“you’re not going anywhere”, which he said with a very nasty tone of vioce.[/li][/list]He had a bad attitude, and it got worse after I mentioned being a grad student (maybe he’s run into one too many people using that, but really: being a grad student is very time-consuming and leaves one with very little money). However, it _was_ nice of him to tell me I could do it online. And after reading this thread, I see that it could’ve been much worse. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/53 "2006-10-19T05:33:56Z")
> [@](#): > > Dog80 Dog80 is offline > Charter Member > > Join Date: Dec 2003 > Posts: 1,666 > Location: Athens, Greece > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by Monty > > pkbites: How unseasoned does a patrolman have to be to not notice a car doesn’t have plates? > > Around here any car that has no license plates 90% belongs to a cop. They remove the license plates so they can avoid getting ticketed by GATSOs. > Reply With Quote \*::: Cough, Cough :::: \* I did not know there were so many posters here who were that cognizant of the goings on in Athens, Greece… I’m so impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/54 "2006-10-19T06:16:26Z")
Are you actually making a point? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/55 "2006-10-19T16:35:04Z")
Well, yes I am. You said: > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Monty > It’s utter BS that people are cruising around without plates on the rear of their vehicles. What do they do when they drive to the next county over? It seems that either you are talking about a different country than the OP, you made a typo and meant ‘country’ in the above quote or??? I am just impressed that you know so much about Greece and the practices of it’s police, even more than the guy who lives there. I agree 90% would seem high to me but the basic premise is entirely possible. I was just pointing out that you were awfully quick to cry ‘BS’. It is the pit, no cite required, so you call BS with no cite on his statement and I call BS on your cry of BS. See??? I bet you don’t. Whatever… ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/56 "2006-10-19T22:56:36Z")
In the Pit it’s also permissible to call you what you are: Troll. You have been trolling against me for a few years now. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not impressed by it or by you. It doesn’t matter what the location is, driving around without plates is a good way to get the notice of cops–especially if you drive outside of your own bailiwick. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/57 "2006-10-19T23:26:38Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] And would you happen to have any actual proof that the AThens police are pretty corrupt or do you just like making a general swipe at a group of people you happen to dislike? [/QUOTE] I think you’re confusing me with somebody else. I have nothing against the police, or Athenians, or Greeks in general. Here’s an article from '99 about a report on police corruption (article 15) [http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/1999/99-12-30.ana.html#15](http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/1999/99-12-30.ana.html#15) > [@](#): > > The public order ministry yesterday said it had been taken aback over results of an internal affairs investigation into corruption within the Greek police force, stressing that it was determined to apply the law in each case. > > “The extent of corruption and the number of police involved were more than we expected,” ministry secretary-general Dimitris Efstathiades said. Here’s an article specifically about human trafficing in Greece, pointing out the problems with the Greek government’s response to the problem: > **[Trafficking of Migrant Women for Forced Prostitution into Greece](https://www.hrw.org/news/2000/11/13/trafficking-migrant-women-forced-prostitution-greece)** > [@](#): > > The [2001 US State Department] report stated that Greece had not made significant efforts to combat trafficking, failed to acknowledge publicly that trafficking is a problem, failed to implement comprehensive anti-trafficking legislation, rarely prosecuted traffickers and awarded light sentences to punish traffickers when they were tried, and called corruption in the police and border control “a major problem.” > [@](#): > > . In Greece, the government has openly acknowledged that some Greek police officers have been involved in the trafficking of women for forced prostitution. Minister of Public Order Michalis Chrysochoidis told Human Rights Watch that some officers had been prosecuted and convicted for complicity in the trafficking of women, and that an Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB)–fashioned on the IAB of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)–had been established in October 1999 “because of the problem of corruption in the police.” He added, “even in the last few days the Internal Affairs Bureau (operating now for one year) identified a police officer who was arrested for trafficking women. He is in jail now and the woman is here [in Greece].” And from the US State Department’s “2004 Annual Report on Human Rights Practices” [http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41684.htm](http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41684.htm) [quote] All police forces are under the authority of the Ministry of Public Order. During the year, the Bureau of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Public Order took several disciplinary measures, including dismissal and suspension, against officers involved in corruption, primarily for forging documents and taking bribes. During the year, 325 complaints were filed with the Bureau. Most charges against police involved violation of duty, false certificates, abuse of power, corruption, violations with arms and explosives, illegal release of persons in police custody, pimping, and violations relating to alien registration. By the end of the year, the Bureau filed lawsuits against 75 policemen, 20 civil servants, and 78 civilians. The press and the Greek Helsinki Monitor alleged that penalties for corrupt or abusive police were too weak and discouraged citizens from pressing charges against police. A weak record of prosecution of police misbehavior supported these claims. . . Police corruption was a problem. While the anticorruption unit of the Hellenic Police stated the problem was decreasing, human rights and antitrafficking groups said that anticorruption efforts needed to be given higher priority. [quote] ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/58 "2006-10-19T23:39:14Z")
Thanks, Cap’n. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/59 "2006-10-20T00:11:49Z")
Sure thing. ---
**Author:** ![Weird\_With\_Words](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/weird_with_words/32/385_2.png) [@Weird\_With\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weird_With_Words)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699/60 "2006-10-20T02:48:38Z")
[QUOTE=Monty] [QUOTE=Dog80] Around here any car that has no license plates 90% belongs to a cop. They remove the license plates so they can avoid getting ticketed by GATSOs. [/QUOTE] I’m glad this is a thread in the Pit so I can say that I don’t believe you. [/QUOTE] What’s to disbelieve? That this is the most common reason for driving without license plates? That doesn’t seem like too absurd a statement. After all, he’s not saying any particular percentage of cops are breaking the law, merely saying the people doing this are oftentimes cops (which seems obvious, because, like you say, it’d be a hard thing to overlook so who else would get away with it?). In that context, it’s no more contraversial than saying “More than 90% of those bribed to overlook zoning conflicts are zoning officials.” It’s like, y’know, duh’n’stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-traffic-cop-that-pulled-me-over-today/376699.md?page=4)