Questions for LEO about my traffic stop tonight

[TechBrute]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7325855/

Clearly this doctor got what he deserved for driving TEN WHOLE MILES over the speedlimit!

 

[Coronach]

1. There's not a lot to go on in that story, TechBrute. Why was he handcuffed, etc.

2. Already answered, but: most states allow officers to work in an off-duty capacity for various organizations, persons or businesses. It is a way to get more LEO coverage without taxing the city/county coffers. If you want a cop for an event, you hire one. Often this is done through the department itself, but the rules will vary heavily from place to place.

3. We get the whole driving history when we run licenses. Some jurisdictions don't.

 

[Island Beretta]

Jondwright:

My apologies if I came off too strong.. your driving record may be held against you in a lot of ways..sometimes unfairly so..hence it is a good thing to have a counsel on standby..

On another thread here someone stated that their CCW was not renewed due to their driving record.. A good many prosecutors feel your driving record is indicative of your temperament and will use instances to say 'See, this guy is reckless, I told ya he shouldn't be driving a car, or owning guns or having kids etc. etc.'.

Please make a petition to have your driving record 'cleaned' esp. for those long ago incidents. Some states allow it. Once they espounge the records they can't bring it back.

I think you didn't get the ticket because the officer just didn't make the call..it could have gone either way..

Hope this helps and welcome to the HighRoad

 

[jondwright]

Thanks Island. I might see what I can do, but anything before 3 years ago does not affect my insurance. As for the officer, my take on it is this: I think he was stern with me, and even "harsh" because he had decided to let me go with a warning. He knew I deserved to be yelled at a bit...

The tickets I've gotten were ALL in a much nicer fashion. Know what I mean? Those guys were (justly) penalizing me hundreds of dollars, and didn't feel a stern talking to was necessary to get the state's point across. Since this guy was cutting me a break financially, he made sure I was thoroughly embarassed, in an effort to make me slow down and drive safer....

You might think it's silly all this wondering and Monday morning quarterbacking...but I admire these guys, and I just like to know how and why they do the things they do. I like to know how things work. I've had a blast surfing this board for a few months learning new things. Thanks again to everyone who contributed something to this thread...

 

[Coronach]

This is by no means a rule or regulation, but 'round here we have a saying: you either warn 'em out or you give 'em a ticket.

Makes sense. you're there to make sure traffic laws get followed. No more, no less. you're going to do that either by giving a warning (which should ideally take them form a respectful chew-out...imagine a NCO having a 'discussion' with a new lieutenant), or by issuing formal sanction (read: ticket). The minute you do both, you're probably gonna get a complaint.

Sounds like you got a "warning."

Mike

 

[Matt G]

Another way of putting Coronach's above post is the philosophy: "If you bark, don't bite. If you bite, don't bark."

Saves time, saves complaints, saves going to municipal court, and saves on answering complaints.