Ask a cop

Cell · 08-24-2013, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xplicit97

I am curious what your professional opinion is about motorists being stopped at random "checkpoints", or randomly being stopped on the street and then refusing to answer questions or give information to LEO citing the 4th amendment as giving an individual the right to do so? Can you infact refuse to give information and ask if you have broken any laws, and just ask if you are being detained, and if not ask if you are free to go? What is your interpretation of this, and how do you feel about this trend as a LEO? Thanks for the info.

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You mean the 5th amendment? If I understand correctly, the 5th amendment doesn't even apply if you aren't even under arrest.

I may have even read your post incorrectly lol.

NickTurnon · 08-24-2013, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cell

You mean the 5th amendment? If I understand correctly, the 5th amendment doesn't even apply if you aren't even under arrest.

I may have even read your post incorrectly lol.

4th Amendment is unreasonable search and seizure, I dont think fifth applies

Z370Z011 · 08-24-2013, 07:43 PM

Maybe Op forgot about his thread?

Wonka2581 · 08-24-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ka24king

Should we have issues with the rear fog light long as its not flashing ??

Got some heat from an officer about it the other day but his reasoning dident make sense. He said its because only police can have red lights on their car. And tried to explain what it was but he "dident want to hear excuses". No ticket though just kinda grilled me about it and threatened me with a fine for unauthorized lights. Is this right?

There is nothing that states you cannot have a red flashing light in the rear of your vehicle in TX read the link.

TxDPS - PSB Warning Lights

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xplicit97

I am curious what your professional opinion is about motorists being stopped at random "checkpoints", or randomly being stopped on the street and then refusing to answer questions or give information to LEO citing the 4th amendment as giving an individual the right to do so? Can you infact refuse to give information and ask if you have broken any laws, and just ask if you are being detained, and if not ask if you are free to go? What is your interpretation of this, and how do you feel about this trend as a LEO? Thanks for the info.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

I do think sobriety check points are a good way to get impaired drivers off of the road. Getting them off the road could save you life or your familys life. Now with that being said this has been a big topic here lately in the media of pepole videotaping themselves getting stopped or at a check point. Why people feel they need to do so is beyond me. If the contact is mutual then you have every right to refuse to talk to a LEO and not answer any questions, you can even walk away you are free to do so. now if you get stopped for a traffic violation the you and you vehicle are seized. you are not free to go until the officer is done with the traffic stop. You must exexhibit your license and insurance tothe officer. now if the officer asks you to search your vehicle you hav every right to refuse. When a traffic stop is made lets say for speeding the officer has just opened a investigation about your speeding. you dont have to answer any questions but it might be in your best interest to do so I.E why you were speeding. If its lets say your on your way to the hospital because your having a baby, I would let you go after I made sure you had a valid license.

Quote:

Originally Posted by venus

Got a new light in my hood on a 4 lane road intersection. Traffic light on right lane shows RED with a Green turn rt arrow/light. WTF? Do I stop then turn or do like everyone else & maintain speed and just turn? Sorry I do not have pic but can get one. Was wondering who I could call to get law.

This is a great thread!

If you have a green light to turn your fine if its red stop before you turn if its yellow yeld to traffic that has a right away. Unless a sign states no RTOR.

when you get pulled over?

Question 2: just got pulled over a week ago for running a red. 7 AM on my way to work I honestly did not see it changing to yellow until too late. If I had slammed on brakes I would have slid into intersection of this minimal street. My luck -Cop was stopped at intersection & I immediately knew my goose was cooked. EXCUSE: my 93 yo mother fell & dislocated her shoulder. I’d been spending the night at her home sleeping on the living room floor and only for a couple hours. Was dog dead tired – not a valid excuse not to go in to work. Too exhausted to drive yes, but had to. I DO NOT try to beat the yellow ever!
Question for you: should I just pay the $300-400 fine online or go to court & try to explain. My driving record before this is spotless for like 30 years. Thanks for your input. V[/QUOTE]

Yes it is a good idea to explain why you were doing what you were doing, It might get you out of a ticket.

First off driving tired is some times just as bad as driving under the influence, as for the ticket yes I would not pay it and goto court on it. you have a spotless record the judge will see that and may recomend you to traffic school and that would keep it off of your recored. Or with the case you were taking care of your mother he might dismiss the ticket. By paying the ticket you automaticly plea guilty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XiP

Does the make/model of a vehicle have any influence on whether you stop someone? (i.e. sports car vs family van)

No that is profiling and is a federal law. All I do is look for violations no matter make or year of vehicle. Now dosent mean it does not go on. And lets say a Red Ferrari would grab more attention then a Neon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grindkiezer

I'm just wondering about test pipes, if you were to get pulled over for something else like let's just say no front plate or going through a check point and they have suspicion about you not running cats what's the best way to handle that situation?

If a cop is looking at you that hard for having no cats you have really pissed him off. I would not care if you had cats or not. Just tell him you had no Idea you got the car the way it is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 122554

So you start a thread and don't answer any questions? Saw you've been on today. What's up?

Sorry I have been so busy I try to get on when I can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cell

This ^^

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z370Z011

Maybe Op forgot about his thread?

Again sorry been busy with the fam, Ill make it a point to geton once a day. And any other LEOs feel free to jump in to answer any questions.

Cell · 08-24-2013, 08:14 PM

Cops don't need probable cause to stop someone bbut they do need a reason to. If the person looks like a suspect, the officer can detain that person to investigate. Or if he has reasonable suspicion that you are doing something out of the ordinary then they can stop you. Most cops wouldn't stop someone for no reason. I say most because some cops don't even know what they are doing.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk 2

Wonka2581 · 08-24-2013, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cell

This ^^

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cell

Cops don't need probable cause to stop someone bbut they do need a reason to. If the person looks like a suspect, the officer can detain you to investigate. Or if he has reasonable suspicion that you are doing something out of the ordinary then they can stop you. Most cops wouldn't stop someone for no reason. I say most because some cops don't even know what they are doing.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk 2

Yup, but he must always be able to articulate the reasons.

jlw2546 · 08-24-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cell

Cops don't need probable cause to stop someone bbut they do need a reason to. If the person looks like a suspect, the officer can detain that person to investigate. Or if he has reasonable suspicion that you are doing something out of the ordinary then they can stop you. Most cops wouldn't stop someone for no reason. I say most because some cops don't even know what they are doing.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk 2

I see you are from Chicago. The police in Chicago have a lot more to deal with than traffic violations. The have the highest homicide rate in the country right now.

Cell · 08-25-2013, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wonka2581

Again sorry been busy with the fam, Ill make it a point to geton once a day. And any other LEOs feel free to jump in to answer any questions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlw2546

I see you are from Chicago. The police in Chicago have a lot more to deal with than traffic violations. The have the highest homicide rate in the country right now.

Yes, I am from Chicago and am also a cop. If anyone has questions I can also try to answer at the best of my abilities.

37Z · 08-25-2013, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlw2546

I'm an officer in Maryland and I can tell everyone that I will stop u for anything I can reference traffic violations but I will not give u ticket. We use the violation as probable cause for the stop to look for bigger and better things. Drugs guns dead bodies ect. I write warnings if nothing is found. Not all officers are like this though, so if you are not a drug dealing thug all u need to do is be nice and apologize for whatever you did. If your car is full of equipment violations expect to get stopped.

Good cop! I friend (a former cop) now a race car driver, had the same approach.

venus · 08-25-2013, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

Don't have to be a LEO for that one. Stop behind the crosswalk, then proceed with your turn when/if safe to do so.

I'm guessing you live in a state that does not have right-turn-on-red. The lights are giving you permission to do so.

This is a turn rt on red state. No one else is even slowing down. Yeah and there is no inspection so I run headers w/ no cats on my 240Z and RX-7. Jackson Racing cat & exaust on Miata. Ferrari would pass in any state as I don't F w/ perfection. Thank God for America!

kfull · 08-27-2013, 12:10 AM

Is getting road head illegal?

dP3NGU1N · 08-27-2013, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wonka2581

First off driving tired is some times just as bad as driving under the influence, as for the ticket yes I would not pay it and goto court on it. you have a spotless record the judge will see that and may recomend you to traffic school and that would keep it off of your recored. Or with the case you were taking care of your mother he might dismiss the ticket. By paying the ticket you automaticly plea guilty.

For just this short section i think it's largely dependent on what state you're in. In California you have to pay the ticket before a judge will even review your case. So in that instance paying the ticket is mandatory and IS NOT an admission of guilt.

That said, they bloody hell could have fooled me. In cali, traffic violations are basically guilty until proven innocent.

dP3NGU1N · 08-27-2013, 01:24 AM

A question for all the LEOs. Do you really have ticket quotas you have to fill? Can you elaborate on the structure? Is it monthly? weekly? How many do you need (I suppose this varies by city). Is it a dollar amount or strictly a numbers game?

I'm seriously annoyed that it seems like traffic citations, by and large, are basically legalized extortion schemes for cities to make money. Now I recognize that this is not the fault of the officers but it doesn't make it any less of an issue.

Z370Z011 · 08-27-2013, 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dP3NGU1N

A question for all the LEOs. Do you really have ticket quotas you have to fill? Can you elaborate on the structure? Is it monthly? weekly? How many do you need (I suppose this varies by city). Is it a dollar amount or strictly a numbers game?

I'm seriously annoyed that it seems like traffic citations, by and large, are basically legalized extortion schemes for cities to make money. Now I recognize that this is not the fault of the officers but it doesn't make it any less of an issue.

id like to know this too

DEpointfive0 · 08-27-2013, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z370Z011

id like to know this too

They do, but it's more like suggestion of tickets to fill

08-24-2013, 08:14 PM	#20 (permalink)
Cell A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,449 Drives: A Garbage Truck Rep Power: 21	Cops don't need probable cause to stop someone bbut they do need a reason to. If the person looks like a suspect, the officer can detain that person to investigate. Or if he has reasonable suspicion that you are doing something out of the ordinary then they can stop you. Most cops wouldn't stop someone for no reason. I say most because some cops don't even know what they are doing. Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk 2 Wonka2581 likes this. Last edited by Cell; 08-24-2013 at 08:23 PM.

08-27-2013, 12:10 AM	#26 (permalink)
kfull Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 909 Drives: A lot Rep Power: 14	Is getting road head illegal? Cbtech and DavidZ370 like this. __________________ 2012 GM 6MT sports package \| FI non res cf exhaust \| K&N Drop Ins \| Viper 3303 security system w/ tilt sensor \| GTR start button \| 35% rear 45% side window tint \| Michelin PSS

08-27-2013, 01:24 AM	#28 (permalink)
dP3NGU1N A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Irvine Posts: 1,682 Drives: 13 PW sport 6mt Rep Power: 18	A question for all the LEOs. Do you really have ticket quotas you have to fill? Can you elaborate on the structure? Is it monthly? weekly? How many do you need (I suppose this varies by city). Is it a dollar amount or strictly a numbers game? I'm seriously annoyed that it seems like traffic citations, by and large, are basically legalized extortion schemes for cities to make money. Now I recognize that this is not the fault of the officers but it doesn't make it any less of an issue. __________________ 35% Hooper Optik \| Takeda Attack CAI \| F.I. HFC \| Hotchkis Sway Bar \| Stillen 24row \| OS Giken Super Lock LSD \| TK Shift Knob \| EVO-R Carbon Diffuser

08-24-2013, 07:43 PM	#18 (permalink)
Z370Z011 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Los Angeles CA Posts: 1,052 Drives: PearlWhite 370z 6MT Rep Power: 15	Maybe Op forgot about his thread?