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Ever catch a break from a cop

3

37chief

Well-known Member
Location
California
I sure did, back when I was young and not too smart. My friend and myself were in the next town drinking beer in the car at night, because that is what you did back then. I opened the door at a stop light, and set my empty down. I didn't realize the oncoming car was a police car. He saw the whole thing. As he passed us, he turned around. My fried tried to do a couple quick turns, as we tried to out maneuver him. He must have hit the nitro button. He was on us so fast. After reading us the riot act, saying he could do all these thing to us. He said go back to your own town, and don't come back here drinking again. Any other nice cops out there? Stan
 
I ran out of gas on the Indiana Turnpike late at night. A cop stopped and took me to a gas station to get gas and back to the car and waited until I was able to get underway.
 
in my late 20's i was speeding down a 4-lane with my 2 young sons when i was stopped by a Al. state trooper. those were the days when you got out of your vehicle to talk; big ole black trooper walks up, speaks and said "did you know you were speeding? i replied yes and he responded: "get in the car boy, i'm gonna write you up a warning".
 
Several times over the years, but the last was when I was stopped for speeding driving my mom's car with her riding. Out of state, no insurance certificate, apparently he looked up online and let me go with a warning. Mom was 93 at the time.
 
A guy celebrated his mid-life crisis by buying a new Corvette. Top down, beautiful day, he let his speed get away from him a bit. Saw a state trooper with lights flashing in the rearview, thought briefly of trying to outrun him, but finally pulled over. Cop came up, said "you were about 20 over, and you acted like you wanted to run, but it 4:45 on a Friday afternoon, I get off shift in 15 minutes, and I hate paperwork. If you can give me an excuse I haven't heard before, we'll call it square." Guy spoke right up- "Well, about 3 years ago, my wife ran off with a state trooper. I was afraid you were bringing her back."

Trooper smiled, touched the brim of his hat, and said "You have a nice weekend."
 
Several times in the early 70's. I graduated high school in 1974. Drinking was common then, and even somewhat overlooked by the police. Twice I got written a ticket for no proof of insurance in my car, even though my mom worked at the insurance agency. I just never seemed to be able to find them. Police made us dump out the beer, being careful to not throw the pull of tops from the cans on the ground. Were made to pick up the cans and take them with us. Gave me 3 days to produce proof of insurance. The lesson to me was to never produce a proof of insurance, I sorta looked at it as a freebie. Sure wouldn't do any of that today.
 
I sure did once. Had just gotten laid off from the factory and was on my way home thru a nearby small town, not paying attention, when town police stopped me for speeding and when I admitted that I was not paying attention due to being just laid off, he took pity on me and let me go on. I get a speeding ticket about every every 10 years over my nearly sixty years of driving and deserved every one of them. I don't envy their job. IaLeo
 
Many moons ago I was on my way home - past midnight and too many beverages. Got a flat tire. Pulled into the next road, stopped, looked at flat - no way. Took the keys out and crawled into the back seat and slept. Some time later, knock, knock on the window-you guessed it RCMP. I knew him. He says hey Bob, would you mind moving your car out of the traffic lane? I got out, took the keys out of my pocket and asked him if he would do it. He did. He says "what are you going to do now?", I said "crawl in the back and go to sleep". I did and he left. Some time later knock, knock - him again - he gave me a 'Space' blanket and said it's going to get cold ! I said, I'll return it tomorrow at the office, he said Keep it ! Never happen again in a gillion years. Ahh, the good old days.
 
No stops in years until last month. Rolled through two rural road stop signs in about 50 feet of each other after dark. Blue lights came on and I pulled over thinking this will cost me. First thing he said was don't worry if you're not drinking. Didn't even mention stop sign until leaving. Said have a good evening and watch the stop signs. That's just one out of seven I can remember in my life though.
 
Couple of times I got a freebie just by being friendly and owning up to my speedy ways. Third time I called a Barney Fife's bluff by pointing out that he was nearly a mile out of his jurisdiction when he clocked me, and he followed me until I was underneath the town's only traffic light (a blinking amber) before he lit me up. I told him he had no authority to ticket me on a state highway. He said he would call in a sheriff's deputy to write me up. I told him to go ahead, so he got on his radio. The response he got was essentially "Forget it, dumb---." He got this real serious look on his face as he told me, "Consider this your lucky day, sir."
 
I don't have any sympathy for drinking and driving.

Many years ago I was working for the coop and had gone to pick up some chemicals to deliver to the crop duster. I was running late and speeding. A cop pulled me over and asked if I was in a hurry. I told him I wouldn't have been driving that fast if I wasn't. He looked at the logo on the door and told be to be careful and let me go. I've been stopped several times and let go, I'm respectful if they are professional and most are.
 

I was in HS, probably winter of 1967. My girlfriend and I were on a double date with a couple friends, I was driving my dad's VW beatle down one of the busier streets in town. Suddenly a car came up fast behind us, and I sped up not wanting to hold him up. Then the blues came on so I pulled over. The cop came up and it was Bob. I can't remember why he was Bob and not officer so and so. I do remember that he had two daughters in school with me and some how I guess there was some sort of social interaction. Any way he was Bob and not a cop at that moment. So he told me to stay close to the speed limit even if someone does come up behind me quickly, and have a good evening. I suppose I was part of his quota for the night.
 
I had a similar thing happen. It was a very cold December day, about -5 for the high, gas gauge in my truck didn't work, ran out of gas on four-lane US50, pulled over to the shoulder and prepared for a very cold 2-3 mile walk (and back!) IN St trooper saw me from the other side of the highway, quickly crossed over to me, took me to the gas station, where I bought some gas, and brought me back to my truck, stayed until I was on my way again. Was I ever grateful for this trooper!
 
I got called out of the motor pool at Ft Riley KS one morning about 9AM. Was told the First SGT wanted to see me. My mother had a heart attack and he had my leave papers ready along with my emergency Red Cross notification. I grabbed some stuff, tossed it in my truck and headed out the 600 miles to home. I was still in uniform when I was pulled over on I29 doing about 15 over the limit about 30 miles south of Sioux City IA. By the time the trooper got to my truck I had everything in my had to include my leave papers and military ID. The cops ask what a 1st Div soldier was doing there on a duty day in uniform. So I showed him the Red Cross message. He looked at me and said he'd had to go home on emergency leave while he was in the army. Said "slow down". He got in his car, when around me and turned around as soon as he could. I went back up to 15 over and didn't slow down until I exited in ND.

Rick
 
A couple of times, including this morning!
I was on my way to work and got stuck behind a semi on a two
lane state highway. Speed limit is 55 MPH, but most travel at 60.

For some reason the semi driver would get up to about 52 and
then put on his brakes and slow down to about 42. Lather, rinse,
repeat. I wasn't late for work and wasn't in a hurry, but that got
old quite quickly so when I had a legal opening to pass I accelerated
and went around him. So did the three cars behind me.

Since there were four vehicles passing I tried to get around
quickly to ensure we all had room. I was probably doing 70
when I pulled back into my lane. Right at the spot where I
pulled back in sat a county sheriff with his radar gun. His car
was hidden just off the left side of the road facing us.

He didn't pull any of us over. Didn't even move.
I guess he was looking for bigger fish to fry because there's no
way he could have missed us coming at him in the wrong lane.
 
When I was in college many years ago a few friends and I were in Wichita very late at night. I made a u-turn right in front of a "no u-turn" sign on a street that I thought was deserted. Halfway through the illegal turn a pair of headlights popped out of a side street and next the red and blue lights came on. He he came up to the car and asked, "I assume you saw that no u-turn sign?" "Yeah, I did" I answered. The next thing he said was "I see you're from Colorado. Who are you rooting for in the Broncos game tomorrow?" After a bit of friendly chit-chat he sent us on our way without saying another word about my infraction.
 
More times than not. I think most of it is your attitude and having everything ready and both hands on the wheel in plain sight.
I had a friend back in town one night quite a few years ago. A bunch of us went to the closest bar to have a few drinks with him. Since I had to work the next day I drove separately, after about 8 beers and 2 on the table in front of me I stood up, finished off the last half of the other one I was working on and walked out. Made it 3 blocks and as I got to the railroad tracks the red lights started to flash, and since no train was in sight I kept going. Ooops, state patrol came out of the shadows and pulled me over, took me to his car, gave me a breathalyzer, and ended up giving me a 6 block ride home with a lecture at the end of the ride. This was a little over 10 years ago which is the suprising part. I learned a little lesson the cheap way that night.
 
Many years ago I went to a friend's for the weekend. Met a girl that I had met a couple times so made a date for Sunday night. Left just after midnight with a 4+ hour drive home. Went speeding through this small town at 4:00 a.m. and town cop lit me up. He asked what my hurry was and I told him that I'd had a date and left late; that I had to get home, get some sleep and go to the field by daylight. He chuckled and told me to slow down going through town and sent me on my way.

Got home about 4:40, up to bed. Dad had a habit of waking us early if we stayed out late, so about 4:50 he sent the German Shepherd upstairs to wake us up. Grabbed a quick breakfast and took a tractor and plow to begin somerfallowing. I had to make a strike-out first - but I couldn't get my eyes open enough to see the other end of the field a half mile away. Crookedest strikeout that I ever made!
 
Quite a few years ago friends and I were riding our horses in the national forest just north of cave-in-rock Il. Well we had it made up to ride down to a friend of ours in cave-in-rock. Well had our wires crossed and when we got there he was gone. Well our trailers were about 15 mile north. So his Suburban had the keys in it so about 6 of us piled in and headed out of town to get our trucks and trailers. Next thing I knew a cop was behind us with his lights on. Well I pulled over. He came up and asked. How fast were you going. I said 55. He said speed limit is 30. Then he asked. Whoes vehicle is this. I said is Curt Odell's. We just took it. Told him rest of story. He said you guys better hurry and take care of those horses. Never asked for my license. We were about 75 miles from home.
 
Left a New Year's Eve party with some college buddies, hit up Burger King on the way home. Got frustrated by the punk kids cutting in line in front of us, so we bailed. I kinda got into the throttle of the 70 Chevelle SS too hard, and lit 'em up. Never thought the cop would catch up, and I turned off onto our street when he pulled up behind. After taking all our licenses to his car and getting the sweat pouring, another patrol car pulled up. Turned out to be my Uncle, a county deputy. He pulled me out with the first officer and asked my story. I just told the honest truth, had a few beers, lit up the tires and sped off- deserved whatever I had coming. First officer looks at Uncle and says "Have a Happy New Year". The guys were flabbergasted! Uncle never did tell my Mom, either. He died on duty from a stroke during a struggle to make an arrest about two years later.
 
I'd say it runs about 50/50. I have had them cut me a break just about the same amount of times that they wrote me a ticket (that I felt) they did not have to or could have just given me a warning. Guess sometimes they had to fill out their quota or something. The only ones I really object to is where they are running a speed trap out in the middle of nowhere, traffic is light, and there is no real safety issue. That just ticks me off when they do that.
 
I remember some phrases like "I'm only writing you up for X speed but we both know you were going at least Y speed, and you are not going to plead innocent, right kid?", and "I can hear the beer bottles under the seat gurgling into your carpet, and we are not going to have this discussion next time we meet". All followed by a heartfelt and earnest "yes officer".
I just dont understand people who are not polite to the Police, and what they hope to gain by being rude.
 
Years ago I had school friends that went on to be sheriff and troopers. They used to have to go to local dance hall sat night. Funny when they would stuff me in cruiser and take me home!!!! Many nights they would have to break up a fight, due an oui or take smoke to jail on a warrant. So it was late when I got in.
 
When I was young and in the service I was coming home from the NCO club and had too much to drink. I had my fatigue uniform on when I got stopped. The trooper gave me a talking to and followed me home. That changed my life and will always be thankfully for the second chance. That was back in 1965
 
When I was 16 and going to see my girlfriend I forgot to dim my lights and was going 15 over the speed limit, cop asked me what the hurry was. I told him I was going to see my girlfriend so I have a lot of testosterone running through my system right now, he laughed, gave me a seat belt ticket, said try to slow down and make sure you wear protection! LOL
 
Many breaks in HS, but the last one was just a couple of years ago. Out playing with the Mustang. Let me tell you 550 horses can get kinda fun. County cop pulled me over,come to the car and said " I dont blame you, but thats just way too fast" He never even told me how fast I was going. My guess was well into triple digits. He came back to car with a ticket and said I wrote you 75 in a 55. All I could say was thank you sir.
 
Was driving a county dump truck pulling a heavy equipment trailer. Knew the lights didn't work on trailer and the shop didn't seem to care to much. Come up to a T intersection and a city police car pulled up behind me. I had to use my turn signal or I would be in the wrong. Three miles down the road a call come over the two-way asking if I was in a dump truck. "yes". Are you pulling so and so trailer? "yes". Two days later lights were fixed on trailer.
 
37chief,

Does getting pulled over for a single rear license plate illuminator being out, after me allowing the oncoming officer in his car, cross the single lane bridge before me whilst I sat waiting?

He whipped a resolute U-turn, after crossing said bridge, and followed me a mile or so before the lights came on.

Although, I will admit he was pleasant when we talked.

D.
 
Nothing so fun or dramatic as some of you but this happened about 6 months ago.
Cop pulled me over - middle of the day, because I had a brake light out.
He asks for ID and proof of insurance. We don't have to show title/ownership here.
I gave him my DL and insurance card.
He looks them over and then says "Your insurance is expired."
They can give you a ticket for that but you have 10 days to send in the proof of ins and the ticket is dropped.
I did have insurance and told him so. Just my card was out of date.
So he asks, kind of angrily, "How do I know that?"
So I said "Officer, I have too much to lose to be without it."
His attitude changed and he was nicer.
Then he said. "OK. get your brake light fixed."
And I was on my way
 
Last time I was stopped I was 10 over and got stopped. He said I don't care how fast your going, but you was texting. Let me tell you I hate talking on the thing, there is no way I'm going to text. I was eating a breakfast sandwich from the clown place. Had to do some talking to get out of that one. Finally handed him the phone and said prove it.
 
Have had a couple run in's with the local DOT officer. In his previous life he was a hired man and lived a couple miles down the road. Also has a bit of a reputation as a ____ esp if you are hauling for a living.

First time he stopped me I was hauling gravel for myself (I don't do any for hire hauling). Met him bout a half mile out of a town I passed through. Kept watching him in the mirror and when I saw him hit the edge of town I figured I was OK. LOL bout another mile or two looked back and he was ON MY TAIL, and I mean maybe 100 feet on my tail. He kept following and I kept watching him till it was time to turn off on gravel for me. At this point I just turned off and pulled the brake valves. Asked to see my weight ticket. Course I was way under my license on weight. Did a level one inspection (lights only), told me if any of the stones that were on the rail of the trailer fell off it would have cost me $350 and pointed out a crack in the frame and we parted ways after shooting the bull for a bit.

Last fall he was set up in town catching farmers hauling grain. Once again level one inspection. One front signal out and I really should have a plate light on the rear. Paper "fix it" ticket and he said just sign and send in when I get a chance and once again parted with a friendly be safe out there.

Like all of us the Cops have a job to do. And theirs is one I am glad I don't have to. They risk their lives to help the rest of us stay safe.

jt
 
Yes I was given a break by a police officer. After listening to the officers speech about speeding, I was allowed to leave with no ticket. I now take advantage of cruse control, when ever safe to do so.
 
Got pulled over with a smashed taillight on my 11 mile commute car and tabs were 6 months out of date. He said get it fixed and get tabs and have a good night. He didn't notice the half drank beer on my floorboard. Whew. Took a long time in his car with my license, though. Was getting worried.
 
Many years ago, when I was young and dumb, I left Groton headed down I-95 like a rocket for Maryland. I was cruising down the New Jersey Turnpike and passed a climp of trucks doing about 85. What I didn't see was a New Jersey mountie between two of them. Yeah- I passed him, too. The speed limit was 60. He was on me like a chicken on a June bug. I gave him my license, ID, and registration and expected to never see daylight again. He walked back and asked me what bat I was on- he saw the dolphins on my shirt, and I told him. He said he rode the 'Boone' for a few patrols, slow the hell down and get home safely. One bubblehead to another.....
 
When I was 19 or 20 I walked out the back door of a bar and a former close friend from grade school (we just didn't run together in high school and beyond) handed me a partial beer and I swigged the rest. Just then a cop showed up and told me what I was facing. I told him the story and apologized,as I just hadn't thought about it, and he said don't do it again. About the same time frame I was heading home to Cedar Rapids from my parents house west of there about 70 miles going thru Benton County going a little fast on a Sunday afternoon. The sheriff of that county had a Cadillac Sedan De Ville that was his personal vehicle, but got paid mileage for driving it. He stopped me and noted that I was going a little fast. (that might have been when the oil embargo dictated that we go from 70 to 55). I don't remember if I fessed up or not, but he asked if the guy behind me, that he had also stopped had been following me closely for awhile. I lied and said that he had been there awhile, but actually he had just caught up to me like he was traveling quite a bit faster than me. He let me go with a warning, but I don't know whether he believed me and don't know if he let the other guy go or not.
The last time, I remember, I was hauling my son's dead car home from his place in Cedar Rapids on my home made car dolly, and it came unhooked and ended up in the street. A patrol car stopped and controlled traffic while we pushed it off the street into a parking lot. I lied first about what happened (I didn't have it secured properly. I don't remember the story that I told him). I later apologized and told him the truth. He said he thought that might have been what happened. He didn't say anything else. That was about 12-15 years ago and I don't think I have had an issue since. I have only had one moving violation in 46 years and it was in Albert Lea the day after we moved there, and I ran a stop light. The light and the next one were in line coming over the crest of the hill on main street. I confused the one I should have stopped at with the next one. We were on the way to church on Sunday morning. Another one I just remembered was in Cedar Falls. I had a cargo van with truck plates (they were cheaper) that I had added a back seat into for the kids. The officer followed me for several mile from downtown to the shopping center where I pulled off the main roads. He told me that I could be written up for something, but he wrote it for something that cost me a lot less. I paid the fine and re-registered the van for hauling passengers which cost about twice as much.
 
Had it go both ways. After some 45 plus years and 4,000,000 plus miles (semi ) I won't start my tale telling.
 
Once in Orange Park, Florida, in 1958, the night cop, Johnnie Jackson, encountered me in a situation where it was obvious I had overimbibed, to say the least. He followed me home to make sure I made it OK when he could have just as easily thrown me in the drunk tank.

Then, twelve years ago, my wife had emergency quadruple bypass surgery. At about 2am she was being transported by ambulance from our hometown to a heart institute in Lincoln, a run of some 25 miles. I made the mistake of trying to follow the ambulance. We didn't even get out of town before I had two local police cars on my tail with their lights lit up. I had no choice but to pull over.

A cop walked up to my driver's door and asked if I was following the ambulance. I told him I was.

He replied, "Don't try to keep up with it, you won't do it"

He then asked if I knew where the ambulance was going. I told him I did. He asked if I was emotionally stable enough to drive. I assured him I was.

He said, "Get going, but cool it".
 
40 years driving with two tickets and deserved both of them. Both times I was cut a break and written for something less than what they could have done. One ticket when I was 20 over the limit and got wrote for 10 over. Saved me a ton in fines. Other time was when I was in collage and got stopped going 10 over the limit in town. He wrote me for the 10 over, but left out the part about the open beer I had.
Got just plain lucky on one speeding ticket while traveling through Utah a few years back. Early in the morning and I was in a big hurry. Had the cruise set at 95 and was letting her rip. Passed a Utah State Trooper hiding behind a billboard and he had me dead to rights. He came screaming up behind me and just stayed there for a bit and then hit the lights and came flying around me. Turns out there was a wreck just up the road a few miles and he got the call. That one would have hurt a little I think.
Every other time I have been let go with a warning for things like expired plates, speeding, a light out or whatever. I think if you treat them right they will treat you right.
My father-in law was a Denver cop his entire working career. He got called in to his Sargent's office one day back when he was a patrolman and was asked why he was not writing more traffic tickets. His answer? I just don't see that many people that drive worse than I do. Seemed to work.

Greg
 
A few years ago driving on a 4 lane about 70 mph, really didn't know the speed limit. Came over a rise, bang lights went on. I was waiting, both hands on top of the steering wheel. He asked me if I knew how fast I was going & I said about 70 mph. He asked what the speed limit was on that section of road and I said "I don't know". He told me 55 mph, then he went back to his car, ran my plates & license, then came back and told me to slow down and said guess I can't give you a ticket since I live 2 blocks from you and wouldn't want to see you in the store if I did. He smiled I smiled and said Thank You!
 
I was in college and had a motorcycle. Was always raising cane on that thing. In town, two lane road and no traffic. I opened it up. Was doing around 85-90 when city cruiser came around corner. Looked in my rearview and saw the blues as he was turning around.

I slowed and pulled of onto side street and parked bike. Removed helmet and waited for him to show up. Already had my papers out.

He pulls in and asks me why I stopped and waited for him. I said 'Well, you caught me and I not about to run from you'. He talked to me about speeding on a bike and how dangerous it was. Told me to slow down and be careful. Really nice guy. No Ticket.
 
I have managed to talk my way out of 3 of the last 4 times of I was pulled over. I do not as a rule speed, but every once in a while something happens and I catch a grade I was not expecting or something. Anyway, the one I could not get away with was a speed trap down by metro airport. A really bad speed trap. They ticketed me for going 10 over on what looked like a freeway on ramp, but wasn't. I thought I was getting on the freeway and was speeding up to merge. Explained this to cop, but he laughed it off. There must have been a dozen police cars there pulling folks like me over. We all showed up for court where they had card tables set up in a large room. It was standing room only. Everyone got told the same thing..."plead guilty, we will reduce it to a parking ticket, pay $150 OR go sit in the courtroom and wait for the judge to pronounce you guilty of speeding, pay $150, get points on your record."

We all took the parking citation near as I could tell. A couple months later that department was on the TV news for corruption charges. Doubt they got away for $150.
 
Way back in the last century, my brother and I borrowed a cub with a loader, and a stock trailer to haul it. We got our job done and called the owner to return it. He asked us to drop the cub off at his work place in town ( the JD dealer), and return the trailer to his farm. Unbeknownst to us, the town had a new mountie, who had gained a reputation for being a hardnose. We pulled into the dealership and were unloading the tractor, when it stalled halfway out of the trailer. Nothing suspicious here, just two ol' boys with somebody else's tractor half in their trailer,and it nearly dark. Just then, a cruiser pulled up right behind the ramp and blocked any further progress. A large and tough looking woman mountie got out, and hitched up her Sam Browne. She said- "are you boys loading or unloading this tractor?" "Unloading it, ma'am" we said. She said-"um-hum. And the lights on that trailer all work, don't they?" We said "yes they do, ma'am." ( This wasn't a lie- the lights did work- just not with this particular truck!) She said -"um-hum. I think you boys best be out of town by sunset!" We very quickly finished what we were about and followed her advice. We later found out that the dealership had had a number of thefts and the mounties were keeping an eye on it. Our new mountie used a little common sense, and we all had a chuckle about it later. :lol:
 
Buddy and I were cruising around MSU looking for girls on our motorcycles. On the way back we were on the business route of the local highway going through the next town south of my hometown. It was about 1 AM, no one around and we were messing around on our bikes. It was a 45 mph speed limit, we were doing about 75. Dewitt city cop pulled us over, and after walking up to us he asked us what we were up to and we told him what we were doing, he said he just couldn't believe we both stopped. He said he has never had both bikes stop when trying to pull over 2 sportbikes together. He said he was glad we did, just cool it down a bit and stay safe.

Ross
 
Reading about speed traps, got me to thinking about something the state troopers and county sheriffs do here about once a month. It's on the East/West bound lanes of I-64.

As you go East bound and up a long grade with a ridge rising between the East and West bound lanes, separating them from sight, at the crest of the grade is is a flat area with a Emergency vehicle crossover at the end of the crest.

As you go up the grade a large lighted sign reads...'CHECKPOINT AHEAD. K-9 UNITS CHECKING FOR DRUGS. ALL VEHICLES WILL BE SEARCHED. EXPECT DELAYS". Remember, this is on the East bound side of an uphill grade.

On the West bound side if the interstate and just Down the grade a ways are a group of patrol cars, hidden by the ridge that separates the East/West bound lanes.

So, once someone uses the 'Emergency Vehicles' crossover, to try to avoid the fake checkpoint, and gets back onto the West bound lane. They are surrounded by cops.

I've seen them strip cars down to the bare metal.
 
Back around 1975 I was getting my 1969 Road Runner ready for a custom paint job. Rebuild the engine and had a few upgrades done in my transmission. I pulled the seats, interior panels,bumpers, grill, headlights, side windows taillights..... Dropped the motor and transmission in. I had to try it out. It ran great only problem was a Brown County deputy. He pulled me over. I was sitting on my creeper. Wanted to know where I lived. Told him my driveway was 100 yards away. He let me off....didn't have enough room on the ticket.
 

Yesterday a State patrolman clocked me at 10mph or so over a posted 40mph on an empty county road. He got me and I knew it and I began to think about a good pull-off spot .....BUT as I passed the front of his car (coming off of a side road) he blipped the siren once and watched me slow down. The message was clear: 'I'm cutting you a break THIS time - WISE UP!'. I had a ticket coming but he, evidentally, chose to send a message. It took! I will watch myself from now on! One good turn deserves another.
 
Stan,

Lots of times. Tell you the truth, far more often than I should. At least once, the time that I pulled them over on one of my motor scooters, in all honesty they should have just shot me. Seriously. They really should have shot me, but instead they escorted my to the nearest interstate ramp and asked me to never come back. That time? They really should have shot me.

Mark
 
In 51 years I've been stopped at least a dozen times for speeding and only got 4 tickets,so yes I've caught lots of breaks from cops.....Several even apologized for stopping me..I never mouth off to them..I've had several warnings for no trailer lights which I promptly fixed.
 
When I was in high school I was stopped for going down a one way small town Main Street the wrong way on a Saturday night. The town cop asked me if I had been drinking and I told him I had never touched a drop of the stuff. He knew I was lying, but just wanted to talk so he stood there chatting away while all the other kids in town were driving by gawking. Next Monday morning the news was all over the whole high school. Over the years I have seen the red lights six or seven times and so far I have been charged on one of those times. My license sticker wasn't up to date and a small town cop saw it when my car was parked and sat around the corner waiting for me. A couple times were speeding with a tongue lashing. The last time was a couple weeks ago when I pushed a yellow light a little too hard and wasn't out of the intersection when it turned red. He just looked at my license and gave me a tongue lashing and sent me on my way.

One time in Oklahoma I was in a pickup driving slowly a half mile ahead of a combine one of the crew was driving behind me. I turned off on a side road and saw the red lights in the mirror. When I stopped this big black state trooper came walking up from behind looking carefully through all the pails and junk in the back. He told me I was driving slow and had crossed the outside line three times and that gave him reason to stop me. I told him I was leading that combine behind us. When he heard that he said OH, YOURE A HARVESTER, HAVE A SAFE HARVEST. And he left. Took me awhile to get the blood pressure back down after that one.
 
My older brother got stopped one time going the wrong way. He told the cop, the party must be over. The cop said why. Brother response, everyone is going home. So long ago I don't remember the outcome. Stan
 
(quoted from post at 22:41:13 01/06/16) Have had a couple run in's with the local DOT officer. In his previous life he was a hired man and lived a couple miles down the road. Also has a bit of a reputation as a ____ esp if you are hauling for a living.

First time he stopped me I was hauling gravel for myself (I don't do any for hire hauling). Met him bout a half mile out of a town I passed through. Kept watching him in the mirror and when I saw him hit the edge of town I figured I was OK. LOL bout another mile or two looked back and he was ON MY TAIL, and I mean maybe 100 feet on my tail. He kept following and I kept watching him till it was time to turn off on gravel for me. At this point I just turned off and pulled the brake valves. Asked to see my weight ticket. Course I was way under my license on weight. Did a level one inspection (lights only), told me if any of the stones that were on the rail of the trailer fell off it would have cost me $350 and pointed out a crack in the frame and we parted ways after shooting the bull for a bit.

Last fall he was set up in town catching farmers hauling grain. Once again level one inspection. One front signal out and I really should have a plate light on the rear. Paper "fix it" ticket and he said just sign and send in when I get a chance and once again parted with a friendly be safe out there.

Like all of us the Cops have a job to do. And theirs is one I am glad I don't have to. They risk their lives to help the rest of us stay safe.

jt
Click to expand...

A level 1 DOT Inspectionis not "lights only" and a cracked frame is OOS. Was this guy actually a trained DOT Inspector?
 

Over a 20 year plus career I gave out thousands of tickets....and tens of thousands of breaks. Most cops I know were about the same. What is the use in giving $1500.00 worth of tickets to a someone that obviously is doing all he can to feed his family? Yeah, sometimes you have to really slam someone to get their attention. But many times you can get the message across without going crazy. It doesn't always work though.

I'll tell you this much, when you do get a break don't go around bragging you "got away" with something. Karma often has a way of catching up with people that do that- especially if the cop hears about it.
 
Way back when ,my buddy and I were pretty big into Mopars. He had a 70 Superbird. We worked the 440 over ,put duel quad carbs on it and for some reason he put a 3.23 gear in it . We left DesMoines headed to LaCrosse one afternoon. Cooler of beer in back seat, not drunk, but enjoying a few roadies on the trip. Gto on hwy 20 outside Iowa falls. New blacktop, decided to wind her up . Speedo says 140 and I see car coming other way hit the brakes and turn around , cherries on . Crude ! Buddy threw it in neutral and we coasted longs ways and pulled over . We were stiing waiting , cop comes running up like a kid on Christmas morning . He hollars out "Is this a Plymouth Superbird ?" yep it is " do you let your buddy drive it ?" yep all the time . "Good , cuz you're going to jail !" lol So I follow cop into town. It's about 11 pm , all the kids are out cruising the strip droolin gover this car. We get to PD, cop runs inside building .He comes out followed by everyone from in there, Hwy patrol , sheriffs,guees they were all having coffee or something. They swarm me and the Bird. Wow , neatest car ever pulled over around here, can we see engine? hundred questions about car. Heck ,why did you let him catch you ? He'd never keep up with this ? cop says he had us clocked at 90mph, They all laughed. said he had to wake the judge up and it would be 200 dollar fine. Paid him in cash , asked if we get a recipt? He says ,,,do you really want one ??? Um no I guess, no ticket no nothing . Guess it went into their party fund . Hit the road but a little slower on the rest of the trip .
 
People is what ruined cops from giving breaks . Sue happy people. If you don't get a break you only have your fellow motorists to blame.
 
My friends and I did the same as 37chief - go to the next town and drink beer and chase their girls. I was a good driver but always wanted to go fast so I got stopped a lot by local town cops and Ks. Highway Patrol.

Finally one of the troopers remarked that when I got older I would need to become a cop in order to be able to drive the way I wanted plus keep a drivers license. Long story short, I took his advice and spent 21 years on the Wichita Police Department, but I never forgot those breaks given to me and I passed many of them on to kids all my career.
 
I was in school and had been at a buddy's place for a little party, I'd been drinking, of course and headed back to the hotel where I lived and worked for the lady that owned it. Just turned into the driveway and a Ohio Highway Patrolman pulled in right behind me with his light flashing. He said I had a rear light out. Next question was, do you live here? Yes, around back, in room 10. He wrote up a warning about the light and made no issue of the drinking. My father was a big city cop at the time and OMVI was one thing he said he would not help us with if we got stopped for it. Dodged a bullet that night.
 
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