One Cool Cop...

[BigWalt]

Hello all...

So we've all had this happen... was driving back home tonight and pulling to a light that turned Yellow just at that time where it's to close to call between slamming the breaks or just going through... Then I see a cop at the light on the cross street, I slam the breaks! Only then do I check out the rear vew mirror to see a grey Audi doing about 80 heading towards, me forcing me to move up into the intersection to save me and the car's life... Idiot goes flying through and leaves me blocking traffic... What can I do, I go through...

Of course, cop turns lights on and comes after us... I pull to the right so he can get the other dude but I'm stunned as he pulls me over...

Beleive it or not, the cop missed the whole Audi blowing by the light part. I dont' blame him as he was going so freaken fast if the blinked at the wrong time he would have missed it...

Anyway, let me get to the cool part. He comes over, checkes out my stuff and asks me what happened back there. I tell him and the dude actually beleived me! I was very happy and surprised! I mean I was telling the truth but they must get a million fairy tales a day, Maybe I jsut look honest!

Then the bad luck, I put my damn Mustang insurance tag in the Charger and vice-versa... Man I can't win... Anyway, the dude was very nice and said if I faxed him a copy of the insurance card, he would not write me up for that...

Thought I would share this good story since I know a lot of you have run into some bad situations with Cops and tint and other things. There are a lot of good ones out there as well!!!

[TorRedReign]

Just so you know not all of us are a$$holes

[Fondy]

LOL^^

sounds like you had a cop on a nice day.

[whyteboi]

Just so you know not all of us are a$$holes

What % of cops would give me a ticket if its 12:30 am and the law says I have to be in by 12? My dad thinks that because I have a new car and I am 16, they will write me up for as much as possible. But I dont wanna test this. lol

Btw I am 16 and live in Michigan so

[TorRedReign]

You really shouldn't try the cops by law they can "take you in" and tow the car so dont try it. just a little advice

[whyteboi]

Wait, why would they be able to tow my car and "take me in"?

Are they allowed to do that to people who speed 10 over? Or yea, or you just try to explain as good as possible on exactly what offenses (driving) they can do that for? Ive never heard of that for what seems to be such a minor offense.

[TorRedReign]

If you violate curfew your breaking the law you can be "takin in " for anything it all depends on the cop

[gremlinsteve]

any. when you get stopped, your under arrest. you sign the ticket as a signature bond. so your posting bond at that point stating you promise to appear in court.


usually speding alone wont get you a trip, but anything else combined with it will.
spped at a certain point will become reckless driving also and move you towards a county jail offense.

steve

[whyteboi]

Dont most people pay the ticket and take the points rather than going to court? Or am I thinking interstate highways with weird rules?

[gremlinsteve]

why would you want to pay a ticket and walk away? always, and i mean always get a btraffic lawyer and go to court. dont give the county or other municipality free money.

a prosecuter will usually drop a few charges for a guilty plea here or there. lower fines ect.

now, this dont mean go into there world stopping your feet acting like a fewl, you will be treated like one at that point.

but anything you get stopped for can land you in a jail.

steve

[BobCav]

Relax, getting pulled over does NOT mean automatic arrest and they must have a reasonable, articulable reason to do so. They have to have a valid reason. Breaking traffic laws are valid reasons. For example I can carry my .45 open on my hip (like I do every day here in Virginia) and walk around all over the place and an officer cannot just stop me to "make sure" I'm legal. They cannot assume lawlessness and cannot act unless they observe illegal behavior or have eye witness account of the same.

Never..NEVER give up your rights. Use them...or lose them.

Read this: http://www.flexyourrights.org/traffic_stop_scenario

[gremlinsteve]

Relax, getting pulled over does NOT mean automatic arrest and they must have a reasonable, articulable reason to do so. They have to have a valid reason. Breaking traffic laws are valid reasons. For example I can carry my .45 open on my hip (like I do every day here in Virginia) and walk around all over the place and an officer cannot just stop me to "make sure" I'm legal. They cannot assume lawlessness and cannot act unless they observe illegal behavior or have eye witness account of the same.

Never..NEVER give up your rights. Use them...or lose them.

Read this: http://www.flexyourrights.org/traffic_stop_scenario

who said that they could??????

were talking about a valid stop. and yes, you can go to jail if he/she so desires. the fact still remains your posting a signature bond when you sign the ticket.

steve

[BobCav]

You did right here:

when you get stopped, your under arrest.
steve

Sorry, but you're completely wrong on this one. You cannot just go to jail if the LEO so desires!!!! We don't yet live in the Policed States of Amerika. When you're stopped, you are only being lawfully detained while he processes for priors, checks your registration and prepares the MISDEMEANOR ticket.,etc...

There's not much difference in other states, but at least here in Virginia, they can only arrest you for a misdemeanor for one of only five reasonable and articulable reasons;

1) Fair or refuse to discontinue the unlawful act.

2) Is believed by the arresting officer to be likely to disregard a summons;

3) Is reasonably believed by the arresting officer to be likely to cause harm to himself or to any other person;

4) Refuses to sign & give written promise on the summons to appear before the magistrate;

5) Is being charged with the offense of public drunkenness (this applies to all class 3 & 4 misdemeanors as well).


It really pays to know the law. Here's the actual VA State Code.:

§ 19.2-74. Issuance and service of summons in place of warrant in misdemeanor case; issuance of summons by special policemen and conservators of the peace.

A. 1. Whenever any person is detained by or is in the custody of an arresting officer for any violation committed in such officer's presence which offense is a violation of any county, city or town ordinance or of any provision of this Code punishable as a Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanor or any other misdemeanor for which he may receive a jail sentence, except as otherwise provided in Title 46.2, or § 18.2-266, or an arrest on a warrant charging an offense for which a summons may be issued, and when specifically authorized by the judicial officer issuing the warrant, the arresting officer shall take the name and address of such person and issue a summons or otherwise notify him in writing to appear at a time and place to be specified in such summons or notice. Upon the giving by such person of his written promise to appear at such time and place, the officer shall forthwith release him from custody. However, if any such person shall fail or refuse to discontinue the unlawful act, the officer may proceed according to the provisions of § 19.2-82.

Anything in this section to the contrary notwithstanding, if any person is believed by the arresting officer to be likely to disregard a summons issued under the provisions of this subsection, or if any person is reasonably believed by the arresting officer to be likely to cause harm to himself or to any other person, a magistrate or other issuing authority having jurisdiction shall proceed according to the provisions of § 19.2-82.

2. Whenever any person is detained by or is in the custody of an arresting officer for a violation of any county, city, or town ordinance or of any provision of this Code, punishable as a Class 3 or Class 4 misdemeanor or any other misdemeanor for which he cannot receive a jail sentence, except as otherwise provided in Title 46.2, or to the offense of public drunkenness as defined in § 18.2-388, the arresting officer shall take the name and address of such person and issue a summons or otherwise notify him in writing to appear at a time and place to be specified in such summons or notice. Upon the giving of such person of his written promise to appear at such time and place, the officer shall forthwith release him from custody. However, if any such person shall fail or refuse to discontinue the unlawful act, the officer may proceed according to the provisions of § 19.2-82.

3. Any person so summoned shall not be held in custody after the issuance of such summons for the purpose of complying with the requirements of Chapter 23 (§ 19.2-387 et seq.) of this title. Reports to the Central Criminal Records Exchange concerning such persons shall be made after a disposition of guilt is entered as provided for in § 19.2-390.
Any person refusing to give such written promise to appear under the provisions of this section shall be taken immediately by the arresting or other police officer before a magistrate or other issuing authority having jurisdiction, who shall proceed according to provisions of § 19.2-82.

Any person who willfully violates his written promise to appear, given in accordance with this section, shall be treated in accordance with the provisions of § 19.2-128, regardless of the disposition of, and in addition to, the charge upon which he was originally arrested.

Any person charged with committing any violation of § 18.2-407 may be arrested and immediately brought before a magistrate who shall proceed as provided in § 19.2-82.

B. Special policemen of the counties as provided in § 15.2-1737, special policemen or conservators of the peace appointed under Chapter 2 (§ 19.2-12 et seq.) of this title and special policemen appointed by authority of a city's charter may issue summonses pursuant to this section, if such officers are in uniform, or displaying a badge of office. On application, the chief law-enforcement officer of the county or city shall supply each officer with a supply of summons forms, for which such officer shall account pursuant to regulation of such chief law-enforcement officer.

C. The summons used by a law-enforcement officer pursuant to this section shall be in form the same as the uniform summons for motor vehicle law violations as prescribed pursuant to § 46.2-388.

(Code 1950, § 19.1-92.1; 1973, c. 98; 1974, c. 481; 1975, c. 495; 1976, c. 753; 1978, c. 500; 1979, cc. 679, 680; 1980, c. 492; 1981, c. 382; 1982, cc. 485, 500; 1984, c. 24; 1988, c. 455; 1995, c. 471.)

[gremlinsteve]

virginia always has been ass backawrds...


steve

[HICHARGER]

Everyone has a point that's correct. Every state has laws that may differ in a few way's. In Hawaii many traffic violations are just that, violations. Driving without a valid license, speeding over 30 mph, reckless driving, racing, and of course DUI are just a few of the traffic laws that are misdemeanors. These infractions are all arrestable, however if you have a valid ID and stay calm most likely only a ticket will be issued, Except of course the DUI. Hawaii is a part of the 9th circuit court so many of the western states are similar. Anytime you are stopped by a Cop your civil rights are being restricted. The laws of the state determine when and how you can be stopped and or arrested.
Back on topic, good for you, anyone on this forum would definitely go to extremes to protect there ride.