OK, time for my Police Story

[Michael_Js]

Ok, it's long, sorry...

On my way home from Stillen, in Costa Mesa, CA - Pfadt Camber plate install and re-alignment. First, the ride up there was brutal - lots of traffic ;(

Spent the day at the mall, 2 miles away, finally got back to Stillen, still had to wait over an hour...Chatted with David, d69Chris, as he was waiting for his coilovers to be completed - alignment. So, test drive with Eric, then home.

Lots of traffic on the way down the 405 and part of the 5. It finally opened up a bit and I was tired, so, was doing about 82~85 mph. Cars were still passing me by, so I was not the fastest, but still way over the speed limit.

I make a couple of passes from the #1 lane into the #2, then #2 into #3, then see a CHP Motorcycle office peeking through from the #4 lane. Damn...so I slow down, move back into #2 lane, and he pulls behind me, flashing lights...Damn! Again!

I slow down and proceed to pull off on the right shoulder and he signals me to keep going...so, I proceed to the off-ramp and start to pull over and he toots his loud buzzer and points to the right again...so, I keep going and see him pull into the right shoulder so I go to slow down and park, but was sticking out a bit so I pull up a bit more and - Damn (again!) I hit the curb and am now on top of it with the right front wheel! I was very nervous, but pulled off at a large angle not to scrape the wheel, anymore than I thought I did.

Now, as I was pulling over, I pushed open the sunroof shade and roll down both windows - my car has 65% tint on the front windows and 35% on the back 3 - illegal in CA.

He walks up, very slowly, and asks for my license, registration, and insurance and if the car is mine. I remove my seat belt and say - my license is in here - pointing to my backpack, and my reg & insurance are in the glove box, and yes sir, the car is registered to me. I slowly get all 3 out and hand them to him - all being VERY polite and calling him Sir. He says I pulled you over for 2 violations: you passed that car in the #1 lane when you were less than 1 car length from him. Then, you did it again when you were in the #2 lane to get around the other slow driver. I don't remember him saying anything about my speed, but he might have.

I said yes Sir, that was too close. He said you must be frustrated to have to drive so slow in that traffic with this car. I said well, I've had a long day in Costa Mesa with nothing but bumper-to-bumper traffic, and am tried, but I know that's no excuse Sir. he said, wait here while I go write your citation.

So, he goes back to the bike, grabs his book, and pen. Looks at my paperwork, gets on the radio...puts the book back on his bike and walks up to the car and leans over again.

He asks if I've been coached. So I ask, coached in what? he said coached on how to talk to an officer when you get pulled over. I said no, why? He said you gave all the right answers and were very polite. I said I was taught politeness from my parents. He said that might be, but most people don't use it or forget it. And with a car like this, I'm sure you get pulled over a lot! I said, actually, I've had the car since September and this is the first time I've been pulled over - if you see my driving record, which I believe you already have, you will see I have no violations - which is all true.

So, he hands me back my papers and said, well, your attitude and politeness is getting you off with a warning - to which I thanked him. He then said, actually that car in the #1 lane was doing 65 mph and should not have been there. To which I said, but that is no reason to tailgate. And I got a you're right.

Then, he asks me if I have tint on the windows, to which I reply a light tint, yes Sir. he asks me to roll up my windows, to which I only roll up the passenger side. Then motions for me to put it back down saying, it is light, and you might go 10 years without any issues, but, in this car, if you keep driving like that, the next officer will write you up for that on top of the moving violation. he then stood up and I put on my seat belt, then he started giving me directions on how to get back on the freeway.

I thanked him again, and drove off thanking God all the while Yes, i deserved a ticket and in my head was just that - you deserve it, take it, do traffic school on line and learn...

Got home, only the tire was scuffed, no wheel damage! Another grateful!!

That's my story!

[pumpkinrancho]

Always better to be polite when dealing with the man, as these days so many people aren't

["prima"Donna]

WOW, lucky, lucky guy!!!...but I do believe your polite and respectful attitude went a long way with the cop not writing you up, don't you?...good story with a happy ending...

[bamaproshop]

I would have wrote you a ticket just kidding glad you have a cool officer

[Waco]

You just did the right thing. So many punks these days would have an attitude. You're parents raised you well.

[Ronn]

Treat them how you would want to be treated and you won't go wrong! Glad to hear your wheel wasn't scratched.

[Ivan @ Southwest Speed]

Quick...go buy a Lotto Ticket.

Well done sir. Well done.
-Ivan

[d69chris]

Great story & lesson for us all.

Police take a lot of crap from the general public & he must have really appreciated your polite positive attitude!

Happy for you, now go spend that ticket money on your car!

[5thGenOwner]

But, Coached?

Is polite-ness that rare in this world, today? Pardon me, I'm just pondering out-loud. I myself, am shocked these days when I see compassion... rude-ness is the new norm?

Anyway, glad you didn't scuff your rim or get home with any extra unwanted paperwork! Great story!

(we need one big thread of 'Cops who appreciate Camaros')

[MillerTime]

Originally Posted by 5thGenOwner

But, Coached?

Is polite-ness that rare in this world, today? Pardon me, I'm just pondering out-loud. I myself, am shocked these days when I see compassion... rude-ness is the new norm?

Anyway, glad you didn't scuff your rim or get home with any extra unwanted paperwork! Great story!

(we need one big thread of 'Cops who appreciate Camaros')

You would be surprised how rude people are...

The don't get that we are trying to keep them safe...

sorry to inconvenience you...

Glad you ran into one of the good ones!

[HDDAN]

One of the guys that used to ride motorcycles with us was a cop. I asked him one day how to get a warning, instead of a ticket. He told me three things not to do;
1. Do not treat me like you think that I am stupid. When I asked for an explanation, he said "If you are going 20 over the limit, do not say, "what did I do officer", because we both know that you were speeding.
2. Do not call me a liar. "But officer, I wasn't speeding". So when I say to you that I pulled you over for speeding, you are telling me that I am lying and that you weren't?
3. Do not show me any disrespect, such as telling me who you know that can fix this for you, or saying "do you know who I am" or by giving me any lip.
He then said that you can not win an argument with an armed cop on the side of the highway and asked me when the last time I heard of a judge not taking the word of the cop over the defendant was.
Courtesy towards the cop might make him go easy, or it may not, but disrespect will certainly bring on his wrath and a sure citation.

[SlingShot]

Good story and Thank You for paying attention during English class, your teachers would be proud of you. Your story was easy to read and didn't make my head hurt like most ...

[Chief Bob]

Good story and a cool cop

[Dr Jkel]

Aint Karma nice