What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[Jmustang1968]

I have a perfect driving record.

Cops usually let me go if I get pulled over, well more like 50/50.

one of these things is not like the other.

Take a defensive driving course and tickets are dismissed. Clean record. No at fault accidents.

[prfsnl_gmr]

It depends on the judge.

A Bob Marley shirt is not so bad...A Young Jeezy snowman shirt or a shirt with marijuana leafs, money rolls, sclaews, and guns, on the other hand, might draw a comment from even the most lenient judges. (I have seen both of these things in court on multiple occassions, BTW. I dont' even know where you'd get the second shirt...the flea market maybe?)

[brunoafh]

I've always shown up to traffic court and small claim/violation hearings (same thing? not sure) in just a tshirt and jeans and been fine, if anything out dressing most of the people there. Makes absolutely no sense to me why you should show up to court in pajamas or with your pants around your ass, yet every time I'm there this is like 90% of the people.

[noiseredux]

It depends on the judge.

A Bob Marley shirt is not so bad...A Young Jeezy snowman shirt or a shirt with marijuana leafs, money rolls, sclaews, and guns, on the other hand, might draw a comment from even the most lenient judges. (I have seen both of these things in court on multiple occassions, BTW. I dont' even know where you'd get the second shirt...the flea market maybe?)

pfft, you can't ban the snowman.

[mjmjr25]

Take a defensive driving course and tickets are dismissed. Clean record. No at fault accidents.

I assure you, the tickets are still on your record. There is a record everytime you are pulled over - even if it is an informational stop or a warning. If you received a ticket, that is on your record and in the report.

They may not be able to "be used against you" for points or insurance purposes, but there is a record.

[Luke]

So you're saying that the dude who was wearing a Bob Marley shirt when I had to go in to court and show I'd put the front plate on my car might not have had the best day, but not for racist reasons?

If I was a judge, or DA for that fact, disrespect and a disregard for the judicial system would probably drive me crazy within the first twenty minutes of proceedings.

No wonder "I was told to give you this and shut up" worked for me.

[Jmustang1968]

Take a defensive driving course and tickets are dismissed. Clean record. No at fault accidents.

I assure you, the tickets are still on your record. There is a record everytime you are pulled over - even if it is an informational stop or a warning. If you received a ticket, that is on your record and in the report.

They may not be able to "be used against you" for points or insurance purposes, but there is a record.

I have been pulled over by cops since then, and they say oh since you have a clean record I am not going to mess with you. And all I have is a couple small town speed trap speeding tickets and a rolling through a stop sign. Had all dismissed.

[Luke]

What's with cops apologizing, saying "I'm not going to mess with you" and civilians saying "I've got some grade A shit, here's a dog biscuit" and other expletives with the cop laughing?

You guys live in some bizzaro Mayberry Universe or something, because I'm calling bullshit.

[Jmustang1968]

What's with cops apologizing, saying "I'm not going to mess with you" and civilians saying "I've got some grade A shit, here's a dog biscuit" and other expletives with the cop laughing?

You guys live in some bizzaro Mayberry Universe or something, because I'm calling bullshit.

They didn't apologize. They are just 'giving a warning'. But that's from city cops using an excuse to pull you over to check for warrants or other suspicious behavior like drunk driving. I know some cops who basically said (off duty, not while being pulled over) they are lazy just like anyone else and writing speeding tickets and going to court for them etc can be a pain in the ass.

Small towns looking for revenue, highway patrol, and city speed trap setups where they are looking to get speeders is how you get nailed here. Every Houston PD and San Antonio PD that has pulled me over has let me go. I have a few funny stories.

One a small town that basically consists of a neghborhood on the coast called Bayou Vista had a cop pull me over. I was going 25 in a 20, didn't even realize I was speeding. He kept calling me speed racer and trying to piss me off. Said something like I have nothing better to do and we can stand out in the rain all night if you want. But before he let me go basically admitted he was looking for drunk drivers and he was bored.

I had a Houston cop pull me over as I was driving down highway feeder. Made me get out of the car, asked me a bunch of questions. Then asked how fast I was going and the speed limit. I said I didn't know the limit but I was going 55 to 60. He then goes well I am going to let you go bcause I don't know what the limit is here either but I just know it isn't 60. Then asked me why I kinda swerved and leaned when he hit his lights. That it looked like I was trying to stash drugs or weapons. I played dumb and said I am not sure what he is getting at that maybe I was setting down my drink. I was actually putting my seat belt on heh.

I have had a few others pull me over at night and all basically said they were looking for duis. I had a motorcycle cop drive by me on I10 one afternoon, get beside me hit his lights and siren yell at me to slow down, I nod my head and he flies past me.

[flex wood]

What's with cops apologizing, saying "I'm not going to mess with you" and civilians saying "I've got some grade A shit, here's a dog biscuit" and other expletives with the cop laughing?

You guys live in some bizzaro Mayberry Universe or something, because I'm calling bullshit.

I dunno maybe I'm better at sizing up situations then you are and know what I can get away with? I refuse to let myself be intimidated by a uniform so I just act like I would with anyone I don't know, respectful while having a sense of humor. A cop has to deal with people that are angry at them for doing their job all day so I'm not going to be a dick and have the first words out of my mouth be something stupid like asking why they pulled me over or if I was speeding.

I dunno maybe I'm just a pig whisperer?