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Can police pull over for "hunches"?

So last night I got pulled over for seemingly no reason.

I was driving through my neighborhood going to the highway to get to work. I saw a local cop "hiding" in the shadows, and instinctively looked at my speed. I was doing 33 (30 mph local street), no prob I thought.

As I passed he shined his light into my car and quickly pulled out behind me. Waited behind me at the red light and when it turned green turned on his lights.

First he said "I stopped you because you were driving pretty fast". I noticed he didn't state a speed which means he wast using his laser/radar. Then he asked the standard where I'm coming from/where I'm going.

Then he asks if I've ever been arrested before. Then asks for my license/registration.

THEN he says there is a warrant for someone with my last name but different first name.

Goes back to his car, runs my ID, comes back after 5 minutes and says you're good to go.

Seriously, WTF?! I was very pleasant and just went on my way because I was late to work.

But can a cop really stop you because you have the same last name as someone that has a warrant?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath (Post 1354438)

My understanding of American law is that "reasonable suspicion" or "reasonable and probable grounds" etc. is what is generally required. Having the same name or matching a physical description meets the criteria to deprive you of your freedom.

If a cop wants to stop you as you drive along minding your own business he can easily find a description of a goblin that fits you or just make up a
bullsh!t reason.

Just remember - since the patriot act and all the anti-terrorism legislation your government has the right to arrest you without warrant or charge and hold you incommunicado forever. Your government can even execute you without trial or conviction (but to kill you an executive order is required and that does not have to be made public).

:mad0259:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath (Post 1354438)

My guess is he ran your plates at the light and saw the last name matching a warrant (assuming the car is registered to you) and decided to check and see if he'd get lucky.

In agreement with the above, either he was bored or thought there was something suspicious going on.

I got pulled over in my truck two or three times, they claimed it was because my trailer hitch obscured my licence plate (never heard that before, driven lots of trucks with trailer hitches obscuring the plate, definitely ok but I don't see why they needed to run my plate) but really I was driving a POS truck in sketchy neighborhoods late at night and they were checking to see if I was dealing or high or something. If you saw my truck drive by at midnight you'd think to yourself "that guy is up way too late to be gardening..."

Got my trailer hitch cut off (it rusted together) and they stopped pulling me over, still got tailed once in a while though.

I was going to write something long winded, but I'm not going to because this topic makes me angry.

A while back (making myself feel old realizing this was 8 years ago) I went to a birthday party for one of my coworkers after work. When I was heading home I got off the interstate at around 1am and as soon as I left the exit ramp I saw lights, which confused me. The cop told me he pulled me over because my license plate bulb was out. I knew this was an infraction, but I'd never heard of anyone being pulled over for it, ever. He took my license and registration, went to his car for a few minutes, came back and told me to have a nice night. He didn't even bother to tell me to fix it. My guess is he didn't care, it wasn't the light he was after, he wanted a drunk person, or something else illegal.

Ironically enough though, the party was at a sleazy little bowling alley that had a bar and we didn't go there to bowl. Anyways, I was 17, so there wasn't anything for me to do but hang out. A girl I worked with that was my age was drinking a beer and I asked what she was doing. Her response was, "No one cares, have one." I refused, obviously. And it turns out it was a good thing I did.

I was at a DUI Check Point the other night

Cop told me to pull over to the side (was in the FRS which is super flashy and super loud now) and asked where I came from etc.

Nothing to do with drinking , and gave me a ticket for no front tag lol

Had a buddy who was pulled over. He apparently matched a description of somebody they were looking for - a young male, white, long hair, in a grey Scion tC.

A week later, he passed by the same spot he was pulled over. They had a young white male with long hair driving a grey Scion tC.

Sounds like he has a crush on your car

I'm no expert on traffic laws but there are numerous regulations that a LEO can use to justify a traffic stop. They don't even need a search warrant for vehicle searches on public roads if they have permission or probable cause. Since it's public domain versus private property.

Interesting enough, even game wardens can pull you over for traffic violations. But they can't write you a ticket for anything traffic related. I found that out when my dad was pulled over for a seat belt violation. And speeding. And a taillight being out.