pulled over for "dark license plate cover"

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

Thank you, this is exactly the point I was making. Some guys seem to think because it was a minor infraction the police were essentially harassing him. It's not harassment there was still a reason for the stop, ei not random profiling.

As for the warning, the cop probably entered a check into the system, meaning next time you get pulled over the cop will be able to see that it's a reoccurring problem. In all likelihood the next one wont care/ticket either. I have seen people with over 5 street checks for window tints and not a single ticket.

You said yourself that pulling over to enforce the minor infraction is not your intent, but the hope to search and find evidence of more serious crimes.

Sounds an awful lot like just searching people for drugs / guns / whatever without you having any real reason to suspect that person of possessing those things. As a citizen who travels with none of those things, I would consider that harassment if I were on the receiving end. I'm betting most others do to.

The fact that we've become sheep and generally accept some level of police harassment doesn't change the nature of the stop.

-Justin

[headlikeahole]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

You said yourself that pulling over to enforce the minor infraction is not your intent, but the hope to search and find evidence of more serious crimes.

Sounds an awful lot like just searching people for drugs / guns / whatever without you having any real reason to suspect that person of possessing those things. As a citizen who travels with none of those things, I would consider that harassment if I were on the receiving end. I'm betting most others do to.

The fact that we've become sheep and generally accept some level of police harassment doesn't change the nature of the stop.

-Justin

Lets pretend for a moment that you're right, and pulling someone over for minor infractions all while keeping an eye out for something major is "harassment". There are only two alternatives to this kind of police work:

1: Pull everyone over no matter how minor the infraction and give tickets away like candy.

2: Drive around looking only for major infractions and have the amount of drug, alcohol related arrest drop to almost nothing. Not to mention how this would effect the amount of people driving around uninsured/unregistered, or suspended.

[slawdio]

Im not sure about Canada, but here in Illinois, if your plates are rusting/rusted, you can call the DMV and they'll ship you new ones for free.

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

Lets pretend for a moment that you're right, and pulling someone over for minor infractions all while keeping an eye out for something major is "harassment". There are only two alternatives to this kind of police work:

1: Pull everyone over no matter how minor the infraction and give tickets away like candy.

2: Drive around looking only for major infractions and have the amount of drug, alcohol related arrest drop to almost nothing. Not to mention how this would effect the amount of people driving around uninsured/unregistered, or suspended.

You can get registration and license status from the plates (or at least this is easily obtained in the US, not sure if it's different up there). If it comes up suspended / uninsured, pull them over.

Impaired drivers will expose themselves by erratic /careless driving. They're pretty easy to spot and their driving gives you a reason to pull them over.

Are you saying that without bothering people over bs plate covers you wouldn't be able to find drunks on the road?

Oh, BTW, I think dark tint and plate covers are for idiots. They give police a license to pull over motorists at any time so you get what you asked for on that. I just think that if enforcing the infraction isn't the point of the traffic stop, then you're on a fishing expedition.

-Justin

[headlikeahole]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

You can get registration and license status from the plates (or at least this is easily obtained in the US, not sure if it's different up there). If it comes up suspended / uninsured, pull them over.

Impaired drivers will expose themselves by erratic /careless driving. They're pretty easy to spot and their driving gives you a reason to pull them over.

Are you saying that without bothering people over bs plate covers you wouldn't be able to find drunks on the road?

Oh, BTW, I think dark tint and plate covers are for idiots. They give police a license to pull over motorists at any time so you get what you asked for on that. I just think that if enforcing the infraction isn't the point of the traffic stop, then you're on a fishing expedition.

-Justin

I have pulled people over for burnt out tail lights and had them blow 3 times the legal limit, with absolutely zero signs of impairment other then a smell of liquor on his/her breath. This is not uncommon either.

Trust me when I say that streets are much safe because of these kinds of traffic stops. They are non intrusive and literally the only downside is that you might lose 10 minutes out of your day. Dont like it? Dont give the police a reason to stop you. Its that simple.

[tmcmullins]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

I have pulled people over for burnt out tail lights and had them blow 3 times the legal limit, with absolutely zero signs of impairment other then a smell of liquor on his/her breath. This is not uncommon either.

Trust me when I say that streets are much safe because of these kinds of traffic stops. They are non intrusive and literally the only downside is that you might lose 10 minutes out of your day. Dont like it? Dont give the police a reason to stop you. Its that simple.

I'm actually cool with this. I've been pulled over close to my house when I first moved there for no front license plate. He asked me a few questions and I told the officer of my criminal past. He asked if he could search the car. I said sure. So I get out and begin opening the back door. He freaks out "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!" I looked surprised and say "Opening the door for you." He facepalms and tells me to sit on the curve while he does his search. After he finished I went home kinda happy knowing that I lived in a safe neighborhood.

For the record, I never put that front license plate on. I think I saw the same cop on another occasion but he didn't seem to care about my plate either. But I knew he just wanted to know who the new guy was in the first place.

If you have nothing to hide then it really doesn't matter.
Kill em with kindness. :happy0180:

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

I have pulled people over for burnt out tail lights and had them blow 3 times the legal limit, with absolutely zero signs of impairment other then a smell of liquor on his/her breath. This is not uncommon either.

Trust me when I say that streets are much safe because of these kinds of traffic stops. They are non intrusive and literally the only downside is that you might lose 10 minutes out of your day. Dont like it? Dont give the police a reason to stop you. Its that simple.

Something we both agree on. Ditch the stupid tint, kids!

-Justin

[PANDA86]

Covering the plate with tint/clear transparent type "plastic" cover/shield can/may block or deflect and obscure the plate on state camera, if you brake any traffic laws. Reflection of sun, headlights, street lights, shop lights, etc. on plastic can have this type of effect especially on white background and angle of light.

Off topic, there's a certain type of spray that that blocks the reflective plate from camera without the plastic cover/shield, If you do that sort of thing.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

By your logic, we should embrace unwarranted searches if we're not committing any serious crime because eventually the cops will kick in a criminal's door.

praytell how any individual would be able to distinguish between a criminal and a normal person

you and people like you assume that cops have some sort of unlimted amount of manpower and resources to engage survailance on everyone and "only bother the bad guys"... which they MOSTLY TRY TO DO ANYWAY

and getting pulled over for breaking an actual law is not quite the same as breaking down random doors... so choose some better anecdotes.

[7thgear]

Originally Posted by Justin.b

Impaired drivers will expose themselves by erratic /careless driving. They're pretty easy to spot and their driving gives you a reason to pull them over.

so how many people have you pulled over for impaired driving?

i love it how we have an actual police officer willing to explain their methods while you're essentially telling him that cops could do their jobs better.

maybe you should join the force?

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

so how many people have you pulled over for impaired driving?

i love it how we have an actual police officer willing to explain their methods while you're essentially telling him that cops could do their jobs better.

maybe you should join the force?

I was an officer for ten years.

-Justin

[Justin.b]

Also, my advice to the kids who keep doing these silly mods and getting pulled over for the is to not do them. Don't tint your windows, don't have stuff hanging from the rearview mirror, don't cover your plates, don't install high-watt or blue headlights, don't mod/paint/cover your tail lights, make sure you have the front plate on the car, don't have a stuffed character dangling from a tow hook, etc...

Having certain mods is just a constant invitation to cops to pull you over. If you think it's worth it for the 'look' of a $5 piece of crappy plastic over your plate, then don't be surprised when you're pulling out your license on the side of the road.

-Justin

[7thgear]

surprised an ex-officer would hold such values (about the validity of random checks, etc)

or maybe that's why you left the force?

[Justin.b]

Originally Posted by 7thgear

surprised an ex-officer would hold such values (about the validity of random checks, etc)

or maybe that's why you left the force?

I left because I couldn't afford to stay, but I've always been a citizen first and was never comfortable with the us vs. them attitude.

I don't think there's any secret about why cops love the simple things that allow them to pull people over because as hole stated, these traffic stops often end in an arrest.

I guess if you want the cops fighting real crime, leave the plainly visible illegal mods to the criminals.

-Justin