Trooper's doing what they want.

[Jaylyons1]

So today, I lost my faith in the police system courtesy of a single person, Officer Kline who is a state trooper for the Anne Arundel police department.

I tried to go to a pawn shop today which happened to be closed, so we all load up in the car ready to go home like any normal day. Shortly after our departure, this officer in an unmarked car, license plate 7EML93 comes flying up on us. I expected her to run code and just pass us by but instead she tailgates us. I am doing about 5 over at this point. I slowly braked down to 50, waved for her to back off my bumper then got back to my original speed. The officer then speeds up getting even closer to us. She was driving approximately 5 feet from our bumper at this point. I could not see her headlights or anything. I shrug it off and just keep on my way. Shortly after turning onto another road, she turns on the code and pulls us over. This is where it really gets me. When she approaches, I ask what the problem was. She then tells us that we were not wearing our seat belts. My wife and I look at each other a bit puzzled and tell her that we are in fact wearing them as she can plainly see. She then says that we weren't wearing them when we turned off of Mountain Road. We told her we were wearing them the entire time and never drive without them, which is true. I have actually booted people from my car for not wearing their seatbelt. The officer now gets frustrated and demands my license and registration, threatens to search the car and says she will call in for backup. I asked who her supervisor was and she said that she did not have that information to give me. At this point I figure it would be a good idea to begin recording the confrontation so broke out the phone and I let her know that she is now being recorded. I then asked her if there was a reason she was tailgating me. She ignores me until I asked if there will be no response to my question. She then gets in my face and says she is not going to answer me. She then gets our information and goes back to her car.

This is when I decide to find out who her supervisor is and give him a call. She apparently doesn't realize the power of a smartphone. After about 2 minutes, I'm on the phone with her supervisor letting him know the situation.

She then comes back to the car and says absolutely nothing about us not wearing a seatbelt. She gives me a warning for an expired license, which is bogus since I am in the military and as long as my military id is valid, then so is my out of state license. She refuses to hear anything at this point and just rambles out her mandatory verbiage. She then informs us that we are cited for having a license plate border. Our license plate border is the one that came on the car from the dealership we purchased it from. So if that's the case, 99% of the cars on the road are not complying with whatever she thinks the law is.

I have been pulled over a few times to say the least, but this is the first time that I have been pulled over simply because someone was either having a bad day or wanted to try and find something to write us up for. I know there are some good cops out there but this one really brought down what I think of the police in this area.

Ok, done with that rant.

Also, saw a red FR-S w/red tails(possible red alert?) when we pulled off to head back home about 45 minutes ago.

[xjohnx]

Tell me there's an actual option of appearing for a court date for that license plate border ticket.

If so, show up and let the judge see just how much of the court's time she is wasting. This should have been a warning at the absolute most. Pictures of the vehicle with the license plate frame to show just how much of an obstruction there was, along with a photo demonstrating that you've removed the frame to CYA will help too. The video of the officer's attitude would also be good if you can provide it.

[gatorbushmen]

Doesnt surprise me, some cops use their position of high-authority unfairly and unjustly.
Genuinely nice officers are a dime a dozen.

[Jahdai42]

:/ I am shocked. video cameras a re always a good idea when getting pulled over. I just point my dash cam at the officer and the attitude goes away. I just let them know that they are being recorded for customer service.

[suaveflooder]

Wow!! Crazy! I would ABSOLUTELY go to court for this one.

[sevi21]

Ha thats messed up yo

[Jaylyons1]

Since there is a fine with a waiver option, I plan on taking the waiver option and going to a hearing. I'll definitely take pictures and let them know everything that happened up to the point where I received the ticket. I went ahead and filed a claim with the department also so there will at least be something on her record in case it happens again with someone else.

I'm glad this happened in my wifes car too. There is nothing on that car that they can usually hit me with.

[LIKEABOSS]

If it makes you feel better I got a ticket for no front plate in my Boss by the OCPD. A bike cop no less at a stop light. Then again they we're trolling for reasons to pull people over during Cruisin. Saw a lot of FR-S' down there. Surprised I don't see a thread on here.

[Jaylyons1]

Originally Posted by LIKEABOSS

If it makes you feel better I got a ticket for no front plate in my Boss by the OCPD. A bike cop no less at a stop light. Then again they we're trolling for reasons to pull people over during Cruisin. Saw a lot of FR-S' down there. Surprised I don't see a thread on here.

I wouldn't be as ticked if it had been a legitimate reason. Hell, I didn't come to a complete stop when I turned off of the road right before she pulled me over. I figured that was what she was pulling me for. But no, she made up some BS.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Jaylyons1

Since there is a fine with a waiver option, I plan on taking the waiver option and going to a hearing. I'll definitely take pictures and let them know everything that happened up to the point where I received the ticket. I went ahead and filed a claim with the department also so there will at least be something on her record in case it happens again with someone else.

I'm glad this happened in my wifes car too. There is nothing on that car that they can usually hit me with.

Definitely request the hearing. I believe the options are to pay, pay with a hearing in front of the judge, and take it to court. I've always picked the 3rd option and each time it has worked for me. I doubt any of this would stick, but I'd want to know if the recording can be used as evidence or not.


C/N: It'd be a crime not to take this to court. Good luck; your run in reflects my previous experiences with female state troopers. Male state troopers have never BSed me like that or given me attitude.

[BlueSTaR]

My gf a few months ago got a ticket for not wearing a Seatbelt when she was. The officer pulled us over FROM BEHIND, and was never at a point where he could see either.

Oh and she had a fucking stack of Paper Towels in her lap so how would she just throw it on?

Fuck em.

[swift996]

Doesn't surprise me one bit. Few officers on patrol understand the motto protect and serve.

I thought an officer isn't able to pull you over for not wearing a seat-belt that it's a "secondary-offense?" Regardless, it should be your individual freedom to choose. It saddens me that we need to waste tax payer's money patrolling and enforcing laws such as that.

I wish they used better judgement and thought with logic. I see people laying down in the front seat doing 90mph in a SUV that couldn't avoid an accident 1/4 mile ahead. If I didn't have sports cars, I'd probably have been hit at least 6-7 times in the last two years. It can get dangerous out there when people aren't driving but rather enjoying the comfort and convenience of their family room on wheels.

[whaap]

I'm sure a study has never been done but just making a wild guess I would say that probably 5% of the people in this world are jerks. Now those 5% all go in different directins. Some work at McD's. More than likely some become doctors or lawyers or preachers or car wash attendents. Why would it surprise any one that some of them become cops? Because of one bad experience saying that all cops are bad is like saying that all people that part their hair down the middle are jerks.

[xjohnx]

Originally Posted by whaap

is like saying that all people that part their hair down the middle are jerks.

Pretty safe assumption from my experience.