Police encounters

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by FRSNewb

Cops here in SSM have been seen using a Pontiac Vibe and an old 90s Grand Caravan; I got pulled over by the Vibe a few years ago and saw the Grand Caravan having pulled over someone else..

For many, many years the OPP up by Woodstock had an old rotted out 71 Dodge Dart. They would sit on the side of the highway and tag you with the radar for a marked cruiser to pull over around a blind curve or just after an overpass. I slowed down every time I saw a green Dart for years even after it disappeared.

[Tcoat]

For your further reading pleasure.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14971

[Akari]

It really is your driving style that will either get you pulled over or let you blend in. Smooth lane changes, keeping right when you can and common road courtesy go a long way.

I drove a 05 STi for many years and my BRZ for almost two now without ever being pulled over. Upwards of 300 miles a week(mostly all speeding) with 0 issues.

[extrashaky]

On a tangent:

With all my driving, I see a lot of people pulled over. One thing I've noticed around here (not twins specific) is that the state troopers in Louisiana have started making people get out of their cars and stand between the back of the driver's car and the front of the trooper's car while they deal with the ticket. I don't know if it's to avoid being captured on video from cameras mounted inside drivers' cars, or if it's just to capture the incident on the cop's own dash cam, but that is extremely dangerous.

Back when I shot news video in Florida, a trooper down there lost both his legs when a lookie-loo ran off the road and smashed right into the back of his cruiser, pinning him between his cruiser and the car he had stopped. After that, the state put out the word that it was unsafe to stand in that zone, and the cops started lecturing us news photogs about it as well when we were out on news scenes on the highway. The flashing lights are like a flame to a moth, and you can go on YouTube and find video after video of cop cars getting smashed by other drivers who run right into the traffic stop.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpeiMw0Y9KY"]Police Cruiser Gets Rear Ended By Texting Driver - YouTube[/ame]

I don't know if this Louisiana thing is just stupidity or lack of awareness or what, but I think if one of them tells me to stand in that crush zone, I'm going to politely decline. I'll stand on the passenger side of my vehicle facing traffic, but not where I'll lose my legs.

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by Akari

It really is your driving style that will either get you pulled over or let you blend in.

Wrong. When you drive a red sports car, you will never "blend in." I drive no faster in the BRZ than I do in the Jeep, yet I see a huge difference in the number of cops messing with me even when I'm just driving down the interstate on cruise control.

[headlikeahole]

Well I'm a cop, but I can only speak for myself (and maybe the guys I work with) when I say that we don't pay special attention to specific makes, models, or types of vehicle. I am just as likely to pull over a minivan as I am a sports car and I know most of my partners feel the same way.

Odds are if you feel like the police are targeting you, its probably your fault not the car.

** Also most cops don't enjoy writting tickets and will avoid it if they can, so if you get a ticket every time you get pulled over, youre probably being an ass. Just roll your windows down, turn on your dome light (if its at night), be polite and you'll probably just get a warning

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

Well I'm a cop, but I can only speak for myself (and maybe the guys I work with) when I say that we don't pay special attention to specific makes, models, or types of vehicle. I am just as likely to pull over a minivan as I am a sports car and I know most of my partners feel the same way.

Odds are if you feel like the police are targeting you, its probably your fault not the car.

I have never felt "targeted" per se but have little doubt that at least some do a bit of profiling. I frequently have cruisers maneuver through traffic until they get behind me and then very obviously start playing with their computer. After a couple of minutes they always just take off and go around me.
Now, of course I don't "know" what they are actually doing but all appearances tell me they are checking my plates. When I as the owner come up as an "old" guy with zero tickets they leave me alone. I am not convinced that it would be the same story if young with a bunch of infractions. I also could be totally out to lunch and reading things into the events that are not really there.

On a related note, I have been pulled over probably 100 times or more over the course of my 40 years of driving. Many of those times they had me dead to rights in an obvious infraction that I readily admitted too. Yet, I have never received a ticket. I strongly believe in you get back what you give so manners, respect and candidness when addressing the officers have all served me well with the police over the years!

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

.

** Also most cops don't enjoy writting tickets and will avoid it if they can, so if you get a ticket every time you get pulled over, youre probably being an ass. Just roll your windows down, turn on your dome light (if its at night), be polite and you'll probably just get a warning

Ha Ha! You must have been editing your original post as I was writing almost the exact same thing!

[FRSNewb]

Originally Posted by headlikeahole

Also most cops don't enjoy writting tickets and will avoid it if they can, so if you get a ticket every time you get pulled over, youre probably being an ass. Just roll your windows down, turn on your dome light (if its at night), be polite and you'll probably just get a warning

Not to sound like an ass, but yes be polite but know your rights as a driver..

[FRSTRM]

I've been pulled over twice in my FRS (red, obviously modded). First time was the night before Thanksgiving, I pulled off a light and apparently hit 50 in a 35, I had no idea what the speed limit was or any idea how I got to 50 that fast. No idea where he came from either. He gave me 47/35 (to save me from reckless in VA). Thanks? I think.

Second time the officer was more of a douche. He said he had been pacing me from behind and that I was going at least 85 in a 70. I was like well that's cool but I was going 79 on cruise control, and he said the funny thing about cruise control is that it doesn't matter if I'm hitting the gas. I was about to be like, I think I know how it works. Once he realized he couldn't get me for speed he noticed I didn't have a front plate. Just got a new bumper from the body shop and didn't have he relocator plate in, so after I proved I had just gotten the car from the shop he sat in his car for a good 10 minutes and reluctantly let me go.

I'm surprised I haven't gotten more attention. I usually just find pace cars and let them take the heat if there are cops. It's more about smart driving if you really don't want to follow the speed limits. Haven't been pulled over in more than a year and I haven't changed my driving style at all.

Just be safe ya'll.

[Pkush]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I strongly believe in you get back what you give so manners, respect and candidness when addressing the officers have all served me well with the police over the years!

Maybe with your nice Canadian cops. I've always been nice and courteous and professional with cops that pulled me over. Always got a ticket.
1st - 15 over, I was going 50 in 45 and the speed limit dropped to 35, he was parked right behind the sign.
2nd - (I TOTALLY DESERVED IT) - I was going about 50 on a 35, turned into a neighborhood and went 70 on a 25...don't ask why. He couldn't catch up to me to clock me at 70 so he got me at 40 on 25. I took that with no problem and was happy.
3rd - 38 on 25, same street and 2 weeks after I got the 2nd. I honestly just spaced out for a sec and went faster. This time he was going to let me off with a warning...until he saw my $40 cobra radar. That radar went into the trash 20 minutes later lol

EDIT: All three were in my parents' cars before I bought my BRZ. Never been pulled over in the BRZ.

[fang_gt86]

Got the car since June 2013 and haven't got pulled over yet. I considered myself a spirited driver and will make any excuse just to do a little speeding.

Maybe it's the color of my car (whiteout, least aggressive color imo), really slow/perfect driver or just really lucky for now. But then, I've only driven 8k miles in over 2 years.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by fang_gt86

. But then, I've only driven 8k miles in over 2 years.

I do in a month what you do in a year!

[Pkush]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I do in a month what you do in a year!

I do that in 2 months