TCS Members with Badges... I have Questions...

[theduckylittle]

A few weeks ago I was pulled over in my overly-impressive daily driver: The Dooptie. It really isn't a great looking car, but it runs and I drive it. At the time it wasn't loud, it certianly not fast (2.3/AT), and it had no tint, it's just a shitty looking car. Mind you I live in a relatively "lower income" neighborhood (for the area).

I was minding my own damn business, and noticed there was a police officer behind me on the Road. Being respectful, I did my usual doubling of efforts to remember to not speed and use my turn signal the full 100ft. In other words, I was not being a dumbass-punk kid.

The officer follow me into my neighborhood, and right in front of my neighbors pulls the lights on and pulls me over to the side of the road. He approaches the vehicle and I roll down my window, keeping my hands visible at all times.

I'm going to cut this story short, but I was pretty respectful and asked him a lot of questions... the reason he pulled me over: "You plates are registered as 2002 and you have 2004 tabs on it." My explanation, with registration information: "I just got the car registered two weeks ago." He even admitted (when pressed), "No you weren't doing anything wrong, you were in front of me and so I ran your plates." Frustrated, a little irked (since I'm not 17 anymore), and a little embarassed (a few of my neighbors came outside to see what was happening), I moved on with life without getting the officers name or badge-# (my mistake).

In the past two weeks, I have seen him pull over quite a few people on 160th Ave. and in my own neighborhood. Normally, I wouldn't care and I'd actually be pretty appreciative that my neighborhood was getting watched so well (nothing like tax dollars at work!). However, I have actually SEEN him pulling these people over. I'm just chilling in my driveway or in my garage, see people go by, and he pulls them over (twice now he's done it practically in front of my house). They're not speeding unreasonably (as far as I can tell -- which I'd like to think is pretty good), and I haven't seen him issue too many tickets to people.

My questions are thus:
1) Can he pull people over for the reason he gave? (IE, "I was behind you and decided to run your plates)
2) If I really think that he might be enforcing "his own law" in my neighborhood is there a good way to document this and who above the officer should I talk to?

I'm used to getting harassed by the police (Girlfriends in Edina and Bloomington can do that when you're not driving and Edina/Bloomington kind of car -- DWP: Driving while Poor), but I think this guy might be a little unreasonable.

-Duck

[FiveO]

If its a public street they can do just about anything they want as far as running traffic.

A neighbor may have called in a complaint awhile back about speeders, etc...in the area and they're paying closer attention to the area.


If an officer runs the plate....and it comes back as 2002 registration....seems to be perfect PC to stop. I'd complain though....something that not alot of people know is the the DMV is currently 3+ months behind in registering vehicles (this means that once you leave the DMV, its 3+ months before things are updated in the state computer).

[theduckylittle]

If its a public street they can do just about anything they want as far as running traffic.

A neighbor may have called in a complaint awhile back about speeders, etc...in the area and they're paying closer attention to the area.


If an officer runs the plate....and it comes back as 2002 registration....seems to be perfect PC to stop. I'd complain though....something that not alot of people know is the the DMV is currently 3+ months behind in registering vehicles (this means that once you leave the DMV, its 3+ months before things are updated in the state computer).

I figured the DMV was at fault, and once he called "someone" he was able to verify that the state-document in my hand was, in fact, valid, and that the title was being "processed." The reasons he gave for running the plate with no previous violation seemed a little wishy-washy ...

One of my neighbors probably did call in, in the Morning there's heavy speeding. Well, shit, you've been on "Fairgreen" it's a connection to the main road. In the morning, those late for work tend to go 40-45 right there. I don't because there's LITTLE KIDS waiting for the FRIGGUN BUS!

Personally, all I see him pull over is high-school kids with shitty-looking cars. There's a lot of them in a neighborhood that's next to a high-school. I feel bad because I was in there shoes and police officers, literally, tried to harass me out of neighborhoods. "Not workin' buddy, there's a pretty girl at the end of that street."

-Duck

PS: Mark, I'm taking some Crim. Justice classes next semester apparently I need to get some more edumacation in it before they'll accept me to the MIAC -- CS degree isn't enough ... ah, well, one step closer

[SFC]

Minnesota Inter-collegiate Athletic Council?

[theduckylittle]

Minnesota Inter-collegiate Athletic Council?

Minnesota Internet Crimes Against children. I want to bust crime on the Int0rw3b.

-Duck

[lilstang5O]

Duck- what can't the cops pull us over for? I honestly believe the cop pulled ya over for the hell of it yes for the hell of it, and was hoping ya smelt like dope or alcohol both of whitch I know thiers a bunch of stoners that live in that area! Not saying your one of them. I just got friends that live over their and thats all they do. SO the cop let ya go and just gave ya some b.s. excuse whitch if that was me I'd be like thanky you officer have a great evening! Go to the DMV and tell them what ya told us.
later man!

[theduckylittle]

Duck- what can't the cops pull us over for? I honestly believe the cop pulled ya over for the hell of it yes for the hell of it, and was hoping ya smelt like dope or alcohol both of whitch I know thiers a bunch of stoners that live in that area! Not saying your one of them. I just got friends that live over their and thats all they do. SO the cop let ya go and just gave ya some b.s. excuse whitch if that was me I'd be like thanky you officer have a great evening! Go to the DMV and tell them what ya told us.
later man!

I do appreciate the suggestion, and I entirely understand the composition of my neighborhood. Stupid fuggin' idiots.

To be perfectly honest, I wasn't thinking much could be done but wanted input. To run to the DMV while they're still open means missing more work and all that will happen is me bitching to some poor under-paid DMV worker who really doesn't have time for or need to hear my complaints. This will probably pass when all the soccer mom's stop bitching, but it is pretty obnoxious in the mean time. At least he isn't sounding the siren in the neighborhood. That would be obnoxious. Especially since that would be coming across my "curtiledge."

-Duck