So I was pulled over last night...

[WA4DQS]

Encounters like this make steam come out of my ears, and I've had quite a few ugly encounters like this over the years. I've learned a few lessons.

1. Their job is to be rightfully suspicious of everybody. EVERYBODY. However, if you are active or ex military, or active or ex law enforcement, or fire fighter, or a cute girl or woman, they usually, and very unfairly, will waive this rule and be nice to you. Unless "they" are a lady cop, at which point there is no escape. Women cops have fewer flaws than men cops, in my opinion.

2. None of them want to lose face. If they pull you over and chum up and act like normal, nice, tolerable human beings to the rest of us, they will forever wonder if the super nice, law-abiding citizen they just chatted with and let off on a warning... was on his way to rob a bank. Doh! Should have sneered down his nose at you! At least that way his ego was not totally devastated later.

3. Choose your battles carefully; almost no arguments will give you a positive result. Remember, cops are by professional definition on a career-long powertrip, and the profession does attract the power-tripping types to begin with. That's a fact. But a few arguments are worth having. But you won't get the last word either way. I once went toe-to-toe with a very stupid rookie over a traffic situation he blatantly misinterpreted. I showed him my still photo camera, told him repeatedly that after he wrote me a BS ticket I was going to photograph the intersection in question, prove my point photographically, and see him in court, and win. I was dead-on right, and he knew it. Did he apologize and say "Whoops, you're right, I'll pay better attention next time." Heck no. No cop on the planet will do that unless a.) he is one day away from retirement and feeling very guilty about the last 25 years of abuse he's been needlessly doling out on us citizens who pay his salary; b.) obviously a poor recruit about to be fired for being too normal and nice to the people who pay his salary; c.) on drugs.

This guy changed his tune, wrote me a warning, and insisted on having the last word, and kept threatening a ticket if I spoke very truthfully in my defense again. Pure ego BS.

I've since come to a conclusion about these kinds of cops; they are like whores. They are very handy when you need them, and not deserving of your respect the other 99% of the time.

[BorregoWrangler]

Well it happened again!

This time by an agent of Homeland Stupidity. Apparently, if you're driving a vehicle that's been registered in another county, that makes you very suspicious and gives them a reason to interrogate you on the side of the road.

Agent: (Without identifying himself.) Of what country are you a citizen?

Me: What? Why did you pull me over?

Agent: What is your citizenship?

Me: Why did you stop me?

Agent: Because I need to know your citizenship. You're driving a vehicle along a known smuggling route that's registered in San Bernardino County. You see it doesn't add up.

Me: Really? I'll tell you what doesn't add up- you pulling me over and interrogating me for no justifiable reason.

Agent: I do have a good reason, I need to know your citizenship. Are you an American citizen?

Me: You know, I don't know. I thought I was. But I had no idea that I would have to stop at border patrol checkpoints or be pulled over and have to explain who I am or what I'm doing. I have a big problem with this.

Agent: Okay, have a good night.

Me: You too.

So that's it. I just felt like ranting. This was along Interstate 8 by Pine Valley at 11:45PM. It was also the one time I forgot to bring my camera along. Oh well. Fun stuff.

[Cammo]

Sorry for digging up old posts, but I like your attitude John. When it comes down to it, it really is US against THEM, no matter how innocent you are. To some extent I understand that as they never know who or what is going to be behind the window and they are naturally on edge. But overall I think their attitudes suck. I consider traffic cops to be merely revenue whores for crooked judges & politicians, but then, I'm known for having a problem with authority...And I hate border check points too. I always point out that they are only there for drug enforcement and could care less about the illegal alien invasion, because if they did, they would close the border which can be easilly done and doing interior enforcement at home depot. I also ask them what the heck that mutt is doing under my truck...Yeah, I've had to go to secondary once...

[unwiredadventures]

Sorry for digging up old posts, but I like your attitude John. When it comes down to it, it really is US against THEM, .

"Them" are not the Officers on the street or the Border Patrol agents (and other 3 letter agencies) that allow our borders to be porous. The whole concept of Public Servants" has been lost and now they are the "Authorities". The "Them" are those that are many levels of management above that make these decisions (with too much separation from those that we elect).

IMHO, As citizens of this country, we should enlighten our elected "representatives" with our concerns. We all should be calling, and emailing demanding that change take place. If we don't do this then we only have ourselves to blame.

When was the last time you emailed, called or wrote to your State, County, or City elected representative?

[BorregoWrangler]

Its kinda funny that this thread came up again as I had to pass through another checkpoint on the way home from the river again. For the record, I do not like checkpoints. Border Patrol or DUI. I consider them a slap in the face to our rights and freedoms. There are two along I-8 from Yuma to San Diego. The first one just waved us through. The next one, near Buckman Springs Road had us stopped for a bit longer.

The agent asked if we were american citizens. My parents answered yes while I was silent. The agent turned his attention to me and asked again. I remained silent. He got louder saying, "Hey I asked you a question!" I just shook my head and said, "You do realize that people here have no legal obligation to speak to you, right? Are we free to go?" I was told to sit tight for a moment while he went back to the boat, looked inside then came back to wave us on.

Some might say that I'm the one being rude or trying to escalate the situation while these agents are just doing their jobs. No. They are the ones intruding into my lawful business. I would like to be able to travel about my country without having to be stopped to be interrogated, intimidated, or threatened by some power-tripping stranger on the side of the road. Do some research and you can find many cases of everyday, normal folks who have been threatened and even assaulted by the US Border Patrol for no good reason.

[cruiserlarry]

When it comes down to it, it really is US against THEM, .

Really ?

I think it is this type of attitude that causes the friction in the first place. Elected officials are not the reason we have a few bad officers. And many good officers have to be on guard because of the actions of a few and the reactions of many. IMO, we need better training, and better screening for law enforcement officers of every level. We should not have any reason to fear them, and they should not have to be concerned about every citizen being a potential threat. Paranoia on either side of this issue just leads to an increase of unfortunate events.

IMHO, As citizens of this country, we should enlighten our elected "representatives" with our concerns. We all should be calling, and emailing demanding that change take place. If we don't do this then we only have ourselves to blame.

This is a fundamental principle of our government. That many folks will blame "the government" or any agency, when they have the ability to institute changes at every level IF they are willing to put in the effort, is a sad side effect of a generally affluent, disconnected society. We have become used to everything being OK, without any need to contribute on an individual level. It is easy to complain, but much harder to affect change. Many don't vote. Few write / e-mail their representatives. And even fewer actually learn about the propositions and people they end up voting for when they vote. Whatever your political views, you owe it to yourself, your family, and your community to become more involved.

Complaining and blaming by themselves are wasted energy, IMO (Parents tell that to fussing kids all the time - maybe more should practice what they preach ). If we take our right to participate in our government seriously, we'll end up with a better, more responsive government.

[Chazz Layne]

The one time I've been stopped was on the 78 headed up towards Blythe from points south. I was only asked one question: "Do you have any drugs, firearms, or large sums of cash with you?" I simply smiled and replied: "None that aren't mine."



In all seriousness though, I did find it odd he was asking such a broad, general question about things that are perfectly legal. I knew he meant illegal drugs, firearms and cash, but that still should have been specified.