imperialism2024's Lehigh Valley OC log, 2009

[mjf]

Originally Posted by imperialism2024

One of Catasauqua's finest decided to pull me over by claiming that I was going 55 (exactly) in a 35 on Race Street. I have no problem admitting to speeding when I do it, but I wasn't doing it here, as I would never do more than 45mph on that road, and usually go about 40mph... so I suspect there was an element of a fishing trip going on there. Anyhow, the officer came up to the left side of my car, and I didn't even think to notify, especially since my gun wasn't very visible on my right hip while sitting in a bucket seat... I also forgot that there was a pistol case on the passenger seat with a big orange sticker on it that said "All Firearms Sales Are Final". But... the cop either didn't notice or didn't care, and after seeing that I had a valid license and registration and didn't smell like alcohol or other substances, he let me go without so much as a verbal warning.

That's pretty fishy... You were "speeding" by over 20 mph and he didn't even warn you? That doesn't make sense.

[shooter357]

Originally Posted by mjf

That's pretty fishy... You were "speeding" by over 20 mph and he didn't even warn you? That doesn't make sense.

That's what I'm thinking.


What was the encounter like? If you were supposedly doing 20mph over a posted speed limit he should have at least given you a warning, otherwise it was pointless to even bother to inconvenience you.

[imperialism2024]

Originally Posted by mjf

That's pretty fishy... You were "speeding" by over 20 mph and he didn't even warn you? That doesn't make sense.

Originally Posted by shooter357

That's what I'm thinking.


What was the encounter like? If you were supposedly doing 20mph over a posted speed limit he should have at least given you a warning, otherwise it was pointless to even bother to inconvenience you.

I was a bit curious about it as well. I'll give some more detail (though I hope I don't send the thread too off-topic):

I drove up Race Street about a half mile after the intersection where the officer said he saw me speeding, and then made a left onto 14th Street. About a tenth of a mile after I made that turn, I saw flashing lights behind me and pulled over. I was contemplating if perhaps I made the left turn too abruptly, or maybe the traffic light turned yellow, or something like that. It only took about 15-20 seconds between when I came to a stop and when the officer was standing next to my car, so I doubt he had time to run my plates or anything (I've been pulled over often enough to know the standard amount of time it takes for the officer to come up to my car after I've stopped...) I didn't even have time to put my car into park or turn it off.

In the ensuing conversation, he first asked for my driver's license (not registration or anything else). I already had my registration in hand, so I gave it to him and told him where my wallet was located, and that I was going to reach into my back pocket to get it. At some point in that exchange, I asked why he pulled me over. He said simply, "Speeding", and when I asked how fast (thinking it was maybe 6 or 7mph over), he said I went past him going pretty past, and after he followed me, he clocked me at 55 (even though he hadn't gotten within 25 carlengths of me or so until I pulled over). Naturally, I acted incredulous, and apologized for going that fast (in a manner in which I didn't admit to the offense), and then proceeded to tell him how I never drive that fast around town, and if I had known I had been driving that fast, I wouldn't have done it. He said that he appreciated that I wasn't trying to bullshit him, and he gave me back my license and registration and told me have a good evening. I thanked him, and drove home.

I've been pulled over... six times so far since I started driving (whoops), and I had gotten away with warnings two of those times. Every time, at least a minute or so has lapsed between when I came to a stop, and when the officer came up to my car. And every time, the officer ran my driver's license, and came back to my car. And I've never been clocked at a speed more than 2 or 3mph different from the speed I thought I was going. And each time I've gotten a warning, the officer stated that he was giving me a verbal warning, and to slow down. In this stop, none of that wording was used.

So, in the end, I'm probably as puzzled as most of you are. On one hand, I'm glad I just got a warning, but on the other hand, I don't really feel I "got away with" anything because I honestly don't believe I did anything wrong. I may and do speed on the highway (all my other stops have been in 55mph or 65mph zones), but I avoid speeding more than 5-10mph over the limit in residential areas at all costs, especially in the towns where I live and work, and at night I stick closer to the limit itself due the decreased visibility.

I've been going over the scenario in my head, and can't come up with how I could have been going that fast. However, I have thought of a few things that might have interested him in pulling me over:
1) The intersection he was at when he said he observed my driving very fast, is immediately after a railroad crossing. Still a 35mph zone, but due to the bump in the road, most people slow down to 15-20mph to go over it. I've found that with my car's stiff suspension, it's smoother to go over it at 35-40mph. So it may have looked like I was going double the speed that cars usually drive past that point, even though I was still driving a legal and prudent speed. Especially since I drive a faster-looking car.
2) At those railroad tracks, I (like a few other drivers I've seen before) swerve to the right to go over a smoother section of track. While I was driving straight before and after this, perhaps he thought I was intoxicated.
3) Before I taught my father how to deal with police officers, he had a traffic stop that resulted in his getting a ticket for a frivolous offense, and he made it a point to, ahem, voice his displeasure to at least one town cop afterward. Perhaps this was the same cop, and perhaps he recognized my car as always being parked in the driveway of my father's house.
4) For any or all of the above reasons, the officer might have become interested enough to follow me and see if I did anything wrong, and perhaps he experienced some human error in using the VASCAR system while driving.

That's about all I can think may have happened.

[shooter357]

My thought: You were reported as " man with a gun" and you plate and/or vehicle decription was given. Your car was recognized and he got your info for the "record".

[wa3ra]

That's the nicest thing about the full-blown computer system in the car..."you were speeding!"

"I'm sorry if I was, but let's play it back and see."

"Do what?"

"Well, this is my work car, sir. Every parameter is logged, and the front and rear cameras are great. I can play back everything the car did for a whole trip!"

I then spent the next twenty minutes showing him how the system worked, and left with a thank you, he never did run my car or DL. Oh, I was 31 in a 25, which by the code isn't enough to write for...

[imperialism2024]

Originally Posted by shooter357

My thought: You were reported as " man with a gun" and you plate and/or vehicle decription was given. Your car was recognized and he got your info for the "record".

Hmpf, I hadn't really thought of that.

I guess I'll see what happens in the next few weeks...

[thatJeffguy]

Just my thoughts ;-)

[Bigrepp61]

ok so as for the catty cops... nothing against some of them but theres a few that seem to have a stick stuck up their arses.... i lived on front st abput a bloc from pies on pizzeria and every time we needed them they basicly turned the situation around onto me... i was actually threatened by 2 arabic guys because they parked my car in while visiting the syrian club... called the popo and was told that i was going to be arrested for because i cursedd under my breath... then i asked him what i would be arrested for and he didnt know... he went huffing and puffing back to his partner who finally came up with disorderly conduct... andthen the time when apparently i blew a stop sign when i sat at it for like 15 seconds argueing with my fiancee about something.... got pulled over and the next thng i know is im surrounded by 3 catty cars..... now when they are on duty they only have a couple cars to begin with so to have um all on me is not good for the rest of town.... anyway like i said some of them are good guys... and the rest are not.... ohhh beware for the tall thin guy with a bushy mustache and avaitor style glasses.... anyway back to the main topic...

[98Fatboy]

I'm a new member and have been reading with great interest....and learning alot.

I'd like to share an experience I had last Saturday with a local LEO.

It was a beautiful day and I headed to the shooting range on the bike.
I had the .44mag holstered on my belt when I stopped enroute for some
sunflower seeds (5 weeks without cigarettes and the seeds really help!).
I walk into an Exxon, buy the seeds and walk out without event.
I'm climbing back on the bike when I hear a voice say, "Do you think that's wise?" I turned to see a uniformed LEO standing there apparently waiting for an answer.
"Excuse me?" I said.
He repeated himself, "Do you think that's wise?"
I said, "What's that ?"
"Look", he says, "I know it's your right to carry and I understand.....I just wonder if you think it's the wisest thing to do."

This guy (older, white-haired), seemed to be genuinely concerned and really
seemed like a nice guy. Plus, he made it clear he wasn't looking to cause me any trouble. He kinda had me speechless. All I could think to say was, "Thank you for your concern." and continued on my way.

I've been replaying this over and over and think that this guy, nice as he seemed, just really wants to get through his days as easily as possible. And when he gets "man with a gun" reports, that's crap he doesn't need or want and he's trying to avoid the hassles.

Yes, I still OC.

I was curious as to what you guys thought.......

[General Geoff]

I've been replaying this over and over and think that this guy, nice as he seemed, just really wants to get through his days as easily as possible. And when he gets "man with a gun" reports, that's crap he doesn't need or want and he's trying to avoid the hassles.

Cops are paid to deal with hassle. If there were no hassles, we wouldn't need the police. I've had police tell me that they don't want to have to respond to any more "man with a gun" calls. Well IT'S THEIR JOB. If they want to cut down on false alarms, instruct the dispatchers to ask a few simple questions such as "Is the gun holstered?" and "Is the person acting in any peculiar or threatening manner?"