How does it feel?

OK, public... so how do you feel when getting stopped by an officer for some traffic violation? Angry? Embarrassed? Fearful? What thoughts go through your mind? Even though this is "Ask the Public", LEOs please feel free to weigh in with any thoughts, particularly pre-LEO.

I can't speak for all officers but on the rare occasions that I have been stopped, I pretty much know or have a real good idea of where I screwed up. I start thinking of being helpful to the officer and I try to put him at ease. I stop well off the roadway if possible, open all driver side windows, and if it's dark, I turn on the dome light. I keep my hands in plain sight, and instruct my passengers, if any, to do the same. I pay very close attention in case the officer waves me to walk back to him, even though that is rare these days.

I'm going reply to your post in reverse order. Section B - great tips for keeping an encounter safe. I do much the same and hope to do better for having glimpsed your side

How do I feel? Disgusted. I know the full history of stupid shit I've done behind the wheel, as do we all about ourselves. I know, just as well as the officer writing the ticket, just as everyone reading this, that this isn't the first time, nor the last, that particular traffic law will be violated. You asked what I feel, not my views on behavior modification within a population.

It's been a long time since I've been stopped, but I remember feeling very embarrassed and annoyed (with myself) and thinking, "BC you are so stupid," but I was definitely not fearful. I knew exactly why I'd been stopped, I was speeding. I immediately rolled the windows down and kept my hands on the steering wheel. My purse was in the back seat so when the officer asked for my license, etc., I told him where it was and didn't reach back to get it until he said so. I did get a ticket, although he very kindly wrote me up for going only 5 over the speed limit. What made me feel worse, in a way, was him telling me to slow down and that he just wanted me to be safe. It's funny how well I remember that, even though it's been many years. :)

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Originally Posted by Buttercup

"Lew you are so stupid," but I was definitely not fearful.

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Same here.

I've been a cop for 11 years now. I feel the same now if I get pulled over off duty than I did before I became a cop. Annoyed, mad at myself, and worried the cop pulling me over will be a jerk.

So far, I've only had a couple that were jerks.

The last time I got pulled over, I had just gotten off duty and was cruising down an on-ramp. I knew the cop that was pulling me over because we had been together on a domestic about 2 hours earlier. I felt like a complete a$$, and pulled over before he could call it in because I didn't want my name broadcast. He didn't give me a ticket, but if he had, it was my fault.

Wut a gerk!

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Originally Posted by Buttercup

It's been a long time since I've been stopped, but I remember feeling very embarrassed and annoyed (with myself) and thinking, "BC you are so stupid," but I was definitely not fearful. I knew exactly why I'd been stopped, I was speeding. I immediately rolled the windows down and kept my hands on the steering wheel. My purse was in the back seat so when the officer asked for my license, etc., I told him where it was and didn't reach back to get it until he said so. I did get a ticket, although he very kindly wrote me up for going only 5 over the speed limit. What made me feel worse, in a way, was him telling me to slow down and that he just wanted me to be safe. It's funny how well I remember that, even though it's been many years. :)

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the "Wut a gerk" was supposed to go here....damnit!!

The only one I've ever wondered about was when I was driving through Nebraska and got stopped for 66 in a 65. The funniest part was my old K9 trying to eat him and listening to this guy flop back and screaming in the highest pitched voice I've ever heard a male use.

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Originally Posted by pgg

The only one I've ever wondered about was when I was driving through Nebraska and got stopped for 66 in a 65. The funniest part was my old K9 trying to eat him and listening to this guy flop back and screaming in the highest pitched voice I've ever heard a male use.

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That's because TJ's ancestor probably had your appetite. :D

Might have been your out of state CA plates. Some states like to keep things on the positive side. Others not so much.

I must admit the times I've been stopped, I either knew what I did wrong and admitted it, sometimes extremely embarrassed or other times I didn't have a clue. Sometimes I received a ticket, others just a warning. The last time I was stopped, I was on a bicycle hauling my recyclables to the local junk yard / recyclers. I fully cooperated and even gave the officer my federal ID while I was searching for my DL, which I gave to him upon discovery. He only asked for a picture ID and didn't specify for a DL. He was just being proactive because there is a lot of thievery and transients in my neighborhood and wanted to make sure that everything was on the up and up. I didn't mind the stop at all and it took maybe all of five minutes and I was on my way. He did follow me to the junkyard / recyclers though, which was only a few blocks or so away. I've never had a police escort before, which was a nice touch.

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Originally Posted by CTR man

That's because TJ's ancestor probably had your appetite. :D

Might have been your out of state CA plates. Some states like to keep things on the positive side. Others not so much.

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Thats exactly the reason. He later told me I was the 1st person with CA plates he stopped in 15 years that hasn't had drugs. Pretty significant.

I recall the times that I got stopped before becoming a LEO. It was always a sinking feeling in the gut and being mad at myself.

Now... the local agency that was the only one to ever give citations has been known to be a little ticket-happy, and while I deserved each and every one I got, they were borderline, and I could have fought ( and won ) them in court, but I didn't because I knew I was in the wrong. I paid them and went on my merry way.

I've only been pulled over once since I've been in law enforcement, and the feeling hasn't changed.

When I stop people, I only hand out citations for offenses which have been duly earned. To date, I have not had any court challenges, save for DUIs.

Spirit of the Law, not the Letter of the Law.

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Originally Posted by GunmetalGray

Spirit of the Law, not the Letter of the Law.

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Right on, right on. Thus begins my rant with camera enforcement.

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Originally Posted by Cidp24

OK, public... so how do you feel when getting stopped by an officer for some traffic violation? Angry? Embarrassed? Fearful? What thoughts go through your mind? Even though this is "Ask the Public", LEOs please feel free to weigh in with any thoughts, particularly pre-LEO.

I can't speak for all officers but on the rare occasions that I have been stopped, I pretty much know or have a real good idea of where I screwed up. I start thinking of being helpful to the officer and I try to put him at ease. I stop well off the roadway if possible, open all driver side windows, and if it's dark, I turn on the dome light. I keep my hands in plain sight, and instruct my passengers, if any, to do the same. I pay very close attention in case the officer waves me to walk back to him, even though that is rare these days.

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My last stop was a few years ago in WV. I was hauling steel on the WV turnpike. I was descending a mountain at about 75 mph in the left hand lane. When I saw the officer at the bottom of the hill turn on his lights I moved right, pulled over and turned off my truck. I rolled my windows down and turned on my dome light. You could smell the heat from my trucks brakes. My rapid stop made them very hot. He came up and said, "you knew I wanted you huh?" I said, "Yes sir, not a doubt in my mind" . LEO have a tough job and
If I'm wrong I can shut up and take my medicine. I may remain silent to protect myself but I will not disrespect the man doing his duty. He let me go with a warning after checking my paper work.
I want to protect his safety and mine. I don't feel guilt or anger. It's more like I messed up and he called me on it. If he wrote the ticket I'd say I messed up and pay it. I drove half a million miles with no moving violations and I did deserve that one.


Tapatalk does not require a sobriety test to post.

I can tell you pulling over and waiting for me goes a lot farther with me than making me risk my life to catch up so you can pretend you weren't doing anything wrong and ask, "What seems to be the problem officer?"

Public:
Why would you rather fight to the death than admit you weren't wearing your seat belt? I'm amazed at times how hard some people refuse to fess up to such a minor violation...

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Originally Posted by deputysykes

Public:
Why would you rather fight to the death than admit you weren't wearing your seat belt? I'm amazed at times how hard some people refuse to fess up to such a minor violation...

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Ever since my brother's accident I have fiercely enforced our seat belt law.

It's mind boggling how people will try to argue with me that they were wearing it, when they clearly weren't. There isn't any other type of violation where people have so frequently and sternly defended themselves.

It's sooooo frustrating to see people's failure to accept responsibility for their actions. I know it's an instinctual thing, but the sb is where it happens moreso than not.

I feel hopeful....hopeful I won't get a ticket :) If I do get one, I pay it without question as I usually know what I'm doing wrong, and with that comes the risk of getting a ticket.

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Originally Posted by Xiphos

I can tell you pulling over and waiting for me goes a lot farther with me than making me risk my life to catch up so you can pretend you weren't doing anything wrong and ask, "What seems to be the problem officer?"

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Last time I tried that I still got a ticket for 77/70....damn troopers! lol :P

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Originally Posted by jmur5074

Ever since my brother's accident I have fiercely enforced our seat belt law.

It's mind boggling how people will try to argue with me that they were wearing it, when they clearly weren't. There isn't any other type of violation where people have so frequently and sternly defended themselves.

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I wish our state had seatbelt as a primary offense also.