Fuck the police!

[xequar]

A couple months ago, I got a ticket for "Disregard Red Traffic Signal" in a little BS town in Michigan called Almont. Essentially, the light had just turned yellow as I was going through it. The cop pulled me over and wrote me for running a red light.

So last Friday I drove 90 minutes to Lapeer, Michigan, where I attempted to fight the ticket.

The hearing was more rigged than an election or a carnival game.

I got there, and the officer was sitting in the waiting area. He asks me, "What do you desire from this?" I was confused by the question for a moment, as I didn't realize it was the officer, and I said something like, "I'm here to fight a ticket. I don't believe I did anything wrong so I'm fighting it."

The magistrate called us up and asks the officer, and this is a direct quote, "Did you two come up with anything?" The officer answered no, so the magistrate began the hearing. The officer had his speech more rehearsed than a campaign speech, and was going on about the "big problem we've been having" with people running that light and bla bla blah. I then gave my piece about the timing of the light and safe stopping distances.

After I spoke, the officer said that he'd be willing to drop it down to a "Disregard Yellow Signal", to which the magistrate replied (direct quote), "Yeah, that's what I was thinking. The law does allow for that." He hadn't even finished speaking that sentence before he signed the judgment and handed it to me.

The moral of the story? I got ****ed. I knew that was a possibility going in, especially in small town USA where corruption is a way of life, but I was stunned when the magistrate was literally letting the officer do plea bargaining on the court's behalf. How exactly is that impartial? Pretty much as soon as the hearing started I knew I was hosed, as it was pretty apparent that the magistrate and the officer were friends, as it was that the officer spends a fair amount of time at the courthouse over bogus Disregard Red Traffic Signal tickets (there were several different items on the docket that were all the same thing with the same officer throughout the day).

And this is why I don't trust cops any further than I could throw one.

[Darkwing65]

What did you expect to accomplish by going to court? You got a lesser sentence.

Dude, grow up and deal with it. Stuff that isn't fair happens all the time. Besides, who is to say that you are not mistaken and the cop was correct in ticketing you?

Both of my uncles are cops by the way. Sure some cops aren't the best, and sure some make mistakes. That being said, you really should be a little more grateful that most cops are good, and do what they do to protect people who are often ungrateful.

[xequar]

Originally Posted by Darkwing65

What did you expect to accomplish by going to court? You got a lesser sentence.

Ah, but you're making the presumption that because I got a ticket that I obviously did something wrong. This is incorrect. Michigan law specifically states that one should stop for a yellow light, but if it is unsafe to do so that they may proceed through. In plain language, if you have to lock up the brakes to stop, don't gun it but go through the yellow. The whole point of a yellow light is to act as a warning for the red.

Yes, I got a lesser sentence compared to what I was originally written for. The cop also wrote me for an offense that I didn't commit and the magistrate's sentence is also of dubious legality. The hearing was certainly improper, if nothing else.

And yes, unfair things happen in life. Does that mean I have to like it? NO! Also, cop =/= automatically good. There are good cops out there, but there are a lot of crooked and corrupt ones, and there are a lot of them that are jerks who are drunk on their own power. When cops write tickets solely to make revenue and meet quotas (which are allowed in Michigan for purposes of officer evaluations-i.e. they're not legal but most officers have to write a certain number of tickets in order to get a satisfactory evaluation to keep their jobs), they are not doing a public service and they do not gain my respect.

[fragomatrick]

I agree with you,.
I have been given a ticket so many times for no reasons at all.
you cannot fight them, or you know, you simply go to jail!

i got a ticket a little while ago for speeding. it was 7 am on a weekend and the guy said i had been going 84 for about a quarter of a mile, although when he pulled me over i was going 70. i'll admit, 84 is a little fast but nothing abnormal in san diego, and it being 7 am, i wasn't even passing anyone. and think about it, 1/4 of a mile at 84 means that i was speeding for about 10 seconds.

and how much is that ticket worth? around $273, plus traffic school which will probably be another $100 at least. i'm really glad they're focusing their energies on us hardened criminals.

[Precept]

Originally Posted by paco

i got a ticket a little while ago for speeding. it was 7 am on a weekend and the guy said i had been going 84 for about a quarter of a mile, although when he pulled me over i was going 70. i'll admit, 84 is a little fast but nothing abnormal in san diego, and it being 7 am, i wasn't even passing anyone. and think about it, 1/4 of a mile at 84 means that i was speeding for about 10 seconds.

and how much is that ticket worth? around $273, plus traffic school which will probably be another $100 at least. i'm really glad they're focusing their energies on us hardened criminals.

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

[Leon481]

Good point there Precept. Speeding is dangerous, even if there is no one else on the road. You can still lose control of the car, even without another driver's interference.

[Echidna1]

Thinking of traffic crimes, as "petty crimes" doesn't mean they are not crimes. Sure, stealing an apple from a store is not as bad as robbing the store but it is still a crime. If the cops let you gt away with speeding they might as well let you do whatever you want.

[RaRa]

Originally Posted by Precept

*insert videos here*

Oh god not these again. 84 isn't even fast on a fucking highway, I'll have you know.

To the OP, yes, we all have our run-in with shitty cops, but I actually know quite a few cool ones. And I'm sure when your house is being robbed you're not going to call your personal hair stylist but a cop. They actually do a lot more for us than people think, so taking the thread title from a rap song and bagging on them is kinda unnecessary.

[Just Adam]

I don't trust cops, in the uk I'm sorry to say it's very bad, they self judge regulate and punish. If they murder innocent people they get away with it. Police do whatever they want.

On our motorways the speed limit is 70mph... Your a genius if you can manage that left lane you've oaps and trailers doing 40-60 mph lorries everywhere doing varied speeds and cars doing 75+mph if you do 70 you get cars up your ass lights flashing to get out of their way.

I try to obey the law but running yellow lights is a daily thing to be pulled on it is a serious waste of effort. I see cops daily doing something technically illegal but would be ridiculous to pull them on

[Z3ni]

The cops here aren't strict enough I seen how scared they are.. I mean howd they get in the force... I was at the train station, there were people smoking, drinking, and was loud. All they did was just stand there, or just warn them once.. but then they carry on.

And I didn't notice but I was sitting on the stairs and there was a sign saying you can't sit on the stairs, and I didn't realise, and they still didn't do anything. All the guy did was look at me.

Originally Posted by RaRa

Oh god not these again. 84 isn't even fast on a fucking highway, I'll have you know.

To the OP, yes, we all have our run-in with shitty cops, but I actually know quite a few cool ones. And I'm sure when your house is being robbed you're not going to call your personal hair stylist but a cop. They actually do a lot more for us than people think, so taking the thread title from a rap song and bagging on them is kinda unnecessary.

84 is NORMAL in san diego. i think i said that. i get passed all the time at that speed.

anyway, whats REALLY dangerous but less obvious is people driving too slowly. as i said, i wasn't PASSING anyone i didn't change lanes in front of anyone and i didnt cut anyone off and i slowed down of my own volition very quickly. people that are being passed left and right are making everyone else slam on their breaks when they notice this person is going 15 mph slower than everyone else. people that don't match traffic while changing lanes cause people in the lane to suddenly hit their breaks, which means they could get rear ended as well. people that dont increase their speed to match the speed of traffic on the freeway slow down the entire road. but what makes it really dangerous is that people driving like that dont realize that it's dangerous, so it becomes even more dangerous. people speeding generally know they're being reckless, so they know that they have to pay a little more attention, if they aren't paying attention, then yes, they're being stupid and something bad may happen. but at least they're usually aware of their surroundings, it's also a case by case basis, while slow drivers are not because they are assuming the world will match them. and even though all these accidents would be caused by someone driving too slow, the law is basically, if you hit someone from behind, you're at fault, and whether or not the fault is deserved, it is very difficult to fight.

you also cannot compare european driving to american driving. our roads and our cars and our laws are different. driving 84 on a 6 lane freeway is kinda like driving 30 in a posted 25 residential area.

You're not allowed to drive through a yellow light? :/

[Lexington]

I found that treating the cops like people who have a crappy job and have to deal with crappy people all the time is a good way to get the sentence reduced and the ordeal over with quicker.

But it means treating cops like people. And some sacrifices are too great for some people.

Lex

[QUOTE=paco;763805]

Originally Posted by RaRa

people speeding generally know they're being reckless, so they know that they have to pay a little more attention, if they aren't paying attention, then yes, they're being stupid and something bad may happen. but at least they're usually aware of their surroundings, it's also a case by case basis, while slow drivers are not because they are assuming the world will match them. and even though all these accidents would be caused by someone driving too slow, the law is basically, if you hit someone from behind, you're at fault, and whether or not the fault is deserved, it is very difficult to fight.

I don't get how this helps your case at all. To me, this seems to support the fact that people who speed are arrogant assholes who think that the law doesn't apply to them and that they have been granted a privilege to endanger those around them. Why would someone knowingly be reckless in a situation that causes their actions to endanger themselves and others? Beats the hell out of me, unless they just have little regard for the safety of others. I understand that sometimes it is necessary to speed to drive safely in a group of cars who are driving like maniacs. That being said, your argument is essentially the same as drunk drivers: "Well, I know I am drunk, so I will be extra careful." No, in this case, you are just being an inconsiderate jerk.

[ok455]

The cops in my town are corrupt too they sit and look for cars to pull over especially at the end of the month or Holidays. Because of double time and Quota i got pulled over twice one cop follow me home. And pull me over in front of my house saying i was speeding and out running him. And the second one tried to accuse me of running a red light and it was yellow. The sad thing the cop can say anything they want and you still have to pay for the ticket and even if you go to court your still going to pay some kind of fine. Its a shame how the state make there money. Becareful with small towns too they are hard up for money and that's how they make their money is from tickets.My advice is to get your self a good radar detector and just take your time driving.


But yes i don't trust cops i lost respect for them after hearing stories and dealing with them. I remember people bitching about cops lay off oh the it wont be safe. Its still not safe with cops here they are too busy writing tickets.

---------- Post added 24th Oct 2010 at 11:03 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Steven

You're not allowed to drive through a yellow light? :/

If your near the light and it turns yellow its safe to go through it but if your far away from the light and you speed up to run it i believe that's illegal.

[Precept]

Originally Posted by ok455

The cops in my town are corrupt too they sit and look for cars to pull over

So because they look for people breaking the law, they are corrupt? That makes zero sense. It's their job. Would you prefer the officers to sit in the office all day and play video games until someone calls for their help?

You sir, are an idiot.

[GhostDog]

Originally Posted by Lexington

I found that treating the cops like people who have a crappy job and have to deal with crappy people all the time is a good way to get the sentence reduced and the ordeal over with quicker.

But it means treating cops like people. And some sacrifices are too great for some people.

Lex

Arr.

There are cops like the guy who gave my friend a ticket for expired registration, despite her having gotten out of the hospital that day and having her discharge paperwork with her in the next seat. She'd been in the hospital for six months, which is when her registration lapsed. Her boyfriend had tried to renew the registration, but they wouldn't let him because he wasn't the owner of the car. So she got slapped with a $200 fine.

And there are cops like the guy who escorted me and my janky car off the highway after some jackass ran me off the road into a concrete ditch. He drove ahead of me and showed me the way to the next town. He was a sweetie.

Cops are people. Some people are unreasonable jerks. Some people are nice. If you treat people like unreasonable jerks, though, you run into a lot more unreasonable jerks. Most people just don't have the power to give you an expensive ticket.

[ok455]

Originally Posted by Precept

So because they look for people breaking the law, they are corrupt? That makes zero sense. It's their job. Would you prefer the officers to sit in the office all day and play video games until someone calls for their help?

You sir, are an idiot.

No stupid, i would rather have a cop Drive through bad neighborhoods and seeing if everyone is safe. That's doing their job is not parked at a laundromat looking for cars to pull over. Your not fighting crime pulling over a car that's going 5 over the speed limit just to make quota.


Car and house robbery's are the latest thing here if Mr Copper was out Patrolling the streets every few hours some of it would been stopped.