Why is it ok for a police officer to treat me like crap for not having insurance, but let a drunk go?
94462
If the cop treated you like crap, he was wrong.  Period.  It happens, but it's still wrong.\n\nSince you have no way to know if your friend was over the legal limit or not (i.e., breaking the law or not), you really are in no position to pass judgement on what the cop did.  You are talking as if you know *for a fact* that your friend was over the limit, and that the only reason he was let go was because the cop knew the guy's dad.  That makes two assumptions that you really can't make.  \n\nBut what you want to know is who to ask questions of.  What questions?  \n\nIf you want to know why he treated you like crap, you can ask me.  Because he's human.  Because if he really did treat you like crap, he was wrong.  Because he might have been having a really crappy day, just like anyone else.  Because of a dozen other reasons, none of which would have justified him taking it out on you, if that's what he did.\n\nIf you want to know why he let your friend go for being under the influence, you have to ask him.  I would like to think it was because your friend wasn't breaking the law (you being "pretty sure" he was over the limit is hardly enough evidence to condemn the cop over).  Might be your friend wasn't drunk enough to be in violation, and the cop figured he'd drop a word to your friend's dad about it and let it go at that.  I've not written tickets to kids before because I knew their parents and knew the kid would pay a much higher price with their parents than with me :)\n\nBut who to ask?  Probably nobody.  I don't think you'd want to talk to the cop, based on the way he treated you (and frankly, if he let your friend go due to the cop's relationship with your friend's dad, he's probably not going to admit that to you anyway).  You could make a formal complaint with his agency, but again...you have no way of knowing your friend was over the limit and if in the cop's professional opinion he was not, end of story.\n\nBottom line: move on.  You might not have been treated fairly or politely, but if there was any wrongdoing you're never going to get anyone to admit it or be able to prove it.  I'm sorry you were left with the experience you were.\n\nEDIT 2/11/06:\n\nIf you really want to talk to someone about it, you can try to talk with the Chief of Police.  If you're just going to walk in there and explain yourself the way you did here, I wouldn't count on too much feedback.  No matter what anyone in your friend's car tells you, it proves nothing as far as anyone's level of intoxication.  There's a legal limit to be guilty of DUI and it might be the cop didn't think your friend was there....maybe had been drinking (which seems obvious enough from your posts), but not necessarily over the limit.  Nobody...not your friend, not the passengers in the vehicle, not you, not me, and without a chemical test not even the cop who made the stop knows for sure if your friend was over the limit.  If the cop thought he was close but not over, it might have been perfectly appropriate to let him go with the comment about knowing his dad. I don't know what state you're in, so I don't know what the laws are there but here in California, the legal limit is .08% for adults.  That means it's legal to drive at an .07%...and there's nothing I can do about an adult driving at .07% because it's not illegal.\n\nThis is getting a little involved and there isn't enough information in your post to be able to comment much more on what might have happened versus what you think happened.  If you want to talk to anyone, you can talk to the Chief or maybe someone at City Hall or whatever the equivalent is in your city or town.  I think you're missing the point here, but I wish you luck if you choose to try and talk to someone about it.
144097
i'm with you.\ni don't care too much for cops.\nhad bad experience with these clowns who think just because they got a gun and a badge they are above the law.\ni'm a law and order citizen but still have a disdain for cops.\ni go out of my way to avoid them; even if they need help.
614085
If you're asking for yourself, I'd say that's pathetic, you want to sue a bar because you got arrested for public intoxication? What did they do? Hold you down and pour tequila down your throat and make you turn into a jerk?\n\nI'd love to to sit on that jury...someday I hope you're able to practice some personal responsibility.
909633
It's against the law to hold anything in your hands while driving - mobile phones, food, drink, etc. \nI think there are about three explainations for why nothing was done with the lady. 1. Police are human too - they made a mistake, didn't notice, didn't care enough, gave her a break. 2. The police were doing a specific job and punishing her for breaking this law would involve taking a large amount of time and paperwork that would take them away from what they were doing originally. 3. They did give her at least a verbal warning which you didn't notice.
234117
It was raining one evening and my wife and I went to the drug-store. I pulled up front, into a handicap parking space to let my wife out. I was then gonna back up into the space directly behind me until she came out. When I looked in my mirror a cop was blocking me in. He walked up and sid, "you're not supposed to park here...I said,"I wasn't parked, I just let my wife out because of the rain. I showed him that it was in reverse, and it was still running. He said, he had been there for 20 minutes and so had I. I said that it was impossible because I had just gotten off work ten minutes before..I still had a computer chit to verify that. I tried to show it to him, and he slapped my hand and told me to shut-up. he said that no matter what I said I was going to get a ticket... so when I got my license, insurance and registration out I also handed him a pen and said hurry up because we are both keeping a handicapped person from parking here now. His face got really red and I could tell he wanted to say something. Then my wife came out of the store in her sheriff's office uniform (she is a 911 operator). After seeing this he said why didn't you tell me you were the police.I said, If you've been here 20 minutes then you would have seen here get out, so who's really being dishonest here. He handed me my paperwork (no ticket) and walked back to his car without saying another word.
1053874
Yes, and they are trying to keep you out of trouble.  Listen to the police.  If they wanted to charge you they would have let  you do it and then charged you.  They are giving you a heads up to help you stay out of trouble.  Mighty nice of them if you ask me.
939092
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the question, but if he gave your boyfriend a warning ticket, it was just that, a warning. Police officers give people warnings all the time and they do not go on your record. It's just a way for the officer to be able to tell his superiors that he wasn't backed up in a hole all night long doing nothing. The ticket goes on file just to show that you have been warned about the offense(s) and nothing more. I know this because I'm a LEO and so is my husband. There is nothing for you to do unless you truly feel that the officer mistreated you (your boyfriend) in some way. In that case, call the department and file a formal complaint. The officer's badge number should be on the warning ticket.
839901
Sounds pretty serious and yes, he will be charged w/DUI the other people could sue his insurance and should as they may not be able to work for some time. \nDrinking and driving is so wrong when you can call someone or a cab to take you home. \nSorry to hear your friends are hurt since this is all preventable.
695257
It could very well be that the officer knew the guy. Contact your neighbors and any other witnesses to the man's demeanor (possible intoxication). Then contact the police station and see if you couls speak to this officers superior. Dont make a big thing about the cop not being concerned with your safety. Mention it, but its not what may get him in trouble. It will be the fact that he apprently left out some crucial details in a police report.
961054
Hypothetically, he may run your plates and harass you, pull you over, do vehicle checks, breath tests or even have a chat to you on your doorstep about the incident.  But more than likely he will do nothing because of a few reasons.\nA- No cop mates to act as "convenient" witnesses to whatever you did\nB- Police are professionals, and unless you assaulted him or someone else etc etc, he is "off duty".\nC- No offence, because I understand your hypothetical position, and it was a great question ( i do mean that) but police get given daily jobs/assignments, and probably have bigger fish to fry.\n\nGood Luck " )
893891
I live in Chicago. The same thing happened to me and I did not need a lawyer. But that is partially because i am a cop. But the people i pull over usually do not need a lawyer unless something very bad. I do not think you need a lawyer, usually people pay for one and do not need help.\n\nHope it goes better
720779
Actually when I worked for the police dept, it was against police policy to give a "jump" from the police car.  It can seriously damage the electronics in the police car ( 1000's of dollars worth)\n\nAn officer giving a jump to someone could be wrote up, given a day off without pay or more.\n\nThe police officer will call you a tow truck, or other road service,  they will often call someone else that you want called.
100354
Honestly, where do you some of you people get the ideas you get?\n\nTo the asker:  assuming everything you said here is 100% factual, and assuming you didn't leave anything out, and assuming you have *all* the facts in the first place, then no, it doesn't sound like there was any probable cause to pull you over.  \n\nHowever, here's what I suspect, because I have done this very thing:\n\nI'm the cop you and your friend drove past when he/she yelled whatever they yelled.  Evidently, your friend wanted to come to the attention of the police, so I'm generally happy to oblige.  You don't say (and probably don't know) if it was the same cop who pulled you over, but it doesn't matter...we've got radios, ya' know?  \n\nSo anyway, back to your friend who wants to be a policeman's project:\n\nWhether I take off after you or I radio to one of my partners, one of us catches up to you.  You don't signal where you should, you have a taillight out, your registration is expired, etc., etc., and that provides me probable cause to stop you.  It's quite possible, especially if you developed an attitude problem, that I will tell you the only reason you're being stopped is because of your friend, the loudmouth.\n\nThe liberal among us will not like this, I know.  However, probable cause in this state is probable cause, and the motivation behind my use of probable cause is irrelevant to your guilt or innocence.  \n\nSo if you're right, the cop was wrong and you certainly do want to talk to an attorney.\n\nIf I'm right, you got pulled over because your idiot friend brought your car to the attention of the police, and it sounds like you paid a price for that.  Choose your friends better next time you're drinking and driving.\n\nAnd no, yelling out of your car is not disorderly conduct in California.  It's a rude and stupid exercise of your right to free speech.\n\nShouting something at the police is not an indication that you're not a reasonable person, and being an unreasonable person does not provide the police with reasonable cause to pull you over.  Holy cow, if this were true I could pull people over a hundred times a day.  \n\nBeing disrespectful to the police does not qualify as disorderly conduct.  It qualifies as stupid, but stupid does not equate to probable cause to effect a detention or make an arrest.  Don't I wish.\n\nYeah, we're always making things up just to pull you over.  I routinely risk being convicted of perjury and jailed for civil rights violations just to see if you've got big hooters, are drunk, or have a little weed in your car.  Please.\n\nYou're welcome to have just about any bumper sticker you want on your car and not have to worry about getting a ticket.  First of all, like I said, we do live in the land of free speech so you can have anything you want on your bumper.  If it says "I'm plotting to kill the President," you might end up with a visit from the Secret Service, but you can't get a ticket for displaying even an obscene bumper sticker.  \n\nHanging out the window is a good indication that you're not wearing your seat belt, but I'm not sure I'm familiar with a crime called "reckless endangerment."  \n\nI'm glad showing poor judgement doesn't really qualify as cause for the police to investigate.  If it did, I would literally spend my entire day talking to people with extraordinarily poor judgement who weren't committing a crime.  I do enough of that now.\n\nAnyway, I hope the cops had a really wonderful reason for pulling you over, once your friend decided you needed to stopped.  I hope their reason is enough to get you into court and convicted, if you really were driving in violation of the drunk driving laws in this state.  Your decision to do so put a huge number of people at risk...all of whom, except yourself, would have been innocent victims of your profoundly poor
187020
Dude, you need to take responsibility for what you do in life. I am sick of people saying "It's the cops fault" for everything. I assume you are over 18 and are an adult. Act like one. I laugh when I hear "I got pulled over and I wasn't doing anything wrong." People like you like to leave out details that don't shine a good light on you.\n\nIf you are such a good citizen, how did you know the location of the marijuana farm?\n\nLet's see, I imagine that the real scenario went like this:\n\nMe and my buddy were speeding away from our pot grow and smoking a bowl. It made my buddy weave all over the road. This cop pulls in behind us a few miles later and turns on his lights after my buddy plowed through a center median. Being as we had a large shipment of pot to deliver, we had to come up with a quick plan. We couldn't because we were so stoned. So when the cop came to the window, we decided to throw our competition under the bus and tell the cop about his grow.
1118812
Yes, always remember that this is true. Cops have a badge a gun and a right. The are there to serve and protect, and in this case the owner of the business. Do you realize that even though you feel that you are doing nothing illegal, if something was to happen at that business later on that you will come immediately under suspicion. Just because you were there.
857713
Why the hell would you pretend you didnt see him? all that is gonna do is cause further problems. The excuse never works... the officer knows you saw them, and can get you for evading arrest. Do you want to add further problems onto what was already done? They might be pulling you over for something simple like having a taillight or tag light out, and you avoiding them will add a ticket or jail time to a simple warning. You need to remember something.... we all have jobs to do, and police officers are no different. They are simply doing their job, and aren't set out to ruin your life. Yes, they do have the power to screw everything up, and there are always some crooked cops out there who will take advantage of the power, but almost all of the officers are simply following the law. They see you break the law, so they enforce it. Its really that simple. If you are speeding then they might just give you a friendly warning to slow down- remember that traveling at excessive speeds puts not only your life at risk, but the lives of those around you. The laws were created to keep us all safe and living peacefully amongst ourselves. If there were no police officers, this world would be in complete chaos. Just remember the next time that you are getting pulled over that the officer has a family, and understands where you are coming from. They deserve as much respect as the next person- more, in fact, in my opinion because they carry the weight of everyone on their shoulders. They protect and serve... thats their motto and they follow it. now i'll step off of my soap box...
209753
That's a real shame.  You poor, poor, poor dumb ass alcoholic.  Ever consider calling a cab?  Worse yet is the fact that the state you live in allowed you to get 5 DUIs.  Where I'm from you will most times serve after your second.  The simple fact of the matter is that being as old as you are... it's already too late for you.  You will never change ever.  You have chosen to spend your life in a bottle chasing wiener half your age and half the time probably getting paid for it.  You say you have a good lawyer, so why post your question here?  In your reality is there going to be a magic answer on the Internet that is going to keep you out of jail?  I'm half your age and even I know that. Jeez.... I really hope you haven't procreated because if you have I'll bet they're proud of you now.  I'll bet you're proud of yourself.  Not once did you even mention being ashamed of yourself or consider what could have happened had you wrecked.  The best thing you can do for yourself is GO TO JAIL.  At least there you can't drink.  Maybe get yourself a little lesbian lover and spend your time planting flowers instead of graves.