Not stopping at a stop sign? Really police?

greg775 · October 7, 2015

QUOTE (juddling @ Oct 6, 2015 -> 11:25 PM)

I remember driving home from Bloomingdale (on 355) on a Friday night during rush hour. I was going faster than some.....slower than others though I still managed to be the one to get pulled over.

The cop approached my car on the passenger side....put his elbows on my window and did the usual "Do you know why I pulled you over?" routine.

I don't remember what i said to that but he said i was speeding and again the typical question "Why were you speeding?"

In my head i was saying "because i'm on a f***ing expressway in f***ing Chicago and i don't want to get run over" but instead i went with something along the lines of "It's Friday...and just trying to get home like everyone else to start my weekend"

OF COURSE, i get the smartass reply of "Well...It's Friday night for me too..and I'd like to go home to start my weekend"

Obviously...there is nothing I can say to this that doesn't get me in deeper trouble so i say nothing. He then leans in a little closer (again...from my passenger side) and says my eyes are all red and asks why. I say 'Really?" and i look in my rear view and my eyes are as white as snow. "Sir...i know the light in here isn't great but my eyes are fine."

He stares at me a long time and finally asks for my info and goes back to write me my speeding ticket. He came back with a ticket and of course the obligatory "You should consider yourself lucky this is the only ticket I'm writing you"

I never did figure out what he was thinking he could write me another ticket for....i said "thank you officer and have a nice weekend"

f***er still followed me for the next 10 miles.......

Damn. That cop was a spooky bastard.

GoodAsGould · October 7, 2015

My last ticket I was going 35 in a 25, cop pulled me over and said he and his partner saw me talking on my cellphone which is why I was pulled over. I tell him my car has blue tooth and what you guys saw was me eating a bagel, he decided to give me a speeding ticket instead.

Jose Abreu · October 7, 2015

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 05:24 AM)

My last ticket I was going 35 in a 25, cop pulled me over and said he and his partner saw me talking on my cellphone which is why I was pulled over. I tell him my car has blue tooth and what you guys saw was me eating a bagel, he decided to give me a speeding ticket instead.

:lol: Sorry, that's rough. How does one mistake eating a bagel for talking on a cell phone, though?

SoxFan562004 · October 7, 2015

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Oct 1, 2015 -> 11:25 AM)

I totally agree. There are some idiots on bikes, but not as many as are driving cars. Pedestrians as well. I usually Divvy it home from work, and I can't tell you how many times people are walking right down the bike lane instead of the sidewalk and get all pissed off when you wiz past them.

After living in the city for several years, bikes are what me do complete stops at stop signs everywhere, in the neighborhoods it's insane how they just blow through stop signs without slowing down.

NorthSideSox72 · October 7, 2015

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 05:24 AM)

My last ticket I was going 35 in a 25, cop pulled me over and said he and his partner saw me talking on my cellphone which is why I was pulled over. I tell him my car has blue tooth and what you guys saw was me eating a bagel, he decided to give me a speeding ticket instead.

lol, someone quick, invent a bagel-shaped cell phone!

greg775 · October 7, 2015

QUOTE (GoodAsGould @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 10:24 AM)

My last ticket I was going 35 in a 25, cop pulled me over and said he and his partner saw me talking on my cellphone which is why I was pulled over. I tell him my car has blue tooth and what you guys saw was me eating a bagel, he decided to give me a speeding ticket instead.

Do the cops tape everything now? Like the bagel thing. I was wondering what would happen if a cop wanted to raise money and SAID you went through a stop sign when you stopped completely. If you go to court, they just believe the cop and you are out the cash? Or is it taped and they see if you rolled the stop or not?

GGajewski18 · October 8, 2015

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 1, 2015 -> 03:00 AM)

So it's 12:45 a.m., Oct 1, and I'm driving home after leaving the office and getting some snacks. Yes, I roll a stop sign on a side street, not a major road. Cop pulls me over and I immediately signal and pull over.

He comes up, gets my license and insurance. He tells me he stopped me for rolling the stop sign. Obviously that time of night they are looking for drunks. I haven't had a drink even in a couple years believe it or not. He comes back and says, 'i am going to ticket you for the stop sign violation.' I told him it was late and I guess I wasn't concentrating and said sorry twice that I wasn't paying attention.

I still get the ticket despite the fact nobody's on the road at that time on this side street.

My question to you is ... was this a monetary decision by the cop? End of the month, beginning of new month? Pressure to make some $$$ for the city? Or b.) did I get the ticket for being too chatty. I mean I was very nice, but I offered up to him what I was doing. I said I had left work and went and got a snack on the way home and wasn't paying attention. I didn't give him the opportunity if he wanted to ask me a question and have me answer apologetically. I merely was apologetic to begin with so I may have blown it by not letting him take control and try to get me to beg.

Is it the old, "f*** you nice guy. I'm a f***ing cop and I'm ringing you up." Or was it b.) listen bub, we need money in this city and by rolling that stop sign you just gave us a cool hundred bucks, chump!" Which is it.

I mean, cmon. that time of night. Side street? No cars in the area? Yes I f***ed up big time in not coming to a complete stop. But geez. ... Tough to stomach.

If I am a law breaking person, and deserve to get slapped by that cop, tell me. I can take it. I had no previous tickets this past year; I don't know if that shows up or not when he calls in my information.

p.s. the cop did seem like potentially a dick. He told me they were having problems at that intersection. I really truly felt like saying but obviously didn't: "At 1 a.m.? With no traffic at all around? COngratulations on raising 140 bucks for your department, officer. You got me. I rolled the sign; no doubt I did but nooo you couldn't let me off." I'm telling you I was 100 percent nice not even a hint of my being a dick. Like I said I was a bit overly friendly however. I was hoping he'd ask me if I had a drink but he didn't even go there.

--humor me and tell me when u got your last ticket for a driving violation or parking.

This happened to me 4 years ago when I was in college. Going home to my college house at 1130pm, completely rolled a stop sign, cop was right there, did a u turn, and got me. I explained to him that I was just going home, and the cop let me off. I was lucky.

lasttriptotulsa · October 8, 2015

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 01:59 PM)

Do the cops tape everything now? Like the bagel thing. I was wondering what would happen if a cop wanted to raise money and SAID you went through a stop sign when you stopped completely. If you go to court, they just believe the cop and you are out the cash? Or is it taped and they see if you rolled the stop or not?

Greg, just pay the damn ticket and quit trying to look for a loop hole out of it.

Incidents like this are why this country has really gone off the rails.

It's like I've been saying, in 20 years it will be a whole different America. People are going to be scared to go anywhere. I mean now it's dipping down to guys running through stop signs thinking they're above the law. I always think of the parents (assuming they are good ones). So mom gives birth to a boy one day at the hospital. Can you imagine if you could look into the future and told her, you're boy will one day run a stop sign. She'd have told you you were insane.

Edited October 8, 2015 by lasttriptotulsa

G&T · October 8, 2015

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 7, 2015 -> 01:59 PM)

Do the cops tape everything now? Like the bagel thing. I was wondering what would happen if a cop wanted to raise money and SAID you went through a stop sign when you stopped completely. If you go to court, they just believe the cop and you are out the cash? Or is it taped and they see if you rolled the stop or not?

you can call the police and request video related to the incident if any exists. It's an open records request.

I used to prosecute traffic violations and saw tons of video. Not once was there a wrong decision on a minor traffic violation. Everyone talks a big game about how the cops are just out to make money or profiled them or whatever. I made it my policy to dismiss questionable tickets. Traffic violations were never wrong where the cop witnessed the violation.

And yeah, unless the cop has a history of lying in court (rare but happens) you will lose. You should also know that video usually only comes on if 1. The officer turns it on, or 2. The overhead lights are turned on. Sometimes they don't catch the violation if the cop forgets to turn the camera on while he's parked.

BlackSox13 · October 9, 2015

I don't see the problem, stop means stop. No offense meant Greg. That's coming from someone that has literally had enough tickets in his lifetime to wallpaper a mansion. :lol:

StrangeSox · October 9, 2015

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 03:57 PM)

Greg, just pay the damn ticket and quit trying to look for a loop hole out of it.

Incidents like this are why this country has really gone off the rails.

It's like I've been saying, in 20 years it will be a whole different America. People are going to be scared to go anywhere. I mean now it's dipping down to guys running through stop signs thinking they're above the law. I always think of the parents (assuming they are good ones). So mom gives birth to a boy one day at the hospital. Can you imagine if you could look into the future and told her, you're boy will one day run a stop sign. She'd have told you you were insane.

lol perfect

greg775 · October 9, 2015

QUOTE (lasttriptotulsa @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 09:57 PM)

Greg, just pay the damn ticket and quit trying to look for a loop hole out of it.

Incidents like this are why this country has really gone off the rails.

It's like I've been saying, in 20 years it will be a whole different America. People are going to be scared to go anywhere. I mean now it's dipping down to guys running through stop signs thinking they're above the law. I always think of the parents (assuming they are good ones). So mom gives birth to a boy one day at the hospital. Can you imagine if you could look into the future and told her, you're boy will one day run a stop sign. She'd have told you you were insane.

It was 1 a.m. It was a side street. He learned I wasn't drinking. I didn't blow through it like a racecar driver. I pulled over w/in 2 seconds of seeing him come after me. I was polite, albeit chatty. Can I not expect a break when I had no tickets thru the whole year?? Not to pat myself on the back, but I've been donating a lot of money lately - our church expansion project, United Way, regular church Sunday donations, giving to some other projects ... I could use the 140 bucks. I am guilty though, but ???

QUOTE (G&T @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 10:22 PM)

you can call the police and request video related to the incident if any exists. It's an open records request.

I used to prosecute traffic violations and saw tons of video. Not once was there a wrong decision on a minor traffic violation. Everyone talks a big game about how the cops are just out to make money or profiled them or whatever. I made it my policy to dismiss questionable tickets. Traffic violations were never wrong where the cop witnessed the violation.

And yeah, unless the cop has a history of lying in court (rare but happens) you will lose. You should also know that video usually only comes on if 1. The officer turns it on, or 2. The overhead lights are turned on. Sometimes they don't catch the violation if the cop forgets to turn the camera on while he's parked.

Thank u very much for the advice and explanatory material here. I appreciate it.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Oct 9, 2015 -> 01:14 AM)

I don't see the problem, stop means stop. No offense meant Greg. That's coming from someone that has literally had enough tickets in his lifetime to wallpaper a mansion. :lol:

True, but cmon. 1 a.m.? Not drunk? Side street? No pity for Greg?

farmteam · October 9, 2015

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 09:49 PM)

It was 1 a.m. It was a side street. He learned I wasn't drinking. I didn't blow through it like a racecar driver. I pulled over w/in 2 seconds of seeing him come after me. I was polite, albeit chatty. Can I not expect a break when I had no tickets thru the whole year?? Not to pat myself on the back, but I've been donating a lot of money lately - our church expansion project, United Way, regular church Sunday donations, giving to some other projects ... I could use the 140 bucks. I am guilty though, but ???

Thank u very much for the advice and explanatory material here. I appreciate it.

True, but cmon. 1 a.m.? Not drunk? Side street? No pity for Greg?

By definition, you should not expect to catch a break.

greg775 · October 9, 2015

QUOTE (farmteam @ Oct 9, 2015 -> 04:03 AM)

By definition, you should not expect to catch a break.

How can anybody be allowed to drive then? I mean I've been watching people the last week since I stop fully and pause a full three seconds at stop signs now. People are on my tail and my bumper and you can sense their anger at me for stopping so long. Also, when it's a multi stop sign intersection, the other people look at me angrily cause I stop and count to three. I'd venture to say many many people 'roll' stop signs by definition and it actually can prevent a bumper to bumper accident cause people are rite on my bumper and very surprised at my stopping completely for 3 seconds.

caulfield12 · October 9, 2015

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 8, 2015 -> 11:23 PM)

How can anybody be allowed to drive then? I mean I've been watching people the last week since I stop fully and pause a full three seconds at stop signs now. People are on my tail and my bumper and you can sense their anger at me for stopping so long. Also, when it's a multi stop sign intersection, the other people look at me angrily cause I stop and count to three. I'd venture to say many many people 'roll' stop signs by definition and it actually can prevent a bumper to bumper accident cause people are rite on my bumper and very surprised at my stopping completely for 3 seconds.

You could try that defense in court, but it would work about as well as arguing that going the speed limit or slightly less is dangerous when there are large wolf packs of cars or trucks flying by at 75-85 mph.

And the idea of getting out of violations based on recent charitable donations...I don't even know where to start. The police would srgue if you don't have enough socked away to pay a ticket you probably shouldn't: 1) drive or ) give so much money away.

Steve9347 · October 9, 2015

QUOTE (greg775 @ Oct 1, 2015 -> 02:00 AM)