Pulled over by local Police

[bliss]

I was pulled over by local police yesterday - I saw one following me, slowed down so that they could pass in the next lane - they didn't - pulled over again and their light went on and they pulled over behind me. Informed me that my Cobra had come up as a Van when my license plate number was run (in CA). I asked her why she ran my license - she replied "because I can"! Provided my license and registration - she asked what kind of car I was driving - I stated that it's noted on my registration (sort of pissed at that time). She called in my data and give me back my stuff - case closed.

It just seems strange to me that cops are randomly running plates. It's some sort of profiling - seems illegal to me. As far as my Cobra coming up a Van, that's not my problem, it's an SP designation and the CA DMV does whatever it wants from that point. Simply screwed up my entire morning.

[aa909]

so sorry to hear that, would have upset me as well. I too am concerned about this type of police "harassment" for lack of a better word. I'm actually taking delivery of my cobra today and luckily I have my Sb-100 and TOP with me but who knows what the local cops can do if they don't know the SPCN details. thankfully you got your docs and were on your way

[allsnakes]

The police routinly run tag numbers as they come up behind vechicles. The onboard computers are the reason. Used to be that they had to call your tag number into the radio operator to find out all the info. Now its immediately pulled up on the computer. All law enforcement does it. Just like when i was a rookie, if we saw a good looking gal, we'd run a 10-29 to see who the car was registered to. Great way to get the names of single gals. Oh for the "good ole days". But thousands of tags are being run every few minutes.....you would not believe the number of outstanding warrents that are picked up this way, which includes everything from parking tickets to felonies........

[mreid]

Actually, many don't have to run it. They have started installing automatic tag readers in many cruisers. When they get behind you, it reads your tag and presents the info on their laptop. Kind of like a QR reader. Seems a little over the top to me. Can't imagine this EVER getting abused...

Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) demonstration - YouTube

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by bliss

It just seems strange to me that cops are randomly running plates. It's some sort of profiling - seems illegal to me.

I agree. I was recently flagged over by a DPS officer in my Cobra as I was headed for Beaumont, TX to show the car. The officer was originally ahead of me, then pulled over to the shoulder and I passed him. Within a few blocs I heard the siren. He asked if I knew why he was stopping me and I answered "Well, officer, usually I KNOW why I'm being stopped, but this time I'm clueless. Care to enlighten me?"

He responded that he had run my tags and was informed that the registration was expired. Well, the car had been up on jackstands in the garage for over a year, but I had completed the suspension upgrade and had gotten insurance, inspection and registration taken care of the day before and it was the first time it was out on the streets. Seems the state of TX had not yet entered the data into their data base. I had all of the required paperwork to prove it was legal and was not cited.

But, it's not over yet. It took me over an hour to get away from the DPS officer...seems he was a "car guy", too, and wanted to check out the Cobra and tell me all about his race cars.

As we parted he explained that the DPS has their officers running tags and little else these days. I suspect he was just attracted by the Cobra, being a car guy, but being on duty he did the "right?" thing and ran my tag, ergo the stop.

IMHO, ANY governmental agency ought to honor our right to privacy, which IMHO includes maintaining anonymnity, unless they have "just cause" to suspect we have committed a crime. That officer may have had just cause because of the information his computer displayed, but I believe my right to anonymnity was violated by the act of running my plates, whether I was legal or not. Getting to "just cause" should have required more than just being on the same road as the officer.

We're rapidly becoming a police state here in the U.S. They have weapons and equipment we cannot LEGALLY obtain, and this indiscriminate use of technology seems to violate our constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure.

It's not always OK to do something just because you can, but on the other hand I can understand an officer following direct orders from a superior, regardless of whether he feels justified in the action or not.

I'd sure like for somebody to take this issue to the Supreme Court.

Cheers!

Dugly

[fordracing65]

Move to Arizona, we will racial profile all day long.

[Bill Bess]

YUP! AZ is a great place for hot rods, especially Lake Havasu City along the Colorado River. Most of the cops that stop you are hot rodders too and just want to check out your ride, the others are busy having coffee and it's usually too dam hot for them to move. We do have a couple of MC Cops that will nail you for speeding in town, fear not, just go down the road, out of town and speed in no mans land. One tip, get a personalized plate, it won't be confused with another number.

[menace1]

I agree with Duglys post completly. It's not uncommon practice here in Ca. for the officers to run licence plates in crowded parking lots. They are looking for wanted criminals on the lam, illegal immigrants,stolen vehicles as well as expired registration. Big brother is watching you!

Glenn

[mgstuart]

had badge, no problem

[Ron61]

They have ran them for the past few years up here on all cars because of the dope pipeline that goes through here to Washington. It is not at all unusual to see three or four cars pulled over and the Chp and dope units going through them. They used to bring them down to my friends garage to use the rack until he called and told them no more. The police were taking his tools with him when they left. But I have seen stacks of heroine and cocaine piled out beside those cars that made me wonder just how much they would bring once they were cut and distributed.Oh, and not to forget the $18,900 dollars in $100 dollar bills they found stuffed inside the seats.

Ron

[Tommy]

Living in a small town and having had most of the police department visit my home to see my cars at one time or another, I guess I have a different view of the police than some of you. When it comes down to us versus them, I like thinking of the police as one of us, not one of them. Thus I consider an occasional inconvenient roadside stop as my little contribution to the fight against criminals.

[Joe Wicked]

I think it also depends on the cops in those small towns. The small town I grew up in had corrupt cops and mayor. It took me many years before I had any trust of law enforcement unless I knew them personally. Now the small town I live in has some of the best cops. 1 chick that has a chip on her shoulder but the rest are awesome. All of the cops know that if I am having a BBQ and they are on duty, their dinner is on me tonight. I offered it to her when she was first hired and she got pissed. Asked if I was trying to bribe her as she reached for her handcuffs. The Sargent was there and he told to to calm down, it was just an offer to thank her. She never has stopped by and never waves back either. It all really depends on the cop.

[bliss]

YerDugliness......

Man, that's cold - apparently the registration hadn't made it to all the computers in your case.

I was driving from AZ to CA several years back - stopped by a Highway Patrol officer - he don't come up behind me - I was in the show lane having turned onto a new freeway - he was in the next lane, used his bullhorn - or whatever they have - asking me to pull over - of course, I did. All he wanted to do was talk about the Cobra as he was thinking about building one in his garage - actually a nice guy, but the emotions that surface when one is pulled over - especially when one is being extra careful just make this sort of event mind boggling and an overall bad experience that one never seems to forget.

I suppose it all goes with having a Cobra.

By the way AZ is the best when it comes to Cobra's and other hot rods - the State is very accommodating with registration, etc.

[bliss]

Originally Posted by Tommy

Living in a small town and having had most of the police department visit my home to see my cars at one time or another, I guess I have a different view of the police than some of you. When it comes down to us versus them, I like thinking of the police as one of us, not one of them. Thus I consider an occasional inconvenient roadside stop as my little contribution to the fight against criminals.

True, but when one stops you, responding as to why she ran the license with "because I can" does not go over well with any citizen - somewhat of an explanation would have worked a lot better.