So I was driving back to my house on Monday night
at 11:45pm, on a two-lane road posted for 50MPH. I had the cruise
control set at 55MPH, and I look in the rearview
and see a car tailgating me.
This car looks like a police car.
So I continue looking in my rearview and some
light coming from somewhere in the distance allows
me to make out the lightbar on top.
Definently a police car.
Time to slow down to 50MPH. So I hit the coast
button, and before I've even slowed down 1MPH, his
lights come and I think "oh great, he's pulling me
over". Except that he doesn't want to pull me
over, he wants to pass.
And pass he does (on a double-yellow, which I
suppose is made "legal" by turning on the lights),
and he speeds up to what must
have been 80MPH, ensuring that I can't get his
plate number.
He passes me and the lights go off. Then I see
them come on again in the distance and see him
pull the same thing.
So this got me to wondering...
1)What sort of stereotypes/opinions do you suppose
members of the general public who are treated to
this sort of behavior from cops might
form about cops?
2)Is there an overall negative impession of cops,
and does behavior like this contribute to that
impression?
3)Was this cop hoping I'll speed up so he
can give me a ticket?
4)Was he actually trying to get somewhere in a
legitimate hurry (such as responding to a call),
and if so, why the hell did he
tailgate me instead of passing at the earliest
possible opportunity? Alternatively, if he was
not responding to a call and merely in a hurry,
why did he not wait until there was a passing
zone?
5)Do cops realize that when they wear the uniform
and drive the car, they are held to higher
standards of conduct and behavior by the general
public?
Brian
