Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Insurance Question (sidenote: Cops Suck)

Are we all friends again?

Since we're all jumping on cops here I have to share what happened this weekend. A friend (who is a cop) and I were leaving a restaurant, turning left across traffic. There were "No left turn" signs at the exit of the *restuarant* property but my friend didn't see them as he pulled out. Sure enough we're pulled over and I'm laughing as I tell him why. We're not in the city where my friend works so he didn't know the officer who is now waddling up to the car.

The officer says he pulled us over for violating the No left turn sign. My friend ask where it was placed. The officer says they were at the exit of the restaurant property. My friend says he's an officer too, shows his badge, and tells the unsuspecting dope that traffic signs on private property are not enforceable. They're not "regulatory" or some such thing. (They're like the yellow speed limit sign on Interstate exit ramps, those are suggested speeds--the actual speed limit is the same as the motorway from which you are exiting. Stop signs on private property also fall into this classification. However it is usually also law that a vehicle must come to a complete stop before leaving private property so the point is moot anyway.) The officer gave his license back, said "Have a nice day" and walked defeatedly back to his car. It was awesome!

So cops do make mistakes and not all of them fully know the law. It's up to us as citizens, IMHO, to educate ourselves and know our rights. If you receive a ticket you should read the relevant code in your state to make sure the offense is properly charged.

An excellent idea. Maybe then I wouldn't meet so many roadside lawyers.

as a general rule - most agencies are nice to others.
If it was at all a close call on the ticket an officer generally will not ticket the other officer from another jurisdiction.

We do stuff all the time to help out other agencies that we dont do for the public-

Well, got my first speeding ticket tonight. About time, really.

Although I will happily pay my fine and take my defensive driving courses, I still feel a little like I was entrapped.

I was on a 2-lane freeway, officer was in an unmarked Camaro in the left lane, semi was in the right lane. The Camaro was pacing the semi at the speed limit in the left lane just behind the truck, so you either had the option of following behind the cop going 65 (on a road where most people go 75-80 -- it's a very empty interstate), or you could pass him on the right then immediately go back to the left lane to pass the semi. He wasn't dangerously close so you didn't have to cut him off to get around the semi.

After about 5 miles of following him at 65 and a whole line of cars behind me I decided to pass him. Normally I despise passing on the right side, but this guy refused to move over, so I went to pass. I never flashed him like I would do most to bring their attention to move over... it's probably better that I didn't since he turned out to be a cop.

Anyways, I accelerated up to probably 73 or so, moved around him, passed him, signaled and moved over. As I moved over I gave the engine a little gas so I would have more than a car length between us. Apparently that little tap of the gas was all it took; his lights turned on immediately. He clocked me at 78 in a 65.

Was I speeding? Yeap, I was. I have no problem paying my fine. But I can't help but feel like I was tricked into doing it. I'd rather get a speeding ticket when I'm really speeding, not when I'm just passing someone.

Next time better pay closer attention.

Unmarked Camaros here look exactly like any other white Camaro, an amazingly common car in this area. And probably the first police Camaro I'd ever see on this side of town. I look for unmarked cars but only Crown Vics or Impalas.

That and I don't consider 75 on 35W to be speeding so I wasn't really looking for cops. At that speed you're still hindering the natural flow of traffic around here.