gah! Cops this weekend are annoying me!

ajayjuneja

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2001
1,260
0
76
So, I was out and about a lot today, went down skyline blvd to santa cruz, twas such a nice day. My radar detector went off a ton, I think I spotted at least 8 cops out today on 280. No big deal, I wasn't in a speeding mood. Was a nice reminder not to speed this weekend.

This evening, I was heading down from SF on 101 south (speed limit 65mph) from a friend's b-day party, and about 1.5 miles before my exit (and when I was really low on gas, from all my driving today) I look in my rearview mirror and think to myself "hmm, that looks like a ford crown vic. headlights, probably a cop. Oh well, I was going like 68mph, so whatever." A minute or so later he starts flashing his lights and I think "gah, why can't I just get home and get to the gas station -- I really don't want to stop."

Cop knocks on my passenger window, I let him know I shut my engine off because I am really low on gas. He says, "Low on gas? The reason I stopped you is that you were going 85-90 there. I was going 65, and you blew by me like I was standing still. Let me see your license, insurance and registration."

[I get that out]


Me: "Officer, I know for a fact I was going between 65 and 70 mph. I'm low on gas. I clearly WAS NOT going 85-90 mph. I know that for a fact. Also my radar detector didn't go off."

[Officer sees radar detector and winces a little].

Officer: "I wasn't using radar. You blew by me like I was standing still. Pennsylvania license? Do you live in California?"

[I explain why I still have a Pennsylvania license (which is still valid). ]

Officer: "Doesn't matter. I'm going to write you up a ticket for not having a CA drivers license, and I'm not going to give you a speeding ticket."

10 seconds later...

Officer: "I just received a call. I gotta go. Get off on your way now (hands me my license, insurance, and registration back). No ticket."


Yeah, no ticket (I wasn't even doing anything) -- but why even stop me at all? Aren't there drunk drivers to stop rather than stopping someone who passes you on the left at 68 mph???

------
Cliff notes:

1. Driving home down 101 South 1.5 miles from home. Was going ~ 68mph. I am almost out of gas too (more reason not to be speeding!).
2. Notice what seems like it could be a cop car behind me following me for 1 min.
3. Cop Flashes lights, pulls me over.
4. Cop says I was going 85-90mph and blew by him.
5. I explain that I was clearly going between 65-70mph, and NOT even close to 85-90mph. Also let him know my radar detector didn't go off.
6. Cop says he didn't use radar and that I blew by him. Then winces when he sees my radar detector.
7. Cop then tries to get me for having an out-of-state drivers license. Says it's just going to be a "fix it" ticket, and I "won't get one for speeding."
8. Cop says he "just received a call" and lets me go, no ticket, no warning
9. I scratch my head and think "wtf? Can't they go after the drunks this weekend?" and go to my exit and stop by the local chevron on my way home.
 

Vertimus

Banned
Apr 2, 2004
1,441
0
0
Am I supposed to feel happy? Sad?

I think I'll go back to watching star wars.

EDIT: Your story was well told though.
 

Chompman

Banned
Mar 14, 2003
5,608
0
0
Imo I think all the idiots that use radar detectors should get a ticket for using that since all it says is I speed until you get a warning and slow down.

They need to make those illegal in all states and stop people from using them, then maybe some people would follow the speed laws.
 

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
WTF, I thought radar detectors are illegal in CA. You're lucky the cop was dumb enough not to notice and give you a ticket.
 

chambersc

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2005
6,247
0
0
Originally posted by: ajayjuneja
So, I was out and about a lot today, went down skyline blvd to santa cruz, twas such a nice day. My radar detector went off a ton, I think I spotted at least 8 cops out today on 280. No big deal, I wasn't in a speeding mood. Was a nice reminder not to speed this weekend.

This evening, I was heading down from SF on 101 south (speed limit 65mph) :thumbsdown:from a friend's b-day party, and about 1.5 miles before my exit (and when I was really low on gas, from all my driving today) I look in my rearview mirror and think to myself "hmm, that looks like a ford crown vic. headlights, probably a cop. Oh well, I was going like 68mph, so whatever." A minute or so later he starts flashing his lights and I think "gah, why can't I just get home and get to the gas station -- I really don't want to stop."

Cop knocks on my passenger window, I let him know I shut my engine off because I am really low on gas. He says, "Low on gas? The reason I stopped you is that you were going 85-90 there. I was going 65, and you blew by me like I was standing still. Let me see your license, insurance and registration."

[I get that out]


Me: "Officer, I know for a fact I was going between 65 and 70 mph. I'm low on gas. I clearly WAS NOT going 85-90 mph. I know that for a fact. Also my radar detector didn't go off."

[Officer sees radar detector and winces a little].

Officer: "I wasn't using radar. You blew by me like I was standing still. Pennsylvania license? Do you live in California?"

[I explain why I still have a Pennsylvania license (which is still valid). ]

Officer: "Doesn't matter. I'm going to write you up a ticket for not having a CA drivers license, and I'm not going to give you a speeding ticket."

10 seconds later...

Officer: "I just received a call. I gotta go. Get off on your way now (hands me my license, insurance, and registration back). No ticket."


Yeah, no ticket (I wasn't even doing anything) -- but why even stop me at all? Aren't there drunk drivers to stop rather than stopping someone who passes you on the left at 68 mph???

------
Cliff notes:

1. Driving home down 101 South 1.5 miles from home. Was going ~ 68mph. I am almost out of gas too (more reason not to be speeding!).
2. Notice what seems like it could be a cop car behind me following me for 1 min.
3. Cop Flashes lights, pulls me over.
4. Cop says I was going 85-90mph and blew by him.
5. I explain that I was clearly going between 65-70mph, and NOT even close to 85-90mph. Also let him know my radar detector didn't go off.
6. Cop says he didn't use radar and that I blew by him. Then winces when he sees my radar detector.
7. Cop then tries to get me for having an out-of-state drivers license. Says it's just going to be a "fix it" ticket, and I "won't get one for speeding."
8. Cop says he "just received a call" and lets me go, no ticket, no warning
9. I scratch my head and think "wtf? Can't they go after the drunks this weekend?" and go to my exit and stop by the local chevron on my way home.

i'll do a looksie but it's your right as a motorist to ask to see the radar detector and his "i wasn't using one" is no excuse and i would suggest you ask for his badge number and name if this ever happens next time.
 

ajayjuneja

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2001
1,260
0
76
Originally posted by: Baked
WTF, I thought radar detectors are illegal in CA. You're lucky the cop was dumb enough not to notice and give you a ticket.

Radar detectors are most certainly legal here in CA. They are not legal is CT, Wash. D.C., and (I think) Virginia. Everywhere else, they are legal! IMO, it's stupid NOT to have one.
 

Chompman

Banned
Mar 14, 2003
5,608
0
0
Originally posted by: Baked
WTF, I thought radar detectors are illegal in CA. You're lucky the cop was dumb enough not to notice and give you a ticket.

They are only illegal in Virginia, Washington DC. and on military bases.

But yea, they need to make these things banned.

You were probly thinking of radar jammers, those are illegal in CA.

At least the way its heading many of these will become illegal due to their emissions they give out.
 

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Too many fvckin soccer moms in the left hand lane driving 5 miles under the speed limit to speed....
 

Chompman

Banned
Mar 14, 2003
5,608
0
0
Originally posted by: Juice Box
so you cant drive in CA w/o a CA drivers license? There goes tourism!

He lives in CA and still had a Pennsylvania license, you need to change your address on your license when you move with a few exceptions such as being a student.
 

ajayjuneja

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2001
1,260
0
76
Originally posted by: Chompman
Originally posted by: Juice Box
so you cant drive in CA w/o a CA drivers license? There goes tourism!

He lives in CA and still had a Pennsylvania license, you need to change your address on your license when you move with a few exceptions such as being a student.

I have an office for my company in Pennsylvania and I stay with my mom when I am in Pennsylvania, hence the PA drivers license. Actually, it's more that the CA dmv is so SLOW and the lines are really long, whereas in PA I can renew my license in 5 min. or less :)
 

Nitemare

Lifer
Feb 8, 2001
35,461
4
81
Originally posted by: Chompman
Originally posted by: Juice Box
so you cant drive in CA w/o a CA drivers license? There goes tourism!

He lives in CA and still had a Pennsylvania license, you need to change your address on your license when you move with a few exceptions such as being a student.

Every state has this, that way when they issue you a revenue tax....err speeding ticket you can't dodge it.
 

EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
0
Originally posted by: Chompman
Imo I think all the idiots that use radar detectors should get a ticket for using that since all it says is I speed until you get a warning and slow down.

They need to make those illegal in all states and stop people from using them, then maybe some people would follow the speed laws.

I have a radar detector in one of my vans. It came with the thing. It never did work right. I took it out once, and discovered why. You see, it's power cable was coiled up in front of the reciever part, which is clearly marked "DO NOT OBSTRUCT" It's still there, if a cop wants to argue with me about it, he can walk around to the front and point his radar at it from 3 feet away, it WILL NOT go off
 

paulney

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2003
6,909
1
0
I went to Felton from South Bay today. Saw a couple of cops, but that's normal on 17 during the weekend, especially now.
I have a radar detector, too, but just today I took it off the windshield, because I left the car in the sun for too long, and the suction cups fell of :)
 

ajayjuneja

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2001
1,260
0
76
Originally posted by: paulney
I went to Felton from South Bay today. Saw a couple of cops, but that's normal on 17 during the weekend, especially now.
I have a radar detector, too, but just today I took it off the windshield, because I left the car in the sun for too long, and the suction cups fell of :)

just use a bit of water, (put some on your finger, and roll your finger around the suction cups) and it'll suction right back up :)
 

Chompman

Banned
Mar 14, 2003
5,608
0
0
Originally posted by: Nitemare
Originally posted by: Chompman
Originally posted by: Juice Box
so you cant drive in CA w/o a CA drivers license? There goes tourism!

He lives in CA and still had a Pennsylvania license, you need to change your address on your license when you move with a few exceptions such as being a student.

Every state has this, that way when they issue you a revenue tax....err speeding ticket you can't dodge it.

I know that, I was informing Juice Box of that. :D
 

RGN

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
6,623
6
81
I got a ticket for 85 in a 50 in NV just last week. I'm 99.9% sure that I was going 70. Still a decent ticket, but not the 85 the trooper said I was going. No radar either, all pace. I'm developing a dislike for traffic cops...
 

Chompman

Banned
Mar 14, 2003
5,608
0
0
Originally posted by: RGN
I got a ticket for 85 in a 50 in NV just last week. I'm 99.9% sure that I was going 70. Still a decent ticket, but not the 85 the trooper said I was going. No radar either, all pace. I'm developing a dislike for traffic cops...

Don't speed then. :D

Going 20 over is still a big deal.

Next thing is you would start hating them for when they arrest you for being drunk and high... :D
 

MrCodeDude

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
13,674
1
76
I went through two sobriety checkpoints tonight :)

Both guys were nice about it, looked at my license, asked where I was going (to go get dinner), wished me happy July 4th and I went on my way.
 

ajayjuneja

Golden Member
Dec 31, 2001
1,260
0
76
I would have been fine with a sobriety check, but not a speeding ticket given the speed I was going!
 

thomsbrain

Lifer
Dec 4, 2001
18,148
1
0
Originally posted by: Baked
WTF, I thought radar detectors are illegal in CA. You're lucky the cop was dumb enough not to notice and give you a ticket.

they are NOT illegal in CA.
 

isekii

Lifer
Mar 16, 2001
28,578
3
81
Originally posted by: ajayjuneja
Originally posted by: Chompman
Originally posted by: Juice Box
so you cant drive in CA w/o a CA drivers license? There goes tourism!

He lives in CA and still had a Pennsylvania license, you need to change your address on your license when you move with a few exceptions such as being a student.

I have an office for my company in Pennsylvania and I stay with my mom when I am in Pennsylvania, hence the PA drivers license. Actually, it's more that the CA dmv is so SLOW and the lines are really long, whereas in PA I can renew my license in 5 min. or less :)

Also your insurance is cheaper :p
 

RGN

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2000
6,623
6
81
Originally posted by: Chompman
Originally posted by: RGN
I got a ticket for 85 in a 50 in NV just last week. I'm 99.9% sure that I was going 70. Still a decent ticket, but not the 85 the trooper said I was going. No radar either, all pace. I'm developing a dislike for traffic cops...

Don't speed then. :D

Going 20 over is still a big deal.

Next thing is you would start hating them for when they arrest you for being drunk and high... :D

Not bad for my 1st ticket ever though eh? 12 years of driving fast cars responsibly and I get nailed for peacefully driving with traffic. Drunk and high are different, as they are not doing the same as ALL the other cars on the road.