My run in with the cops

[ryan256]

The putting down your cat thread made me think of this. I wasn't going to post it originally but I'm curious about ATOT's opinion.

I'm in the process of searching for a house. I am doing the search on my own and not using a real estate agent. 2 weeks ago I was out on my motorcycle looking around in several neighborhoods at properties for sale. I stopped at a few and looked around the outside of the house to decide whether or not I wanted to call the sellers real estate agent and take a look inside. As I'm leaving one a cop pulls up, flashes his light, gets out, & asks me what I'm doing there. A legitimate question.
Me: "I'm looking around at houses for sale in this area."
Cop: "Then who is your real estate agent and why aren't they here?"
Me: "I don't have a real estate agent. I'm doing the search on my own."
Cop: "In that case you have no reason to be here and you need to leave right now."
(this was not a gated or closed community btw)
Me: "I have no reason to stop at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon at a house that has a For Sale sign in the yard?"
Cop: "No you don't. You get a real estate agent and have them show you the property."
Me: "Why should I pay a real estate agent several thousand dollars to find houses for sale when I can do that on my own?"
Cop: "Because thats what you do. If we get another call about you scoping out the area we are going to arrest you."

Now I can understand he wanted to make sure that I wasn't a burglar trying to case houses to rob. But at the same time I have a very legitimate reason to be stopping at houses for sale in broad daylight. And why do I have to spend thousands on a real estate agent when I can go find houses for sale just fine on my own? 'Because thats what you do'? BS!

 

[skulkingghost]

That is ridiculous, what a "welcome to the area." You should have gotten his badge# and reported him.

 

[dougp]

Should have gotten his name and badge number, and then been on your merry way. Researched and then call in a harrassment claim ...

 

[Capt Caveman]

Were you on their property, trespassing? Cop could assume you're casing the place.

When you're buying, you're better off getting your own real estate agent. The seller is going to be paying your agent so. Dealing directly with the seller's agent isn't necessarily going to get you a better deal as the seller's agent is going to double-dip and take the full commission from the seller.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: skulkingghost
That is ridiculous, what a "welcome to the area." You should have gotten his badge# and reported him.

not sure on that.

he was traspassing.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Were you on their property, trespassing?

Important question. :thumbsup:

 

[OutHouse]

that is complete bullshit. i would let them arrest me then go straight ot the press.

If i were you I would call the chief and tell him what happend and ask him point blank why the officer said you have to have a agent with you.

 

[Wapp]

imo, get a home depot bucket full of water and drown the cop.

 

[ryan256]

Originally posted by: waggy
not sure on that.

he was traspassing.

Yes.. I was on the property. But if you are trying to sell your house are you going to threaten people that come to look at it with trespassing? Don't you want them there? As for looking inside, yes I would contact the agent for that because going inside is a different matter. But just walking around the front yard?

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Were you on their property, trespassing?

Important question. :thumbsup:

umm im sure the houses he was looking at were not posted as "no trespassing"

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

JBT, don't question his authority

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: ryan256

Originally posted by: waggy
not sure on that.

he was traspassing.

Yes.. I was on the property. But if you are trying to sell your house are you going to threaten people that come to look at it with trespassing? Don't you want them there?

Well, how far on the property were you?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Were you on their property, trespassing?

Important question. :thumbsup:

umm im sure the houses he was looking at were not posted as "no trespassing"

Ummmm I don't have a sign around my neck that says "no murdering" but it's still against the law.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

If the OP was on the property then he was trespassing and the cop was absolutely in the right to run him off.

If you want to see the property then you need to either get an agent or have the listing agent show the property to you.

FYI... and this will save you a lot of headache... buyer's agents don't cost the buyer anything. Get yourself an agent and avoid jail.

 

[ch33zw1z]

If I lived in that neighborhood, I would've called the police also.

 

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Were you on their property, trespassing?

Important question. :thumbsup:

Yup. The OP had me until he said that he was looking around the outside of the house. That's really suspicious behavior and I don't blame the cop for seeing it as such.

I wouldn't have demanded the person get an agent, but rather advised them that if they wanted to see any parts of the house that they should contact the seller instead of snooping around on his own.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Citrix

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Were you on their property, trespassing?

Important question. :thumbsup:

umm im sure the houses he was looking at were not posted as "no trespassing"

i wouldnt see why it would matter if a sign was up or not.

he was on the property without permission. looking into the windows etc.

i don't blame the cop. slight over reaction maybe.


oh and get a damn agent. the seller pays it anyway.

 

[ryan256]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: ryan256

Originally posted by: waggy
not sure on that.

he was traspassing.

Yes.. I was on the property. But if you are trying to sell your house are you going to threaten people that come to look at it with trespassing? Don't you want them there?

Well, how far on the property were you?

Front yard and walked around to the back if it wasn't fenced.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: ryan256

Originally posted by: waggy
not sure on that.

he was traspassing.

Yes.. I was on the property. But if you are trying to sell your house are you going to threaten people that come to look at it with trespassing? Don't you want them there? As for looking inside, yes I would contact the agent for that because going inside is a different matter. But just walking around the front yard?

A For Sale sign on my property is not an invitation for random people off the street to wander onto my property. Real estate agents generally arrange appointments ahead of time with the owner before visiting a property, unless of course its an open house.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: ryan256

Originally posted by: waggy
not sure on that.

he was traspassing.

Yes.. I was on the property. But if you are trying to sell your house are you going to threaten people that come to look at it with trespassing? Don't you want them there?

Having a For Sale sign, doesn't give anyone the right to trespass and case the house out. How did the cop not know you were casing the house so you could break into it later?

Based on the contract/agreement signed between the seller and real estate agent, agents may need to contact the seller or seller's agent for permission to show the property. If not, the agent is still liable and responsible for you when you view the property.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Were you on their property, trespassing?

Important question. :thumbsup:

Yup. The OP had me until he said that he was looking around the outside of the house. That's really suspicious behavior and I don't blame the cop for seeing it as such.

I wouldn't have demanded the person get an agent, but rather advised them that if they wanted to see any parts of the house that they should contact the seller instead of snooping around on his own.

I think the reason he told him to get an agent is because the agent would be sure to follow the seller's instructions regarding notification when you want to look at the house. If the OP had gotten permission from the homeowner directly to look at the house, he wouldn't have had a problem (with or without an agent). Snooping around the outside of a house without an agent looks suspicious.

 

[Turin39789]

Cop: "Because thats what you do. If we get another call about you scoping out the area we are going to arrest you."

I'll take that under advisement. Can I have your name and badge number?



Go back as you wish.

 

[zinfamous]

should have kicked him in the balls and taken his squad car. It's merely hillarious when they do it on Reno 911.

 

[CanOWorms]

The police officer should be investigated for possible links to real estate agents and potentially arrested for corruption.

 

[ValValline]

Based on your story the cop was responding to a call made from people in the area who saw you. It is very common for crooks to case houses for sale to rob later. It is also common for people to report suspicious activity in their own neighborhood.

How were you dressed? What kind of bike do you ride?

Many people look down on motorcyclists. As a rider myself I have been treated like a "dirt bag" from time to time based on how I was dressed (full gear seems to intimidate people) and the kind of bike I was riding.

You got "profiled". It sucks, but the cop was doing his job, and you payed the price for all of the crooks and biker stereotypes out there that make it hard for someone legit to go about their business.