This is a very good story (my story, not someone else's) on what to do when pulled over. This shows how knowledge of police procedure, a good radar detector, and being an alert driver can keep you out of a ticket.

Number one, remember the fifth amendment! It is YOUR RIGHT not to incriminate yourself, and officers will always try to truck you into doing so. If they have to resort to such BS tactics, like a game of poker, they probably don't have jack squat on you!

So I was admittedly speeding and cutting through traffic to get to my appointment on time, which isn't really a good idea, btw. Doing about 50 in a 35, I see a cop about a half mile back trying to catch up to me. My radar detector is reliable enough to be 100% reliable if radar had been used, and had ZERO alerts. My Laser Blinders had picked up ZERO laser hits, so I was safe there as well. I slow to 35, as he catches up and hits me with his cruiser mounted kA. He signals me to pull over. I calmly and slowly turn off the busy street into a residential area so he can talk to me without the threat of being hit by traffic.

At this point I know I've got the upper hand, but I am worried about my tint, so I roll down my driver's window, leaving the passenger's side up so as to not look suspicious. Hands on the wheel and no sudden movements.

Then comes the expected routine. "You we're in quite a hurry there, where are you going?"

I don't dress like a thuggy fool, so I can see him ease up a bit. No sideways hats for me, i'm alls growns up, thank you.

"I'm on my way to work, sir."

"License and registration, please."

I oblige and he asks me, "do you know how fast you were going?" Typical BS question... "I could have sworn I was going 35," I say.

"I got you on radar and you were definitely speeding."

"Really officer? I could have sworn I was going 35. What speed did the radar show?"

No answer.

He returns to his cruiser, and after a minute or so, he returns and says, "slow it down, please." I thank him, wish him a good day, and go on my way, laughing all the way to my destination!

Where do most people go wrong? They mistakenly answer the cop's questions incriminating themselves when there is NO evidence. Some people feel compelled to admit speeding at a slightly lower speed, as if the officer will let you off. The lesson here, if they have to ask, they probably don't have squat on you!

BTW, it's the end of the month and cops are under even more pressure to issue tickets, due to local budget crunches. Be careful out there and be smart. Be kind and respectful to the officer, but don't give in to his games, and maybee you guys will get out of your tickets too!

And although I have radar and Lidar protection to assist me and give me more confidence, I would have played it the exact same way without the protection, and it would have ended up with the exact same result.

 

this isn't always true.. cops would much rather you tell them that you knew what you were doing so they feel better.. rather than playing dumb and saying "oh, i could've swore i wasn't speeding" which usually ticks them off because you both know what you were doing..

 

 

Doesn't matter if they get ticked off... If they clearly did not pace you and have no radar/laser reading, they cannot give you a ticket.

Most of my friends are lawyers, and I've seen this work time and time again.

These trapping questions are taught to officers in training to make you admit guilt; the type that give "guilty" answers no matter what you say.

A legit cop will ask you how many drinks you've had. I sneaky cop will ask you if you've had more than a few drinks. By answering yes or no, you admit to drinking, thereby giving probably cause for a field test. The correct answer is that you've had nothing to drink. No matter what, if you admit to any drinking, even a sip, CA procedure to conduct a sobriety test.

Stuff like this is standard cop procedure. IE, if they ask for permission to search the vehicle. If they have probable cause, consent is not needed for a search. Cops will often intimidate you into giving consent, which is perfectly legal.

 

This whole thing could've been prevented by not speeding in the first place. Now honestly who will even listen to that. But congrats on getting out of a ticket it happens all the time. But you make yourself out to be some god now that you got out of this ticket, and you think you will always get out of one. I can see you like to assume because you mention about end of the month quotos....there are plenty of depts out there that do not have quotas. Maybe the officer didnt have have it on radar or maybe he was just getting you a break. Cut them some slack, just because you think you beat the system doesnt mean you did. There are nice ones out there who would just let you go. But like I said congrats at least this isnt a "i got a ticket what should i do?"

 

but you DID break the law correct? so he does have a reason to pull you over..

 

I have recently gained a bit of animosity towards LA county cops, so maybe i'm biased.

About two years or so ago, I was involved in a hit and run. I called the cops. They arrived and accused me of hitting something myself, and they wasted an hour questioning me and they even have me a sobriety test. By the time they went looking for the other car, it must have been LONG gone. I held no animosity, since I assume that they have a tough job.

But just this week, my good friend's sister was involved in a BAD hit and run. Her car was totalled and she wasn't wearing her seat belt. She was badly injured and couldn't coherently answer any questions as she was in so much pain. She told them it was a hit and run, but they assumed she was drunk (after she was hit she spun around and hit a few parked cars). They wanted her to do a sobriety test when you could barely stand, and she refused to do any tests as all she wanted was to go to the hospital. They took her to jail.
The next morning we took her to the hospital and she had a concussion and a fractured arm. All this, because she failed to give the correct answers to the barrage of questions regarding alcohol from the cops, trying to get her to admit guilt.

BTW, she doesn't even drink! I say damn the cops! If they don't have legit proof, then I at fight 'em to the end (in a respectful and polite manner). Unless you know they've got you pinned, I wouldn't admit to anything. I spent 3 minutes fighting this cop and he gave up as soon as he knew he couldn't pin me. Had I given in, I would have gotten a ticket. I was obviously speeding (which was stupid of me) and I was cutting in and put of lanes (signalling and within the legal allowance), driving very aggressively. He had no reason to let me go...

 

No, I don't mean to make myself out to be a God, but I was just trying to write an entertaining story.

And yes, I did break the law, so they did have reason to pull me over.

However speed limits are a total joke. The national 55MPH speed limit was set during the 70's oil crisis as smrana to conserve fuel.

Speeding does increase the forces in collisions and increases reaction times, but they are not correlated to death rates. In Germany, many areas do not even have speed limits. The death rate on the autobahn is significantly lower than the US interstate system! Accidents and death have more to do with reckless and inexperienced driving; driving at speeds higher than the situation allows and beyond the driver's and the vehicle's capabilities. But hey, it's a great revenue system.

And yes, some PD's do not have quota's, and I applaud those counties/cities. But here in LA they do. There have even been a few newspaper articles about it!

 

About two weeks ago, my coworker was ticketed in an illegal sting! Had she known the rules of the road, she could have fought if off right there and then, rather than in court.

They were ticketing vehicles that were failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians. However, pedestrians only have right of way in a crosswalk or a legally defined "unmarked" crosswalk. They we're conducting this trap mid block in a commercial zone! That is not a legal unmarked crosswalk, as they can only occur at an intersection. However, that's why he was pulled over and that's why he got the ticket. And this was in the city of Alhambra.

I'm not trying to promote speeding, and I aplogize if it sounds like I am. That is not my intent at all. All i'm trying to do is increase awareness of the law and your rights.

 

Making people more aware of the law and rights is fine but you are saying damn the cops for what because they are doing there jobs? Just think how you would react in their situation. Granted there are cops out there that make abuse their powers and are jerks but anyone can be like that. And maybe the speed limits are jokes but the cops didnt make the laws. And tell your friend to wear her seatbelt she might not have gotten so hurt........not to be a dick but I think the nj state troopers would eat you up and spit you out, out here.......

 

Well I appreciate you telling us how not to get trapped when pulled over So thanks. Also, I really don't care all that much that you were speeding since you know it was wrong in the first place, but I can understand going above the limit in a hurry. Though, 50 in a 35 zone is a bit excessive

I know LA cops can be really rude with how they operate and that they are sneaky with giving tickets. So I might be the lone wolf here and not see that much wrong with your post.

 

Agreed, she should have been wearing her belt. But regardless of that fact, she was sober and arrested for no reason. Someone who has suffered a concussion is in no shape to be questioned about drinking and driving, nor should a sobriety test be the first priority of an officer. And the fact that the officers deemed it necessary to jail her BEFORE having her checked by a doctor infuriates me. She could have died had she suffered more internal injuries... And even a concussion should not be taken lightly.

I guess I have a lot of pent up anger since that event happened, and it is reflected in my attitude.

But I say bring it on. I used to have a very high respect of cops... But two years living in LA has altered my attitude. Twice now, the cops here have directly obstructed justice in a way that has directly affected my life. Both times when police assistance was needed, they did more harm and zero good. Personally, I look forward to never giving them the satisfaction of giving me a ticket. I know my rights and I know what to say and/or what not to say. I'll fight each and every officer all the way to court. And with a good lawyer(when needed), the odds of beating a ticket are very high.

 

thats cool that you got out of your ticket.

we ALL don't want tickets so i understand what you did but...

1. it's illegal to speed
2. it's illegal to have radar jamming devices in your car
3. you had front window tint


but then again, now-a-days, who doesn't. drive on people.

 

I don't have a radar jammer, only lidar, which is regulated by the FDA and not the FCC since lasers are not legally defined as communications devices. It's a $100 non moving violation in CA

 

ok but not all cops are like that...but like someone said............drive on..........

 

Wow... I am amazed. Either the people here defending cops are cops themselves or have family members that are cops. I know that cops are essential to enforce the law and keep the peace, but give the a break. He was speeding... we ALL speed! Even cops when they drive their personal vehicles. We ALL have tint on our window. The sun in California burns our faces in the summer!

I have friends and they tell me how it is. Not all but some cops are crooked! And anyone who says no is just ignorant. I use to sell cars for a ford dealership and i had cops coming in all the time. I would get upset sometimes because they would be complete a holes to people for NO REASON. Yes NO REASON.

Again cops are very helpful and i've known alot of them that are awesome and actually want to help people, not just go on power trips.

Thanks for the information btw... I know if im ever in that situation, i know now what i can do to not incriminate myself.

 

my buddy was coming off the 8 heading to SDSU when a cop pulled him over for going 75mph ... -.- are you CEREAL 75 .. come on now

 

ya i remeber when i was in football and there was always a cop watching us practice and one day he stopped 2 talk to us and he was chill and he told us that when u get pulled over just say yes sir, no sir, no mam, yes mam and show them repsect and most cops will let u go just out of that. since that day about 7 years ago i havent got a ticket once.

it works im telling you some of u may say im not gona kiss a cops ___ to get out of a ticket. But remeber this the money ur guna fork out 4 that ticket could be going into ur ride as well.

Plus when they ask the ? do u know why i pulled u over?
Is becuase they want to know whether or not you are going to B.S. w/ them. So if they feel like u are going to B.S. w/ them 9 times out of 10 you'll prob. get that ticket.

(thats the way i look at it)

 

In cali it depends on were u live in L.A. cops go through a lot of $h!+ being in that county. Orange county cops have it easy so if a cop doesnt really care for giving a ticket then they prob. wont.
(i'm not defending cops in anyway but they have a job to do just like us)

w/ that guys friend and the accident as a cop u cant just assume what really happened on one persons accounts of what happened.

say if u were a cop and u were dispatched to that accident ( i think its obvious that ur not gona have a clue what just happened)
"ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT ITS KINDA HARD AS A COP TO JUST COME UP ON A SITUATION AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED". thats all

 

What kind of radar do you have?