Police

[Charli!]

This is more of a 'be careful' warning.

Last night sister got followed home from town by a police riot van (about 2 miles), when she parked outside our house they got out and asked her questions: 'why was she here', 'was this her car', 'was the car registered to this address'. She hadn't been drinking, everything was fine. They cautioned her with 'you were driving a bit faster than people usually drive, but weren't over the speed limit', and left. We thought the questions were a bit odd- generally before a police car follows someone for a few miles surely they'd ring the reg plate of the car in, and then know where it was registered/etc? So we phoned the cops today.. it wasn't a real police van, or a real policeman. It had 'proper' enough van markings, and he wore a uniform, so my sister thought it all was fine- but the policestation has no record of a van being vaguely near the area that night. He did say 'there's been a speight of crime in the area' as the reason for following her- there hasn't been. We have the most goddawful nosy neighbour in the history of the world, if she doesn't know about stuff happening in this neighbourhood then it hasn't happened- and she knows of no burglaries or antisocial behaviour or anything in the past few weeks. The police station have also said that if they had suspected her of drinking- they would have pulled her over and breathalysed her, rather than followed her all that way.

Sister is fine- lights were on in our house so it looked like people were in. But just be careful, all kinds of crazy people can now buy cop outfits over the internet.

[No I'm Not]

That is really freaking scary.

[lizpoona]

That's terrifying. It's good you double-checked with the police station. Are they now on the lookout for these guys? I'd feel safer knowing there was a warning out or something to watch out for cops acting suspiciously odd.

[Bork]

That's really crazy and scary.

Somewhat related question: if you're driving down a somewhat dark street, and the cops try to pull you over but you don't feel comfortable stopping, will they be understanding if you wait until you can pull over near a streetlight, or onto a busier street, or will you get in trouble? Also, is there some way of communicating the fact that you would rather stop in a more secure place to them without stopping and telling them?

[Charli!]

Yeah, the police have been round and everything- they've checked the computer records and my sister car reg plate was not checked. Its also against police procedure to pull over a lone female in a dark, quiet place when you have no actual suspicions/evidence/reason- so they are taking it very seriously and seem a bit freaked out about it.

[rowan]

I'm not sure how you could communicate that to them, apart from calling 911 while you drive to another area and telling the operator that you don't feel comfortable pulling over where you are*. You could maybe put on your hazards, and go slowly?

I don't think the cops *should* get mad at you for wanting to be safe, but OTOH, cops are human, and I imagine they would be somewhat suspicious that you were trying to get away.


*once, we rear-ended a car on a slippery highway, and the cop told us to pull off and go left at the light then right at the next light and pull into that parking lot (there not being many places to pull over safely). The car we hit went left and then LEFT -- turning on a yellow. By the time the light turned green, we had no idea where to go. So we pulled over onto a side street. The cop went past us, and then we had no idea what to do. So we called 911, and they said "the cop thought you were ditching out" which is ridiculous, because he was behind us until he passed us after the light turned green. Anyway, the operator told us where they were, so we drove up to them and sorted out stuff.

[Sonic#]

Somewhat related question: if you're driving down a somewhat dark street, and the cops try to pull you over but you don't feel comfortable stopping, will they be understanding if you wait until you can pull over near a streetlight, or onto a busier street, or will you get in trouble? Also, is there some way of communicating the fact that you would rather stop in a more secure place to them without stopping and telling them?

My cousin recently got stopped by an officer for doing a rolling stop at a stop sign. She drove about a mile and a half to the nearest lit parking lot (she being in the country, where streetlights weren't frequent). She had been recommended to do so by her dad. She turned on her hazard lights to signal that she knew he was there.

It didn't go over well. It didn't help that she got Lietenant Jackass.

She stopped, and he immediately jumped out of the car yelling, his gun out. He barked at her to keep her hands on the wheel. He was understandably scared at first and had to be sure that nothing was up for driving that far, but after that, rather than calming down somewhat, he took a really superior and disdainful tone. "I had to call off back-up, you know." I shan't tell the rest of the story. He was an ass.

So as to whether they'll be understanding, that depends on the officer. It's rough when an officer takes the behavior as suspicious and then treats you badly for it, but... I don't see a safer alternative than turning the hazards on and driving for a bit.

[Barkey]

This is more of a 'be careful' warning.

Last night sister got followed home from town by a police riot van (about 2 miles), when she parked outside our house they got out and asked her questions: 'why was she here', 'was this her car', 'was the car registered to this address'. She hadn't been drinking, everything was fine. They cautioned her with 'you were driving a bit faster than people usually drive, but weren't over the speed limit', and left. We thought the questions were a bit odd- generally before a police car follows someone for a few miles surely they'd ring the reg plate of the car in, and then know where it was registered/etc? So we phoned the cops today.. it wasn't a real police van, or a real policeman. It had 'proper' enough van markings, and he wore a uniform, so my sister thought it all was fine- but the policestation has no record of a van being vaguely near the area that night. He did say 'there's been a speight of crime in the area' as the reason for following her- there hasn't been. We have the most goddawful nosy neighbour in the history of the world, if she doesn't know about stuff happening in this neighbourhood then it hasn't happened- and she knows of no burglaries or antisocial behaviour or anything in the past few weeks. The police station have also said that if they had suspected her of drinking- they would have pulled her over and breathalysed her, rather than followed her all that way.

Sister is fine- lights were on in our house so it looked like people were in. But just be careful, all kinds of crazy people can now buy cop outfits over the internet.

That is extremely odd. Police vans have a specific mission, they don't detain and question people. I'm sure something was off with their uniforms, but most folks who aren't cops or don't know cops can't always tell. The driving question they asked would have set off alarm bells right away. Most people around here (Keep in mind I do live in LA...) drive right up to the speed limit most of the time, my rule of thumb being a constant 5 over unless I'm relaxed and just cruising.

I'd tell her to filter that information to the nosy neighbor so she can disseminate it to others, and hopefully the local LEO's are aware of the van and on the lookout. If a real cop had driven by it, some shit would have gone down.

[spacefem]

Regarding sonic's story... sure he was an ass, but it's not like he could give her an *extra* ticket for making him drive so far. I think being yelled at is worth the risk. I would take the assness, and just keep saying bluntly that I didn't feel comfortable pulling over on a dark road. Sometimes you have to follow your instincts and value your own safety above someone else's convenience.

[Pyro Chick]

Somewhat related question: if you're driving down a somewhat dark street, and the cops try to pull you over but you don't feel comfortable stopping, will they be understanding if you wait until you can pull over near a streetlight, or onto a busier street, or will you get in trouble? Also, is there some way of communicating the fact that you would rather stop in a more secure place to them without stopping and telling them?

I remember hearing somewhere that you are legally supposed to wait and pull over in a more public place if you don't feel comfortable, but that might have only been if it was an unmarked cop car. Hmm.

I'm always incredibly nervous about this. I feel like if an officer gave you an extra ticket for waiting to pull over, you could probably get it argued in court and thrown out.

[monk]

unless the cop pulling you over is an asshat, finding a well lit place to pull over is safer for him and for you and he/she should be understanding. In either case the decision is up to you and it's not like the cop is going to ram you or anything as long as you're driving carefully.

[Barkey]

unless the cop pulling you over is an asshat, finding a well lit place to pull over is safer for him and for you and he/she should be understanding. In either case the decision is up to you and it's not like the cop is going to ram you or anything as long as you're driving carefully.

That's a great point, the number one consideration police officers think of is officer safety during a stop. To be honest if they are a half decent cop, they should think to appreciate that you picked a well lit area for them to stop you at, for their sake if anything. I know it makes alot of people defensive, but that's why we shine flashlights in your eyes and keep our searchlights blinding your mirrors when we're fooling around in our vehicles getting stuff, so we can't get jumped as easily.

[PandorasFox]

In the United Kingdom anyway if its a marked police car they will usually try to attempt to pull you over in a well lit area and probably stalk after you for a little bit till they can find a safe area. (mind you they have pulled me over in the middle of nowhere before). But you do have the right to find a well lit place or outside a house / building etc as safety sake. The officer might be a bit pissed as they dont know your searching for a well lit area but nevermind once you explain its safe.
If its an UNMARKED police car you definitely have the right to wait till your in a well lit area. Even driving to the local police station is allowed as you don't know if he might be fake or not..

[Dalal Hecate]

I live in Australia, and the only people who impersonate police officers are imbeciles. I don't know about other countries, but in Australia, we have police officers who go 'undercover' on the roads. They drive outwardly normal, everyday cars and wear casual clothes so that no one knows that they are police officers.

They have computers in their cars that when you type in the number plate of the car they are following, information about the car and driver come onto the screen, showing you if the driver had ever committed an offence. Well, these imbeciles have placed fitted flashing red, white and blue lights to their cars and pose as policemen. They stop cars and tell the drivers of the cars they stopped that they had committed a traffic offence and ask for an upfront cash payment for the fine.

That's the worst thing (that I know of) that people who impersonate police officers do.

[Kira_Valoka]

Somewhat related question: if you're driving down a somewhat dark street, and the cops try to pull you over but you don't feel comfortable stopping, will they be understanding if you wait until you can pull over near a streetlight, or onto a busier street, or will you get in trouble? Also, is there some way of communicating the fact that you would rather stop in a more secure place to them without stopping and telling them?

The advice that my mother has given me since before I even got my learner's permit was this:
If you're driving at night and/or in an area you don't feel is safe, slow down and signal appropriately so they shouldn't think you are evading. Additionally (especially if it is an unmarked vehicle), you should call the local police station or HP or equivalent and ask that they notify the officer following < your plate number > at < your location > that you are looking for a safe, public, well lit place to stop and that you are not trying to evade.

I have, fortunately, never had to do this, but I hope that this is helpful.

[Aum]

They can't fake police badges, can they? You can always ask to see the badge number and then call 911 to verify. If they start making a stink about it, then exercise your rights (or your safety) and lock them out, or drive away. Even if it turns out it was a real cop, it shouldn't be your fault because they weren't giving you a chance to verify their identity.

You ALSO have the right to ask police to show you ID, and verify it.

[monk]

Uniformed law enforcement are not only require to have their badge prominently displayed but have their name also displayed right on the upper front part of their uniform (in the U.S.). And I believe it is also within your rights to request a second officer to a scene before you get out of the vehicle. I know in New Mexico you can actually request a supervisor to any scene you are pulled over in.

[Bork]

DEAD THREAD REVIVAL MAKES ME WANT TO CRY.