I Love Gwinnett County Police

[Mac-MerC]

True story.... about 3 nights

Recently my head lights have been cutting off while i have been driving... so i guess i've finally been hit with the dreded LCM issue also (gettting it looked at this week). So im on on interstate 85 north, heading north of Atlanta. just cruzing... about 72 and i notice a blacked out Wimpala (one of the vehicles of choice for our lovely and courageous GCPD) he's 2 lanes over and about 2 car lengths back... im not concerned cuz im cruising.... and lucky me.... the damn head lights cut off :)... so since ol boy is right there i decide to put on my hazards and try to make my way over to the right hand lanes.... so guess what he does?... i try to slow down and let him pass... he decides to slow down his damn self and try to stay behind me.. Ha @ that, i knew it was gonna happpen. So he puts the blue lights on me... so im laughing. i ride a lil bit until im on a lighted part of the interstate (they have 3 million lights but only have like 50 on at times).. everyone knows that the fog lights arent that bright, i might have rolled over something on the shoulder. So bam i finally stop.. do my regular routine.. interior lights on and radio off. i usually have my liscense and insurance card ready by the time the officer gets to the car but this time i wanted to see what was his issue..... and it never fails. soon as he gets up to the car... "drivers liscense and insurance".... i ask "why am i being pulled over?"... again he repeats his first question without answering mine... we stare each other in the eye and he ask again... since he's being a jerk i make a slick comment about dont shoot me when i reach in my pocket, i dont wanna make the news tonight, he ask my favorite questions "are u on probation, parole or have any warrantss out for u?" i laugh of course and say i dont know..... so as usual while he's running the info another unit pulls up (never fails)... NOW THIS IS WHERE IT GETS GOOD... he comes back up to the car and tries to get me to sign a citation.... i ask what the hell am i getting a ticket for?!,, and in his exact words "IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA TO OPERATE A VEHICLE ON ANY INTERSTATE OR STATE ROAD U MUST HAVE TWO WORKING HEAD LIGHTS, I SEE THAT UR VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE WORKING HEAD LIGHTS THATS WHY I AM ISSUING U THIS CITATION''...... Man i looked at this MF'er... and said u have to be Bullsh***in me. he just went a long with his speech about call the number on the back and this will be ur court date blah blah blah. i told him that the ticket was bulls***t and ive been having isues with my lights. i told him that i still have fog lights that work and all my other lights work which he seen. as usual he wasnt trying to hear it. i asked him... u were tailing me for like the last 2 miles and u seen my lights work.. so y u try to give me this ticket?.... his answer "SIGN THE TICKET MR WASHINGTON OR U WILL BE GOING TO JAIL AND UR CAR WILL BE IMPOUNDED AND U WONT BE GETTING IT BACK WITH ITS MESSED UP HEAD LIGHTS U SO CLAIM".... I laugh, straight line signature across the citation. Now he ask me if i can get my head lights to work... i tell him again they go off at will, the switch is still set to on and as u see they arent on. he ask if i have fog lights? (im thinking i just told ya ass that i have fog lights and all the other lights work fine)... so since he decides that its safe enough for me to drive home since im only a few miles away from home he tells me to ride with my fog lights.... hazard lights.... and interior lights on.... Interior?... WTF!?... he was dead ass serious. he said im lucky the fogs work cuz if they did not i would have to get someone to come get and i would have to leave the car till the morning. so i ask him if no one could come get me would he have given me a ride... with no hesitation he says "NO"..... And then his final stunt, he follows me all the way home.... all the way, even comes up to the apartment gate (i guess he trailed me for my safety), damn shame.
I got a ticket for this shid.... not a warning ticket.. a real ticket.
of course im gonna fight it... its a damn shame popo's act like that sometimes.

i can tell a story like every other week about how i have interactions with GCPD......... its really sad, but oh well could be worse ;)

[Motorhead350]

As much as I hate to admit it, it's not a BS ticket. If the headlights have a problem... they have a problem. It would have been nice if he would have given you a chance to explain yourself, but in the end the headlights are malfunctioning and that's why you have the ticket.

Now if you repair the headlights and bring a repair order to court you might have a chance, but if they were broken at the time of the ticket I think you are SOL. The officer was just keeping the roads safe even if he was a jerk. Saying "Don't shoot me" didn't help either dude. It's all in the attitude. I always start with a friendly Hi or good morning/evening whatever it is. Hands on the wheel, window down as they approach the car, turn the car off when they are midway between your car and theirs as they are walking over to you.

It's all a game dude. It was nice he followed you though. He was protecting other motorists and you from being hit, even if the roads are well lit as they are in my area too.

Sorry to hear about it, but fix it and move on. You still have your freedom and your car. ;)

[RacerX]

No matter how "Right" you are, you don't mess with their heads. I bet if you were nice as pie from the start, you wouldn't have got the citation. BTW, slam the right hand side of the dash from underneath near the base of the steering wheel. They'll come on again, it jars the relay enough to work until the relay gets hot again.

[Egon Spengler]

Fight the ticket and bring as much information on the headlight issue as you possibly can. Including stuff from this site on the matter. Tell them you had the part ordered and your car was your only means of transportation and that you were hoping to get by with functioning lights until the part came in, but they quit on you again while the officer was behind you. Don't be a smart ass to a cop. They will treat you how you treat them. Some not so much, but you got to at least try to be nice. You be a d!ck to them, they will be a d!ck to you. Sarcasm can be picked up quite easily and they will get the last laugh.

[CBT]

Fix 'em, take the old broke part with to court, it will more than likely be dismissed once you prove you fixed it. Kind of shiddy that you got an actual ticket, but then again, he doesn't know you from adam or eve, for all he knows you're lights have been out for a long long time.

[Mr. Man]

If you had been polite and explained the LCM issue you might have got a warning but you guaranteed the ticket when you gave him attitude.

[Mac-MerC]

........ my lights were on from the start...... when they cut off thats when i cut on my flashers and decided to get over. he seen that i had head lights, and i did try to explain the issue. the story must have came across wrong in you all eyes. lights on and window down... i said hello.. he said liscense and regestration. he had a stick up his ass anyway. he f'd with me and i f'd with him. i will probably get outta the ticket. but he had no right to get smart with me like he did. i understand they are police... but f that, he is a man just like me. hiding behind and using a badge to try and belittle or demean someone is a coward move. im used to being "harrassd" by the police.... a weekly thing, someone of u will never know the feeling. if me asking why he pulled me over was wrong.... i dont wanna b right.

he gave me a ticket for driving with no head lights when he seen that i had had lights. but if u all feel like he did the right thing oh well.

yall dont get it... he gave me a ticket for not having functioning head lights before he knew what the deal was. as soon as the lights went out i tried to pull over.... he asked all the questions after he wrote the citation... then he hit me with that BS "its already written, i cant do anything about it"

I thought it was a funy story and some other pl would b like "man f the police!".... guess not, my loss

[Mac-MerC]

wouldnt a resonable officer ask why did u put your hazards on and pull over before writing a damn ticket?.... im just saying tho

[Motorhead350]

Well I am not one to judge because I wasn't there, but jerks will be jerks in all fields. I also do not see the police as the police, just people like the rest of us.

The last time a officer was messing with me I played right back, but not in the same tone. I was caught haulinga$$ out of every stop sign in a college area. I get pulled over by an unmarked car. The officer says

"You were going fast out of those intersections back there. What if you hit a student?"

"That would have been a mess."

"How about I write you a few tickets, maybe that will teach you a lesion."

"Umm naa that's ok. I get it."

Sure enough he was gone, but this was the city, not the suburbs. There is a huge difference in city and suburban police. I guess with less crime revenue must come from traffic stops. In a weird way I feel like the police are robbing me sometimes, but for the times I have gotten a ticket for speeding or tinted plate, I was guilty.

[RacerX]

Not being a dink, but, you admitted to him about a known hazzardous problem with the car. In some states, there's no defense since if you knew there's a problem with the lights, you have to get them fixed before you drive on any roads.

You should have pulled the " Oh my! My lights aren't on? What the heck!!! Oh no! Thank you so much officer, what should I do now?"

I was upset at having a bad day last year, hit a pot hole on a street corner (after a legal stop then go after checking) and spun the right tire coming out of the hole in my wife's Blazer. Officer was right around the corner. I gave him crap, wouldn't let him finish his sentences, was a smart ace and he gave me a ticket for blowing a red light with a big grin on his face. He even tried to double ticket me. I was so mad, I didn't realize until 5 mins later that he never gave my license and reg back (Two more ticketable offenses!). I immediately drove to the police station, told the superior officer on duty what happened (That I was a dink), apologized, he called the unit and gave me my license and reg back. Make friends with police, not enemies! Sheesh, I work on a lot of officer's ad a couple sherriff's computers the town over, shame on me!

[ShadyLurker]

Everyone has bad days, maybe he was having one. Even though it will cost you precious time out of your life a reasonable judge will most likely drop the fine. I have zero luck in the state of GA and hate driving through it. My last trip through there cost me 710 dollars for speeding in a construction zone. For some reason 2/3rds of the state is always under construction. Don't let it ruin your day.

[rayjay]

Plain and simple from reading the 1st post here and no other, you talked yourself right into a ticket. Saw this time & again over 3.5 decades. Get it fixed ASAP and take the receipts to court.

[GAMike]

Let me add some clarity here.......
There are good Gwinnett County Cops out there, but if you are Black and get pulled, often times you are sunk no matter if you are sweet as pie or an SOB.

I have a couple very good friends who are Gwinnett County Police. These guys will be the first to admit, that their department "profiles", and purposely tries to make people uncomfortable during a stop. Especially on 85 at night. (Huge drug corridor to the NE. They approach every stop like you have 10 kilo's in the trunk.). I also have Black friends who have been treated like Mac was on the same stretch of highway.....

So while conventional wisdom would lead one to chastise Mac for getting a lil PO'd at how this officer handled this situation. Please remember that this is GA we are talking about. Things get done "a little differently" down here in Gwinnett County GA. Every state has tough counties/cities to be sure. I know Mecklenberg County NC is similar in that they are pretty aggressive in these situations. Georgia just has more than most, because they are either making $$$ for the municipalities they serve, or they are hyper aggressive about making a big newsworthy drug bust......

[rayjay]

From what I read it was police business transaction and sounded like he had been stopped by me in rural Madison Co, NYS, regardless of race, religion, color, creed. I didn't paid to go home to my family dead.

[GAMike]

No worries Ray.... All I can say is that if it were me or you that were pulled over in that situation chances are the officer would have taken a whole different approach to the stop, and not because of anything we did or did not do.............

:beatnik:I know its hard to fathom, but believe me on this......... Not every officer here in GA (Gwinnett County for that matter) is as "professional" as you were......... Carry on:burnout:

[rayjay]

No worries Ray.... All I can say is that if it were me or you that were pulled over in that situation chances are the officer would have taken a whole different approach to the stop, and not because of anything we did or did not do.............

:beatnik:I know its hard to fathom, but believe me on this......... Not every officer here in GA (Gwinnett County for that matter) is as "professional" as you were......... Carry on:burnout:

Mike, doesn't have to be GA or Gwinnett County. I did enough personnel investigations over the years to know exactly what you are talking about. Its not personal, its the job being attacked, but some never get that. :shake:

[Big Black Beast]

Just fix it, take a picture to prove it's fixed and explain the issue to the judge. Most likely, he will drop it.

[PonyUP]

Let me add some clarity here.......
There are good Gwinnett County Cops out there, but if you are Black and get pulled, often times you are sunk no matter if you are sweet as pie or an SOB.

I have a couple very good friends who are Gwinnett County Police. These guys will be the first to admit, that their department "profiles", and purposely tries to make people uncomfortable during a stop. Especially on 85 at night. (Huge drug corridor to the NE. They approach every stop like you have 10 kilo's in the trunk.). I also have Black friends who have been treated like Mac was on the same stretch of highway.....

So while conventional wisdom would lead one to chastise Mac for getting a lil PO'd at how this officer handled this situation. Please remember that this is GA we are talking about. Things get done "a little differently" down here in Gwinnett County GA. Every state has tough counties/cities to be sure. I know Mecklenberg County NC is similar in that they are pretty aggressive in these situations. Georgia just has more than most, because they are either making $$$ for the municipalities they serve, or they are hyper aggressive about making a big newsworthy drug bust......

+1, I gotta stand behind Mac on this one. First off, the headlights were working, the minute there was a problem he hit the hazzards and pulled to the side of the rode, no infraction, he did exactly what he should. You tell me where the law was violated? If he is legally driving, and a problem ensues, aren't you supposed to turn on the hazzards and pull to the side of the road? Isn't that what Mac did?

Second off, I'm White and have never been asked if I'm on probation or have warrants, but it's one of the first questions asked Mac.

I live in Gwinnett County, and while I haven't been pulled over, I did have to serve as a witness for a little bar incident. And while talking to that cop, who was actually really cool, he wasn't venting frsutration to me about some BS profiling he had witnessed. So I don't put it past them at all.

I think Mac got railroaded but good.

[Leadfoot281]

True story....

i can tell a story like every other week about how i have interactions with GCPD......... its really sad, but oh well could be worse ;)

Been there, done that...

You don't have to be in Ga to encounter bored cops. I once got pulled over 19 times in just 93 days. I got one ticket out of all that. They'd follow me (and loads of other people too) for miles waiting for me to screw up.

I once drove all summer with a lightly cracked tail light lense. Then they'd pull me over for that once they seen I had a styrofoam cooler in the front seat. The cooler would get searched for booze and I'd offer him a pop.

Another story involves a ten year old boy getting frisked for cigs after walking home from a babysitting job at 10 pm. He wasn't even smoking!

One guy got a DWI while mowing his lawn! Yep, the cop stopped his car, walked across his yard and arrested him on his own lawn mower! That poor guy got hammered by insurance rates, fines, ect just for tipping a few brews while cutting his lawn. I bet he won't vote against the town getting new cop cars again!

All this happened in a town of 1,500 people. Typically the worst crime seen around here is when bored teens start tipping over sleeping cows or playing mailbox baseball.

I fixed the problem by spending $40,000 sueing a penniless dirtbag. Trust me when I say this; I made waves doing that. The whole town was talking about it. They've left me alone since then.

Not sure what to tell ya... Just try not to be a target and get that car fixed ASAP. Never give 'em a reason to pull you over. Avoid wearing any t-shirt that says 'Metallica' on it too. That seems to helps a lot too.

[Mac-MerC]

Never give 'em a reason to pull you over.

....... haahahahahhahahahahahahhahahah aha... its the south
whats the name of the disease that Michael Jackson said he had?.....

[PonyUP]

....... haahahahahhahahahahahahhahahah aha... its the south
whats the name of the disease that Michael Jackson said he had?.....

:lol: I think it was called Bleachitis, he also had a touch (pun intended) of gettinlittleboypantoranus

[Papillon]

....... haahahahahhahahahahahahhahahah aha... its the south
whats the name of the disease that Michael Jackson said he had?.....


Lololol! Your response made me laugh. I think it's called Vitiligo. Lol

I might be a white female, but I know from personal situations how some - and I stress SOME - cops in the south can be. Doesn't seem like there was much you coulda done or said to get out of it. Sucks.

I got pulled over and was issued a ticket in Westchester, NY a few years back for ONE a broken headlight. I fixed it & went to my local precinct to get the ticket thrown out. I think you're on the right track about getting it fixed & fighting it. Good luck buddy!

[PonyUP]

Lololol! Your response made me laugh. I think it's called Vitiligo. Lol

I might be a white female, but I know from personal situations how some - and I stress SOME - cops in the south can be. Doesn't seem like there was much you coulda done or said to get out of it. Sucks.

I got pulled over and was issued a ticket in Westchester, NY a few years back for ONE a broken headlight. I fixed it & went to my local precinct to get the ticket thrown out. I think you're on the right track about getting it fixed & fighting it. Good luck buddy!

Yeah, it's definitely a SOME thing, but probably happens throughout the country more than we would like to admit.

Mac is good people, and it sucks seeing him treated this way

[Leadfoot281]

....... haahahahahhahahahahahahhahahah aha... its the south
whats the name of the disease that Michael Jackson said he had?.....

Ohhh, I see now. Try wearing an Alan Jackson t-shirt and see if that helps.

[PonyUP]

Ohhh, I see now. Try wearing an Alan Jackson t-shirt and see if that helps.

And a cowboy hat, I'm just saying :D

[CBT]

Lololol! Your response made me laugh. I think it's called Vitiligo. Lol

I might be a white female, but I know from personal situations how some - and I stress SOME - cops in the south can be. Doesn't seem like there was much you coulda done or said to get out of it. Sucks.

I got pulled over and was issued a ticket in Westchester, NY a few years back for ONE a broken headlight. I fixed it & went to my local precinct to get the ticket thrown out. I think you're on the right track about getting it fixed & fighting it. Good luck buddy!

You might be? I'm not sure how to break this to you......

[Papillon]

You might be? I'm not sure how to break this to you......


LMeffinAOOOO!!!!!!!!!! :rofl::rofl::rofl: I just laughed so hard.

[FordNut]

If you had been polite and explained the LCM issue you might have got a warning but you guaranteed the ticket when you gave him attitude.

Agreed....

[rayjay]

[QUOTE=Leadfoot281;1019542]Been there, done that...


One guy got a DWI while mowing his lawn! Yep, the cop stopped his car, walked across his yard and arrested him on his own lawn mower! That poor guy got hammered by insurance rates, fines, ect just for tipping a few brews while cutting his lawn. I bet he won't vote against the town getting new cop cars again!

QUOTE]

10,000 Lakes, that would be MN right? You have some messed up laws there if this could happen.

Just for clarity sake, in my state anyway, there are two laws for headlamps. One would be a equipment violation such as Papillion received where if you fix it before sundown the following day it is dismissed. The other is Driving during the hours of darkness without headlamps, and now when windshield wipers are on. That one is a moving violation and will cost you points on your license and a higher fine.

[Vortex]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRa9uhiAPBs

[Mercguy04]

So the real problem here is DWB, Right

[SID210SA]

So the real problem here is DWB, Right

Just what I was thinking....but then again....it was dark out and most of the million lights on the road werent working, so who knows.

Reminds me of one night a long time ago,

I was 17 and it was about 8:30 pm. I was out crusing with a couple of friends, we were in 3 different cars, when one had to stop by his house to pick something up....so me and the other friend stopped at a parking lot down the street from his house to chat it up until the other came back.

Saw one County cop car pass by, then about 5 minutes later we were surrounded by, not one or two or even three cop cars but eight of them!

Turned out to be a gang unit.....back then the typical gang members were driving big boats, like olds and caprice cars. We had a Dodge Colt, Hyundai Scoope and I was driving an 86 Nissan Sentra.

They got us out of our cars, frisked us and my pager went off as one of the County officers was searching my car.....another County officer came up to me and grabbed my pager out of my pocket, read me the number and asked if it was my drug contact....I said nope....its my Mom...he said sure it is.....Then I said, call it and find out.....he didnt...just gave it back to me. We were let go after they got our contact information.....

So what was that all about.....I dont know....but I do know that some cops give alot of other cops a bad name!! We werent doing anything illegal, no loud music (no music on at all) not causing a disturbance, nothing...just sitting there talking while waiting for our other friend to show up.

[TAKEDOWN]

I've always enjoyed this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8&feature=related

[sailsmen]

The last few times I was pulled over I was asked any weapons or warrants.

[Motorhead350]

Customs checked my car in the crossing from AZ to CA. Asked if I had any fruits. I said I have a Cherry Coke. MOVE ON! There were not too happy, but it was funny to me.

[Spectragod]

The last few times I was pulled over I was asked any weapons or warrants.

Reminds me of the last LEO contact I had, asked the same question, only we had warrants and several guns between us, of course the warrants were for the guy we were waiting for, and we were supposed to have guns..... dag gone nosy neighbors.

[Leadfoot281]

[QUOTE=Leadfoot281;1019542]Been there, done that...


One guy got a DWI while mowing his lawn! Yep, the cop stopped his car, walked across his yard and arrested him on his own lawn mower! That poor guy got hammered by insurance rates, fines, ect just for tipping a few brews while cutting his lawn. I bet he won't vote against the town getting new cop cars again!

QUOTE]

10,000 Lakes, that would be MN right? You have some messed up laws there if this could happen.

Just for clarity sake, in my state anyway, there are two laws for headlamps. One would be a equipment violation such as Papillion received where if you fix it before sundown the following day it is dismissed. The other is Driving during the hours of darkness without headlamps, and now when windshield wipers are on. That one is a moving violation and will cost you points on your license and a higher fine.

Yep, in Minnesota, a riding lawn mower is considered a "motor vehical" so don't opperate one under the influence.

Remember, buzzed mowing is drunk mowing. Under the influence, under arrest. Friends don't let friends mow drunk.

[rayjay]

[QUOTE=rayjay;1019714]

Yep, in Minnesota, a riding lawn mower is considered a "motor vehical" so don't opperate one under the influence.

Remember, buzzed mowing is drunk mowing. Under the influence, under arrest. Friends don't let friends mow drunk.

What happened to the 4th Amendment in Minnesota?

[4drcbra]

GA o.c.g.a. 40-8-7 unsafe vehicle code. O.c.g.a. 40-8-22 is section for headlights. Black and white plain as day. Maybe he could of been nicer maybe you could have been too. End of day no matter how u slice it lights went out and driver had knowledge of issue. Direct violation of state law. Thats where officer discretion comes into play. Its ovet now fix it, pay it and mive on

[69428SCJ]

Customs checked my car in the crossing from AZ to CA. Asked if I had any fruits. I said I have a Cherry Coke. MOVE ON! There were not too happy, but it was funny to me.

It wasn't customs, it's the California department of stupid bureaucrats having another state agency draining precious tax payers dollars to keep people employed, aka the people that make sure aren't bringing in any foreign flora into the state. I've yet to figure out why they even care so much.

[PonyUP]

GA o.c.g.a. 40-8-7 unsafe vehicle code. O.c.g.a. 40-8-22 is section for headlights. Black and white plain as day. Maybe he could of been nicer maybe you could have been too. End of day no matter how u slice it lights went out and driver had knowledge of issue. Direct violation of state law. Thats where officer discretion comes into play. Its ovet now fix it, pay it and mive on

I disagree, if the lights were functioning and the minute one went out Mac hit his hazzards and pulled to the side of the road, where's the violation? That is exactly what you are supposed to do. I don't blame him for having attitude when the cop rolled the cherries, he didn't do anything wrong, so he is supposed to kiss his ass?

[ROCOB]

I disagree, if the lights were functioning and the minute one went out Mac hit his hazzards and pulled to the side of the road, where's the violation? That is exactly what you are supposed to do. I don't blame him for having attitude when the cop rolled the cherries, he didn't do anything wrong, so he is supposed to kiss his ass?

From the first post.

"Recently my head lights have been cutting off while i have been driving... so i guess i've finally been hit with the dreded LCM issue also (gettting it looked at this week)."

sounds like a known intermittent problem...

[PonyUP]

From the first post.

"Recently my head lights have been cutting off while i have been driving... so i guess i've finally been hit with the dreded LCM issue also (gettting it looked at this week)."

sounds like a known intermittent problem...

Fair enough, but the cop doesn't know that. When the issue happened while driving he pulled over and turned on the hazzards. Whether he knew of the problem or not, when it happened he did what he was supposed to do and the cop had no way of knowing that it had happened before when he lit the cherries, so I still see no violation

[rayjay]

Ponyup, I only read Mac's opening to this. In that he only pulled to side of the road when he was directed to do so. Had he done it on his own, yes it may have made a difference. Moving into the right lane with hazards on and continuing to drive sends a mixed signal message to LEO whom he knew was following. Plain and simple a drivers attitude often dictates what happens at a VTL stop for a minor infraction.

[PonyUP]

Ponyup, I only read Mac's opening to this. In that he only pulled to side of the road when he was directed to do so. Had he done it on his own, yes it may have made a difference. Moving into the right lane with hazards on and continuing to drive sends a mixed signal message to LEO whom he knew was following. Plain and simple a drivers attitude often dictates what happens at a VTL stop for a minor infraction.

I may have misread it, if that's the case, then you are definitely correct Ray. In all instances with LEOs it's probably best to just be polite. It's the best chance of escape

[GAMike]

I know you are supposed to be polite to an officer who pulls you over. Everyone does.......

Put yourself in Mac's shoes though...... A black guy who has been pulled over on more than a few occasions by the GCPD for no good reason.

It would be hard for most of us to maintain our composure under these circumstances.

I have many very close black friends, and they all will tell me "as close as we are, you have no idea what it is like to be a black man in this world".

My friends have on many occasions told me about how they were harrassed just because of the color of their skin from boyhood on. Even my friends I grew up with in Massachussetts.........

So, could Mac have had a slightly better attitude. For sure. Can you insert yourself in this specific situation as a white guy and see a different outcome? Maybe..... Can you walk in Mac's shoes and really appreciate the lever of frustation, not so much with this particular incident, but with his whole experience with the Police Dept.? Probably not.

If it were me, and I had a history for getting pulled for no good reason, I might be inclined to speak my peice as well. Like Pony says "Mac is good people" and does not deserve to be treated like a criminal because an officer has some preconceived notion of who he might be......

Maybe that was not the case here, but in a few leading up to this one it was...

[rayjay]

GAMike, you are correct, I can not walk a mile in Mac's shoes. I had no idea Mac was black until it was brought up here. It should not matter, but I understand that it still does in places and not just the south, believe me. I'm not going to make an issue of it, but we used to catch grief for pulling over too many African American persons. Uhm, at night, how the hell do I know who is driving the car I'm stopping. Must be that damn purple light on the dash again. That was our answer, we had a detector that told us who was driving a particular car so knew who to stop. Come on...

Frankly I'm done with this. My main point was attitude usually directs how a encounter over a minor violation goes. FWIW, to our ladies on here, turning on tears only turned on my pen, now the computer. Keep in mind also that with todays fiscal realities, traffic tickets are a cash cow for governments. 7D103 out of service Control....

[GAMike]

The subject does cut a bidirectional swath for sure Ray. Thats why I hate the subject with a passion, but in the case you illustrate as well as Mac's, the shoe unfortunately fits.

People are so jaded about racism because it is now a low value word, so commonly used. Race card for this, race card to get consideration for that...... What you did was because I am ______. I'm gonna sue........

So when something racist genuinly occurs it does not impact society the way it should. This statement is not skin tone specific by any means. Folks in the black community will freely admit making distinctions/characterizations from light skinned to dark skinned folks. This is a version of racism as much as any black v. white or white v. black situations.

Racism out in the open or hidden behind a veil of self rightiousness, or in any other form, is pure BS.


GAMike, you are correct, I can not walk a mile in Mac's shoes. I had no idea Mac was black until it was brought up here. It should not matter, but I understand that it still does in places and not just the south, believe me. I'm not going to make an issue of it, but we used to catch grief for pulling over too many African American persons. Uhm, at night, how the hell do I know who is driving the car I'm stopping. Must be that damn purple light on the dash again. That was our answer, we had a detector that told us who was driving a particular car so knew who to stop. Come on...

Frankly I'm done with this. My main point was attitude usually directs how a encounter over a minor violation goes. FWIW, to our ladies on here, turning on tears only turned on my pen, now the computer. Keep in mind also that with todays fiscal realities, traffic tickets are a cash cow for governments. 7D103 out of service Control....

[Mac-MerC]

Ponyup, I only read Mac's opening to this. In that he only pulled to side of the road when he was directed to do so. Had he done it on his own, yes it may have made a difference. Moving into the right lane with hazards on and continuing to drive sends a mixed signal message to LEO whom he knew was following. Plain and simple a drivers attitude often dictates what happens at a VTL stop for a minor infraction.

Wrong...........
I put on my hazards and slowed down... since he was trailing he decided to slow down and as soon as i got into his lane thats when he decided to cut the lights on me. i might have worded it wrong or u might have missread it.
he probably was bored... but since my lights pretty much lit up the highway there was no way that he wouldnt notice that they went out.

[Mac-MerC]

GA o.c.g.a. 40-8-7 unsafe vehicle code. O.c.g.a. 40-8-22 is section for headlights. Black and white plain as day. Maybe he could of been nicer maybe you could have been too. End of day no matter how u slice it lights went out and driver had knowledge of issue. Direct violation of state law. Thats where officer discretion comes into play. Its ovet now fix it, pay it and mive on

ok Officer.....
u are a cop arent u?

[4drcbra]

Violation is he knew the problem existed and drove anyway. Im just playing devils advocate. I provided code sections just he could read them and go to court with knowledge on topic to go to court with other than " hes an a-hole and I was profiled". Judges hear it all yhe time and dont care. End of day law violated and thats what court will sife on.

[fastblackmerc]

Violation is he knew the problem existed and drove anyway. Im just playing devils advocate. I provided code sections just he could read them and go to court with knowledge on topic to go to court with other than " hes an a-hole and I was profiled". Judges hear it all yhe time and dont care. End of day law violated and thats what court will sife on.

Not really.....

The P.O. didn't know that the problem existed....... how could he?

I'd go to court, prove the problem is fixed, the violation should get thrown out or reduced.

IMHO... the lesson to be learned is - treat other people how yow would like to be treated......

Wasn't that the "Golden Rule"?

[4drcbra]

Id go to.court as well. I think discretion should have been used in his particular situation. I k.ow there are officers out there that profile and treat people poorly. Just know there are far more good cops than bad ones. Again, I only listed code sections to help not to prove guilt or innocense. After all I wasnt there. Good luck.

[Billboard]

Another comment, good job turning the radio off and opening the window, but getting your license and registration can look like fidgeting and maybe you are trying to hide something, or reach for a gun. I usually will roll down the windows and turn the radio off, and interior light on. Place both hands on the steering wheel and wait for the officer to approach. If (when) they ask for the registration and license I will tell them it is in the glove box (or where ever) and grab them. I do not believe the officer is concerned about saving time, he is more concerned about his life. Sorry for your bad day, hope things go better with the judge.

[Motorhead350]

One time I was pulled over and "Help Me Ronda" was playing on my radio. I kept it on because the officer was a bit of an old timer. He found it funny. :)