I got a speeding ticket yesterday...

I don't think that I was the driver that was actually clocked, but I'm not going to add further expenses by taking the issue to court. I was behind a semi when someone passed me in the left lane at about 85. As I changed lanes to go around the semi I saw the State Trooper getting on his Harley. Long story short, I was the one he decided to nab, (probably because of the WRX letters on the back of my Soob). The point of all of this was, I felt so damn un-easy when I was dealing with the cop. Don't get me wrong, he was really pleasant, and completely professional, but I was having an anxiety attack due to his presence. I had to take one of my pills to stop the feeling of slipping into unconsciousness.

Why have the police become such a threat? Years ago, I would have laughed with him and took the whole thing in stride. This time I heard this voice in the back of my head, "This guy can totally fuck your life, and there's not a damn thing you can do about it..."

to militarize them in order to get around Posse Comitatus and break more of our heads as we marched to tell him his damned war was wrong.

Put Officer Friendly in a black plastic face shield and he aint so friendly any more.

It literally stated that the LEO did nothing wrong and was nothing but friendly but her own panic attacks cause a spasm?

If you really think you are innocent, the logical thing to do is to go to court. You couldn't end up paying more unless you say something really stupid and get cited for contempt of court, and you could get the fine reduced, or you could be acquitted.

Next time try driving the speed limit. It works a lot better than blaming the cops.

Next time try having something useful to say.

You haven't convinced me that the cop pulling you over was some kind of political act. That's the point.

...not comforted by them.

I never took the post to be "I didn't deserve the ticket." That part of the story wasn't really even germane, but he chose to add that detail. And the sticker? Meh. They supposedly pull people over more in red cars, too. My guess is the cop didn't even know what the letters meant. But dammit, he had someone on his radar, and he had a fifty/fifty chance that it was the OP or the passing guy. But to say that his liberalism is the point of what the OP was posting about is actually entirely missing the point -- the police once made people feel SAFER. At least they did in Normal Rockwell paintings featuring smiling beat cops and overall-clad 12yo farm boys hanging out in the malt shop.

The OP just stated that he didn't get that Norman Rockwell feeling, and instead felt a sense of unease and fear. Perfectly understandable. You are the one that read all the other crap into it.

:shrug:

You nailed it perfectly. I don't have run in's with the law with any regularity. The last time I was pulled over was maybe 18 years ago, and let me tell you, that cop was PISSED! He had actually run out of tickets and had to let me go with a warning. Funny story for another time...

I know that's not exactly a strong point, but at least try.

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The OP did write that his car has a WRX turbocharged insignia.

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which refers to the high-performance trim level found on some models of Subaru, and it seemed to imply that the cop saw him as an easy mark for speeding as he was in a "fast car" to begin with.

which I completely understand considering the headlines of the past decade.

No problem.

also, I wouldn't call it irrational considering the many headlines, often with horrid videos of police brutality these days.

when those very people have proven time and time again that they can do pretty much what they want with those weapons and not be held accountable for it. I think your life would be much easier if you read things before commenting on them.

You are paranoid and speeding, but he's the threat?

If you were driving above the posted speed limit, regardless of how much faster the vehicles around you may have been going, a police officer has a right to give you a traffic ticket. It's unfortunate, but with the number of tragedies that occur out on the roads, plus local governments' need for revenue (since tax revenues have been down because of the economy), cops are under more pressure to issue citations.

That said, you may want to take www.gototrafficschool.com's online ticket dismissal course. It's easy and fun to do and their prices are cheap! But first check with your the court that's handling your ticket to make sure they accept GoToTrafficSchool.com's online defensive driving course.

Which is why I'm not taking the issue to court. I don't know how fast I was actually going, and I have no way to prove my speed at that moment in time. If I was doing 66 in a 65 mph zone, then I was speeding, and there are apparently load of holier-than-thou, do-gooders that NEVER speed in this site. The issue was that I felt threatened by this cop, even though the entire exchange was relatively pleasant. It's almost as if I've been conditioned somehow to feel threatened. It's uncomfortable.

Most cops are pleasant, because that's how they accomplish their goals: "Good afternoon, sir. How are you doing today? You sure are in a hurry today, aren't you sir?" and then "Here's your citation, sir. Have a good day."

Six miles over? Yup, they'll go after you.

I do speed--a LOT. I'm aware of the consequences and I suck it up and do my civic duty by paying the fine.

limit. That's why it is called a 'limit'.

Most places give a cushion of up to about 5 mph over, and if stopped will often only generate a warning.

But one can be ticketed for being even a little bit over.

It is good of you to be willing to pay the penalty for consciously, deliberately breaking the law though.

it looks like the knee jerk thing has not been letting up around here. i think i understand the point you made. sheesh. others may flame me too but i am at work and must get back to it, so i'll look later, but wanted quickly to let you know that you made your point well.

:hi:

I used to wave to the hi-po's when I was younger but today I try not to make eye contact. Same thing as the op is saying. Because I feel intimidated today by their presence even though I'm perfectly lawful where back then I might not have been but back then I wasn't feeling intimidated.

i remember growing up with that old slogan the policeman is your friend. i am also a law-abiding citizen but still feel this sort of adversarial dynamic. maybe because they're always such a presence when people demonstrate for peace or justice, and they never seem to be on the side of peace and justice.

...look at this event in the light of day now.

You know that the police officer was just doing his job, and as you stated he did it in a professional manner.
You now know there was no bad outcome. So it's time to take a breath and relax.

but I'm seriously wondering about the feeling threatened by a cop stuff and wondering if you've "been conditioned" to it.

OK...

I'm a long time sufferer of various anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and agoraphobia.

Many of my fears exist because I've been conditioned to them.

By my own thoughts.


Is your fear of being stopped by a cop irrational? Maybe. For the first ten seconds until he interacts with you and then you discover that he is respectful and professional.

After that, it's all about YOU.

Something that really burns me up about a lot of anti-cop stories that get posted here is that many of these stories fail to mention that in most cases, the "police brutality" didn't come out of the blue. They make it sound like Mr Smith was just sitting around minding his own business when all of a sudden he was ATTACKED by a horde of cops with billyclubs. Later we find out that Mr Smith was being disruptive and wasn't attacked...he was arrested.

People here read that shit and cower in fear that they'll be the next victims.

No better, really, than how the Bushies used OBL and AQ to terrorize the populace.

BE AFRAID!!!!

Cop haters want everyone to be afraid!!!

This doesn't mean that all cops are good. It only means that not all cops are bad.

Anyway. Having an anxiety attack after you've seen that the cop wasn't going to beat you to a pulp or destroy your life? That's your issue caused by your thoughts.

this thread is a good example, look at all the posters who think we should cower in fear and submit to the man's authority if you dare go a few miles over the speed limit.

Why on earth would someone who loves something want to terrorize others with what he loves?

I love wolves and tigers. I wouldn't dream of using either of those animals to scare other people. My hope is that others would love them as much as I do.

How? you were just speeding right?

With all due respect sir (or ma'am), I think this is a paranoia issue more than the police being threatening.

Whatever the case, drive safe. :)

for something as trivial as speeding can lead to thinking the cop may fuck up OP's life.

This isn't a Stephen King novel, after all.

That's what this thread is about.

Because they can and do fuck with people's lives. One such cop convinced me to be an ex-pat for most of Dubya's second term. Now that I'm back and I see no "change I can believe in", I'm ready to leave again -- for good.

I react to and judge individuals based on their behavior, not on things that other people have done.

damn, trying to insist you are correct, regardless of the many people who have already pointed out your failure of reading comprehension, is very unattractive.

You've completely missed the scoop.

You've proven, reply, after pathetic reply that you couldn't find your own ass with a map. Your devils advocate stance here sure does place you in a rather "FOP" supporter light.

Good for you. You perfect little person.

I'll repeat here...


Being afraid for the first ten seconds is reasonable.

After the cop demonstrates respect and professionalism, being afraid is irrational.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=police+violence&aq=f

Why cops would never beat the fuck out of someone simply because they have that authority. Cops would never kill people if they didn't have to, say if their hands were behind their heads. Dear god man, do you ever think before you post?

Some may indeed infer a melodramatic fear. Others may simply infer concern. I imagine it depends quite a bit on what we want to see and how we want to see it.

Where not every cop is an Officer Friendly. One good thing about this is that you actually came across one.

Btw, if I were you, I'd retain a good traffic lawyer and fight it in court. Don't give the state/city the satisfaction of your money and good driving record.

I don't feel threatened by a police officer doing his/her job (even if they're making an error as it seems in your case). Why not take the issue to court? The worst thing that can happen is having to pay the ticket. Chances are good the officer will no-show for the hearing anyway.

The problem is that you seem to have allowed your prejudice to trick your mind into creating a threat that wasn't there.

My two sons and I were coming back from the Kindergarten round-up and came to a four-way stop. I saw a police cruiser approaching from the North but knew he had to stop. We stepped off the curb and I heard him it the accelerator, just as my 2 1/2 year old let go of my hand and start to run across the street. I grabbed him and pulled him back as the cruiser passed close enough to feel the motion of the car. We fell backwards onto the curb. I called the police in tears and the dispatcher laughed so I see why he was brave enough to do it. Our crime was mixed race kids on the North Side of University Ave. I thought as you did until that day. I do not any longer.

Someone was posting one or two horror stories a day about out of control officers but if you stick your fingers in your ears and go la-la-la or better yet say we are imagining, misjudging or overreacting then you don't have to worry about this problem until it comes to you and yours.

One's car insurance premiums can be elevated, the state can assess "surcharges", etc.

Those who are barely making ends meet month-to-month can have their entire finances (thus 'life') turned upside-down by a single ticket.

That $148.00 would have been better spent for other things. Fortunately, I've been with my insurance company long enough to be in their "mutual group". They won't raise my rates because of this ding.

"but I was having an anxiety attack due to his presence. I had to take one of my pills to stop the feeling of slipping into unconsciousness.

Why have the police become such a threat?"

OP Stated that this didn't have anything to do with a real threat, only a precieved threat. Also sounds like the threat was not based on getting a (perhaps undeserved) ticket, but based on having to deal with a police officer in general (one who was, according to the OP, professional and courteous throughout the encounter).

the cops.
A great strategy.

They are a joke. I had one call me THE AMERICAN TERRORIST, because I followed a man that had purposely almost killed many on the freeway after he whipped around me and then back in front and hard on the brakes. Protecting the punk from the honest citizen. Said he could charge me as one and have me thrown into guantanamo. Cops are two things. Revenue generators, and PR against crime. So are all those cop shows and CSI shows.

I'm gonna try it out!

Speeding tickets come in degrees. In NJ we have a 2 pt and a 4pt variety. Your ticket would be in the latter category. If I were your counsel, I'd try to talk to the prosecutor before trial and amend it to a lesser ticket of 2 pts. The only problem in doing this is if either the cop who wrote the ticket or the judge refuses to accept the plea deal. If that happens, you're still entitled to a trial. Before trial, you get the evidence that the "state" will use against you such as the results of device that measured your speed. Word of warning: you have a shot if it's a radar gun but if it was a laser, the results are hard to challenge. You look to see when was the last time the machine was tested, calibrated, etc. OTOH, if you were speeding and the evidence looks pretty solid against you (and you can't get an amended plea deal), you have to decide whether to plead guilty and avoid the hearing as well. But if you do that, you get points on your license and your drivers insurance premium goes up. (The policies go up for three years in NJ.)

Your best bet is to hire an experienced traffic attorney.

For as much as people bitch about how much our rights have been eroded some in this thread are missing the OPs intent with the post. It seems to me (I'm throwing in the "I am not a medical professional" disclaimer here) that the constant threat of terror attacks, the eroding of our constitutional rights and all the other bullshit tossed our way after 9-11 has effected the way you view people of authority, which is exactly what the Bush* junta wanted.

There are rational thinking folks who, I'm sure similarly, have the same reactions to this sort of situation. Sorry it has affected you so.

If you have a clean record the judge will likely give you probation before judgment - which means you just have to pay the fine and get no points. At the least the judge will likely knock some points off.

Also, depending on the jurisdiction, you have a pretty good chance of the officer not showing up - in which case you get off scot free. I always go to court and it has never failed to benefit me in some way. Also it doesn't cost more money except in lost work time and that is what annual leave is for.

The police haven't become a threat. You have become paranoid. Not the same thing.

I may have been exceeding the speed limit (honestly don't know), but if I was, it wasn't by more than maybe 5 mph. Another car whipped by me and disappeared behind a bend just as I was changing lanes. I think the cop honestly thought I was the one he got on the radar gun. He did let me off with a warning, but I don't think he believed me when I said there was a second car. The technology does make that entirely possible.

I know what you mean as well. Police officers make me more nervous today than they did ten years ago and there really isn't any reason for me to react that way. My interactions with law enforcement have all been very positive. Maybe it's a heightened awareness of what could happen if someone wanted it to.

I just thought it best to keep my mouth shut rather than attempt to defend myself. When he stated that he clocked me at 81 mph, I said, "I really don't believe I was going that speed". It was at that point that I felt there was nothing further I could say, or SHOULD say. I felt like he would become agitated that I was disagreeing with him and I would end up like some of the people in videos that get posted frequently. He was the AUTHORITY, and I'd better just keep my mouth shut. $148.00 later, and I'm on my way. I appreciate you not taking the judge and jury stance that so many others have on this thread. The point is that we shouldn't feel inherently threatened to defend ourselves, or voice a disagreement with law enforcement, but it seems that is what it has come to.

i knew i wasn't going into the strip search machine but found myself in a line headed in just that direction, and EVERYONE was just going in there and going through their paces and i knew i would refuse when it came to me. and i felt SCARED. really, really anxious! i slipped through the ropes into the line that did not have the strip search machine and walked through a good old fashioned metal detector with no problems. nobody fucked with me at all. but that anxiety. a whole gamut of nightmare scenarios flashing through my mind.

the police have become such a threat imo because of the "war on drugs' and the militarizing of police work. many other reasons i am sure but the profession seems to attract people who get off on having power over other people in simple ways. TSA people too.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help...




Chilling.

officers exhibit the most sober professionalism and utmost bravery in the face of an out-of-control drunken neighbor who was seriously in need of a time out.

But I've also been pulled over for non-moving violation 'fix it' things (broken taillight, tags expired by one month, etc.) that often make me think the cops just wanted an excuse to run my plates because they didn't like my anti-war and anti-Bush bumper stickers.

I'll admit I'm paranoid, but after Rodney King, only a fool wouldn't feel the slightest of misgivings when pulled over by an L.A. cop.

gear. black face plate so you couldn't see them. looked like something from a Sci Fi film.

pushing back protesting americans.

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




:smoke:

not necessarily immediately -- but if you're later in an accident you can bet your insurance provider will look hard at your driving record

I got a speeding ticket a few years ago (I was guilty) and it has affected my insurance rates immensely. I have a heavy foot on the gas.

Many here may remember the cop who jumped out of the bushes:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3172625

My boss is an American Indian. Last night, he was walking home and happened, for some unknown reason, to zigzag while walking on the sidewalk to his apartment, and a cop jumped out of the bushes and stopped him from entering, then proceeded to browbeat him for twenty minutes for no fucking reason....I guess his pretense was that his irregular walking pattern made the cop think he might be a drunken burglar.

The weirdest thing about this story is that my boss, a couple years ago, was running down the street to return a video to Blockbuster on time (and he's an athletic guy, too, who enjoys running.)

A cop stopped him and questioned him for over an hour and was prepared to arrest him on suspicion of burglary...or for just having dark skin.

The kicker? It was the same cop, both times.

I am not making this shit up.