Well That's Just Great or Good Cop/Bad Cop
This is the SECOND time I'm writing this, as for some reason my first super long attempt was lost to the vapors...
Anyway, on the way home from getting Donkey Kong Jungle Beat today (for a great price I might add) I was confronted with a bizarre situation.
Driving down Laxdal, I suddenly heard a strange horn sound. Not being able to see the source of it, I thought that it must be a fire truck further on or something. Hearing it again, I suddenly noticed an undercover police car behind me. Thinking that they must be trying to get past me, I pulled over. They did too. Now I was confused, I didn't think I was speeding or anything... One of the officers approached me and said that I ran a stop sign and was speeding. I incredulously asked him how fast I was going to which he responded abruptly "I had to go 80 to catch up to you so you must have been going 65 at LEAST. This is a residential zone you know." He then asked for my license and registration so I undid my seatbelt to get at my wallet and started to fumble for the registration. He asked, rather rudely if this was my car, which I responded no, it was not. He then asked why I didn't feel the need to wear a seatbelt. I said that I had just taken it off. He said that it was off when he approached the car. I said that I took it off when he got there. Then, rather confrontationally, he said "are you saying I'm blind?" To which I responded no, that I had just taken the belt off now in front of him, which he countered with "are you calling me a liar?!?!?!" Getting a little freaked out by his abrasiveness I just said no and left it at that. He then took my information to the computer and did his thing.
For the next few minutes I tried my best to keep my face away from any passing cars. Eventually, the other cop came to the window and gave me the ticket. He said it was for running a stop sign, but that I was only getting a warning for the seatbelt. The cost to me, $160.
The whole incident left me not able to remember exactly what I did at the stop sign. I would never completely run one in broad daylight, but I think I would have probably done my usual routine for that particular stop. That is, slow down and stop for a split second but not long enough to lose the built up momentum of motion. I know the law says you are supposed to stop for like 2 seconds or something, but I don't think I would have. Having that in mind, I doubt that I would appeal the ticket, as technically I didn't FULLY stop... Had there been any cars near that area, I would have assuredly done so, but when it's empty, I'm less likely to do the full 2 seconds. I'm not trying to justify not getting any ticket or anything here... What I am doing is commenting on how one cop totally played the bad cop role to try to antagonize me for reasons I don't know. Why couldn't he have just approached me and said what I did, asked me for the info and left it at that instead of trying to scare me for whatever purpose he had in mind. If the thinking is that that attitude will discourage any future transgressions, I completely disagree. It's only going to foster more distrust in the police force. Especially if I had gotten tickets for speeding and not wearing a seatbelt as well. I would have been really mad, as both those charges were erroneous, but since it was only for the stop sign I'm only ticked off. Mostly because I'm out money I didn't plan on spending, but also because I'm sure this will take away a merit from my license. There goes my perfect driving record.
2 Comments:
I've gotten 5 speeding tickets and have been in two my fault accidents and I still have a merit. I wouldn't sweat one ticket.
That really blows. I hate how cops act sometimes. I'm still ticket free, but I'm worried about that streek ending with driving around all day at work.
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