Now let me take the other approach, you start busting my stones, the issue is you don’t want to put the tags on the plates until you get home. You become more aggressive, you know explaining your rights etc. I ask if I can search you truck, you say no. At that point, I tell you, stay in your truck, call for backup. When backup arrives, I show you a photo and a newspaper story about a town a few miles from here, where the cop has a sniffer dog. The cop and dog are available, can be here in 10 mins. Sir you have the option, me search or the dog sniffs, which is it?
I used this technique several times with positive results. When I offered that you put the tags on the plates, but you did not want to, that says to me, you want out of here, now. Why?
Please allow me to address both you and CindyDawg.
CindyDawg: Seattle. No, you aren’t required to declare your status, it’s just a good idea. Had it escalated to the point where I was ordered from my vehicle I would have declared my status and given them complete control of the “take-down”. Ordinarily I would have already mentioned it, but I knew I was facing someone with a bad attitude and an agenda. I was also about 23 ;’}
tiger-one: Your approach is the measured and responsible one. I’ve had enough traffic tickets in my life (fortunately nothing worse!) to know the difference. Yes, I did show him my new tabs, which got me the “If they aren’t on the car, it’s as good as not having them at all” speech. At that point I guess I am supposed to ask nicely “Well, can you please write me a ticket sir?” when I have no idea what was going to set him off (remember, he’s presuming that I might be armed, but I know that he is!). My objective was to prevent escalation and get out of there alive.
I believe that the reason that the 2nd cop arrived is that it was a high-crime area. This was back before they carried the mike on the shoulder radios and he never strayed very far from my vehicle, so I don’t believe that he called in for backup. I have no doubt that his buddy heard him make the call for the stop, and then went to investigate when he heard nothing further. It was also in the days before cell phones, so I couldn’t call for help, either.
The Seattle force never got the reputation of, say New Orleans, or Chicago, but in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s they had a bunch of punks running wild within their ranks. They frightened an entire generation of blacks with their brutality. That reputation dies hard. They experienced a couple of large purges as a result. The 2nd cop was older, and had the presentation of a professional, instead of a gunslinger.
The point of my tale is that it isn’t always as presented on COPS, and that it takes two to tangle. This was a bad stop that fortunately (for all) concluded peacefully. The reason it ended peacefully was because of my deliberate actions, and in spite of his deliberate actions.
Once again I applaud your common sense approach to a difficult task. I don’t think I have the temperament to put up with the BS that comes with that line of work.
Regards,
~rockrr~
I have learned to sit still though. I got pulled over and couldn’t find my insurance card. I gave both my ids and told him I did not have my gun with me.. I started to search the glove box and was told that was ok. Being the good citizen that I am, I continued to look while he went back to his car. I couldn’t reach the other side so I got out and went to the passenger side and searched under the seat. He jumped out and got behind his door and yelled what was I doing. I told him “I’m looking for my insurance card. I know it’s here somewhere” This young man made me stand by the car so he could watch me until he was thru. He didn’t site me for the insurance though:’)