Posted on 05/01/2008 3:53:37 PM PDT by FoxPro
Apparently, in the Gypsy culture (at least their clan), this is normal.
Works for me.....
“as we basically drove around in circles for about 10 minutes”
I’d have pulled you over myself.
Are you a cop?
Your advice is excellent in a “perfect world” kind of way ,, but what about the real world where the cop will just say whatever it takes to make his actions appear right in his report? After all you are not the cop and are therefore not a trusted source of information to the courts (if it goes that far).
As with everything else, there are rules.
To start with, most cops are just guys trying to do their job. In a very real sense, they are also hunters, trying to spot the unusual and unlawful. This means those they involve themselves with generally have to do something first, either obviously or by being out of context with the situation.
As with any other stranger interaction, diagnosis and opinions are usually quickly obtained. They look to see mood, emotions, impairment, behavior, carriage, appearance, and they reach conclusions before the first word is spoken.
The people they meet do this as well with the cop. But they are at a disadvantage, because they may know why they have been approached, or they may not.
Many police now regularly carry concealed voice recorders with them that are voice activated. Most police do this for accuracy in their reports, but if someone blurts out something, that is good as well. So if you speak with an officer, for whatever reason, assume you are being voice, or in the case of a traffic stop, video and voice recorded.
If there is no need for immediate action, such as the Rodney King stop, when King’s actions had so stimulated a dozen police officers that what happened next was a certainty, the policeman will be in a simple mode: let go, cite, or arrest.
Their first inclination, all else being equal, is to do nothing, or issue a verbal warning. However, if they have been put in a position in which they are supposed to cite, they will issue a citation. If the person annoys them, or has some problems, a verbal warning may become a citation.
Odd behavior, however, will just attract more attention. This is what happened to the original poster. His hesitation to having a search done, for what to him was a very reasonable reason, guaranteed that the officer was going to give him a harder time. On top of missing his paperwork it just racked up the balls against him.
Had the officer found anything illegal in his car, it would have also guaranteed his arrest. But if he had just said “yes” or “no” to a search, if what the officer found was petty, like some ash in the ashtray, he might have just gotten a stern warning.
They really hate the feeling that they are being jerked around. It is pretty basic psychology. Anything out of the ordinary just makes things worse.
This story has something in common with most large, tragic accidents............it begins with a simple error. You purchased the wrong battery, and THAT may have happened because of some other minor, almost unnoticable mistake, like not looking at the chart carefully.
Just like an airliner can be brought down by a series of minor mishaps, none of them serious, you nearly ended up in handcuffs because of a moments carelessness when you bought the battery.
Check this site out. It’s about a guy who tried to rip off somebody on a truck message board thinking he was basically “anonymous”.
He was sure in for a Surprise!!
it’s a bit long to read but also kind of scary.
I enjoyed it...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=399203
I hate you! I just spent 4 hours going through all 73 pages (1800+ posts) - can’t explain it, but just could not stop. It’s like a slow-motion train wreck - you cannot turn away! I cannot believe who clueless the kid was, nor do I understand why he kept stirring the hornets nest. Funny as anything I’ve read on the web - right up there with some of the Nigerian scamer paybacks.
That was Crazy! I was hooked for hours too, non stop until like 5am!.
That little punk just kept pushing and pushing those guys, in the end he was like a pile of sqirming jelly!!
I imagine the kid learned his lesson. I sure did! :)
Pretty funny (and scary) stuff.
I’m reading it again, it’s been a few years.
They just found out the gears are used.
This is awesome reading!!
I should post this link in chat on monday.
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