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$.81 and about 45 second of time. That's what it took to fix it. Sure thankful he only gave me a warning.

I understand about waiting on the plate return. However, the way he took off across the parking lot and into the street to get behind me, I think he had already decided he wanted to stop me. Then saw the light out which game him his reason. Otherwise, I think he would have followed me until I did something to give him as reason to make the stop. He was didn't just leisurely pull out if the parking lot and get behind me.

I understand the game and don't hold any anymosity toward him. My fault for giving him an excuse to stop me.

clarionite wrote:

Excaliber wrote:

clarionite wrote:

gregthehand wrote:I only post this because I'd hate for someone to read the posts and then possibly argue with a cop someday that they are legal because they've got one of the two lights working. The single light on your Tahoe may illuminate the plate enough but another make and model may not. Even a guest may read this post and act the fool, who knows. I figured it would be good to post the law.

I would hope that people who frequent this forum have the sense to know that during a traffic stop, on the side of the road is not the time and place to argue the finer points of the law with a LEO. There is plenty of time for that in a court room with many more witnesses, and you can bring your own lawyer to argue the point for you. I'm pretty sure nobody ever argued their way out of a ticket, or had the LEO change his/her mind about issuing the citation due to the sarcastic comments made while they were performing the stop.

Actually that's not technically correct.

I have seen such behavior influence an officer's decision to not stop at only one citation. If really pushed, a knowledgeable officer can write just about as long as someone can mouth off.

I'm sure that's correct. I only know of one person who got out of a ticket by bluster and attitude. That was many years ago in a very small community. The jerk who got off was someone with enough juice that he'd have gotten it dropped the same day with a few calls. He actually told the officer to shut up and write him the ticket or send him on his way, he didn't have time to deal with his stupidity today. But for most of us, that wouldn't have ended well.

It'll be a cold day before I try this tactic. Now, I might be thinking it in my head but won't let it pass my filter.

tomtexan wrote:

mojo84 wrote:It's a Chevy Tahoe and has one on each side of the license plate.

My GMC is the same, and both work!

Now you are fighting dirty.

It's a Chevy Tahoe and has one on each side of the license plate.

Cedar Park Dad wrote:If I have a tail light or more importantly a break light out, I definitely want them to pull me over and tell me. Pretext or not, that could save lives (especially the break light).

It wasn't a brake light in my case. It was one of two license plate lights. Not sure how a missing tag light could cost a life.

Not that I am complaining about getting a warning but I didn't think it was necessary to give me a written warning but either the officer or his department did.

Since he followed me for three or four blocks and waited through a stop light for me to turn left before lighting me up made me think he was looking for a reason to stop me. There is no way he could have seen that my light was out when he initially decided to get in behind me as he was to my side and not rear.

As been indicated in here and to me personally, at times cops look for any "legitimate" reason to stop someone so they can see if there is anything else going on. It's common. I believe minor equipment and traffic code infractions are used all the time for cops to go "fishing". Some consider it a bad thing and some don't. I don't like it when the motivation for making the stop is hoping they will uncover something more. If they stop a person with the motivation to make them aware and give a warning and they happen to discover more, so be it.


On top of all that, my son and his Explorer post comrades saw me get pulled over. Fortunately, they couldn't tell it was me. That would have earned him some razzing. Daddy making son proud.

Some are young and gungho looking to rid the world of high crime. Small town police work can be mighty boring about 99% of the time. You never know when that middle aged couple in a Tahoe is going to turn out to he the next Bonnie and Clyde. I do feel Boerne is much safer now.

Me too!

Leaving my daughter's school this evening, my wife and I pass a cop sitting in a parking lot at the corner of the intersection. He jumped in behind me and followed for three blocks including one left hand turn. He finally lights me up. He approached the car and I was prepared with DL and CHL in hand. He advised me he stopped me because my license plate light is not working. He went and ran his checks. When he came back he acknowledged my fairly recent attendance at the Sheriff's Citizens Academy. Returned my license and chl along with a written warning. Very pleasant guy and never mentioned my weapons, which I had two with me. It was obvious he was just looking for a reason to stop me and see if there might be something up. I got home and checked my license plate lights and yep, one of the two is burned out.

No harm no foul.