Stopped By DPS Today

[WildBill]

I take great comfort in the fact that there are quality officers like OK Trooper Charlie Hanger and THOUSANDS of other outstanding officers that stand between my family and the evil's of this world. I guarantee you this country wouldnt last a week if all officers didnt show up for work.

It might take more than a week, but I agree with your sentiment.

[jocat54]

When an LEO pulls me over (which has been 15-20 years) he is going to get full cooperation from me. Where i'm going and where I came from isn't classified so I will tell him. If he asks me if I have illegal guns or drugs, I will answer no and don't have any problems with him asking me such--just not a big deal. If I get pulled over for doing something I shouldn't have been doing, then it's my fault I got pulled over to start with so I will be as nice and cooperative as I can be and hope I get a warning--if not so be it. Some of ya'll seem to have a problem giving out non pertinent info---just seems like it not a big deal (to me anyhow). Just having a friendly conversation with someone

Life is way to short to sweat the small stuff.
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[bci21984]

McVeigh was arrested by the INVESTIGATION and DETECTIVE work done on the side of the road.

[knotquiteawake]

No comment on the license plate yet? Is this the meaning?

[JP171]

BCI is your name holtsclaw???? the police officer has no business asking my anything other the pertainant questions as to the violation, as far as being arrestable, go fer it arrest me, hope your wife likes working to support you. I refuse to anwer any questions that aren't germaine to the offense, if I answer the officer that I was at his house with his wife the stuff would hit the fan, he DOES NOT need to know where I was where I am going what I was doing nor what I will be doing later. he does not need to know if I took a shower today nor does he need to know if I really like my wifes capri pants period, he needs to know if I have a DL he needs to know if I have insurance he needs to know exactly nothing else not even my eye color period, you can try and justify it anyway you like but its invasive and unnecessary, most officers that ask open ended questions are looking for more, and most sheeple will blab all about everything they did in the last month. the reality the officer has no right to ask, if I ask if he's been eating do-nuts again just because his eyes are glazed is that right of me? no its not same as his verbal fishing expiditiion has no basis in proper interaction unless the officer has real suspicion or PC, I have encountered too many that do not period, and please lets not get into the thing about well he has PC because he stopped you for a class C Misdemeanor traffic violation. its wrong most of the time and on too many levels, so he gets nothing, where was I? that way, where are you going, that way, where have you been, around.

[tallmike]

I take great comfort in the fact that there are quality officers like OK Trooper Charlie Hanger and THOUSANDS of other outstanding officers that stand between my family and the evil's of this world. I guarantee you this country wouldnt last a week if all officers didnt show up for work.

I am a huge supporter of cops, but the idea that they are the glue keeping our nation together is a bit of a stretch.

People naturally desire order, where chaos exists the majority would work to create order from it.

[bci21984]

BCI is your name holtsclaw???? the police officer has no business asking my anything other the pertainant questions as to the violation, as far as being arrestable, go fer it arrest me, hope your wife likes working to support you. I refuse to anwer any questions that aren't germaine to the offense, if I answer the officer that I was at his house with his wife the stuff would hit the fan, he DOES NOT need to know where I was where I am going what I was doing nor what I will be doing later. he does not need to know if I took a shower today nor does he need to know if I really like my wifes capri pants period, he needs to know if I have a DL he needs to know if I have insurance he needs to know exactly nothing else not even my eye color period, you can try and justify it anyway you like but its invasive and unnecessary, most officers that ask open ended questions are looking for more, and most sheeple will blab all about everything they did in the last month. the reality the officer has no right to ask, if I ask if he's been eating do-nuts again just because his eyes are glazed is that right of me? no its not same as his verbal fishing expiditiion has no basis in proper interaction unless the officer has real suspicion or PC, I have encountered too many that do not period, and please lets not get into the thing about well he has PC because he stopped you for a class C Misdemeanor traffic violation. its wrong most of the time and on too many levels, so he gets nothing, where was I? that way, where are you going, that way, where have you been, around.

feel free to drive up and down the street, but first take your registration and inspection stickers off of your windshield. When you get stopped, tell the officer he can't arrest you for those violations. Dare him to arrest you. You talk big but I bet you won't. His wife won't have to support him. You can talk all you want with your keyboard. If found to be in violation of a class c misdemeanor that does not involve speeding, or an open alcohol container, there is the possibility of being arrested as you have committed a crime. Like I said, feel free to dare it. You won't though as you know I'm right. If however you are brazen enough to back up your babble with action, keep in mind that even class c misdemeanor offenses are now reported to the state of texas upon arrest. You would have a permanent arrest/criminal record. Feel free to take the gamble, big talker.

heres a wiki link to the supreme court decision upholding the officer's ability to arrest for class c "minor" offenses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atwater_v._Lago_Vista" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[gigag04]

I arrest people for traffic violations all the time. On a DWI, I'll stack them. Same with dope cases.

I'm pro fishing and will often find high level felony arrests based on things like wide right turn, or fail to signal within 100 ft of turning. Just because you "good" folks aren't trafficking dope or driving drunk, doesn't mean many aren't.

[steveincowtown]

I am pro LEO, but there is NO upside to talking to the police or divulging extra information. If you want to know if it is a good idea to talk to the police ask a lawyer, not a cop.

Let's be honest, if a cop places me under arrest for a simple traffic violation because I would not answer irrelevant questions, he is in fact arresting me for "contempt of cop" not my actual violation.

Any LEO that would do this gives all the goods ones a bad name.

[mgood]

. . . the police officer has no business asking my anything other the pertainant questions as to the violation, as far as being arrestable, go fer it arrest me, hope your wife likes working to support you. I refuse to anwer any questions that aren't germaine to the offense, if I answer the officer that I was at his house with his wife the stuff would hit the fan, he DOES NOT need to know where I was where I am going what I was doing nor what I will be doing later. he does not need to know if I took a shower today nor does he need to know if I really like my wifes capri pants period, he needs to know if I have a DL he needs to know if I have insurance he needs to know exactly nothing else not even my eye color period, you can try and justify it anyway you like but its invasive and unnecessary, most officers that ask open ended questions are looking for more, and most sheeple will blab all about everything they did in the last month. the reality the officer has no right to ask. . . .

He does have the right to ask. The clerk at 7-11 can ask you anything he wants. Your doctor, your mother-in-law, and your mechanic can ask anything they want. The cop on the side of the road can ask anything he wants. You do not have to answer.
You can tell the clerk/doctor/mother-in-law/mechanic that it's none of their danged business. With the police officer, you may just remain silent on issues you'd rather not discuss.

Yeah, police go fishing all the time. It's part of the job and a big part of the way criminals are caught.
You don't have to play the game and may just keep your mouth shut.

Many people, myself included, believe it's easier to be polite and answer basic questions (within reason, and what's within reason will vary from one individual to another). Some don't want to give any information. Everyone handles life differently.

I drive a truck and therefore have more than my share of roadside discussions with LEOs. It comes with the territory. I've had very, very few bad experiences. I know lots of truck drivers that have had an endless stream of bad encounters with LEOs. I truly believe that the difference is in the attitude of the driver.
I don't think of the officer as someone who's "out to get me." I think he's a guy doing his job, same as me. I treat him in a polite, professional manner and usually get treated the same way.

[talltex]

I take great comfort in the fact that there are quality officers like OK Trooper Charlie Hanger and THOUSANDS of other outstanding officers that stand between my family and the evil's of this world. I guarantee you this country wouldnt last a week if all officers didnt show up for work.

I am a huge supporter of cops, but the idea that they are the glue keeping our nation together is a bit of a stretch.

People naturally desire order, where chaos exists the majority would work to create order from it.

Urban areas are different from rural, but the folks out in the country got along with very little formal police protection for most of the last 150 years, without experiencing "the breakdown of civilization". Of course, that was in a time where pretty much every household was armed, and quite capable of defending themselves. A time when most every vehicle in the school parking lot had a gun of some type in it...students as well as faculty...a gun rack was pretty much standard equipment in every truck in Texas. In the county I grew up and still live in, we had a Sheriff with 2 Deputies and each town had a "night watchman" that kept an eye on things at night. It worked pretty well. I'm not talking about 100 years ago...that was the status quo into the mid 80's. Today, although the population has not quite doubled, we have about 15 officers in Sheriff's Dept, as well as another 15-20 in local police departments, and an attitude of just let the police handle it...that's what we pay them for. Without a doubt, times have changed, but I believe, that if we went back to that situation, people would respond to the change and once again start taking more responsibility for there own security and that of their neighbors, instead of ignoring their surroundings and bad behavior on the part of certain individuals. There have always been, and always will be, "bad guys" that don't want to live by the rules, and will try to take what they want from others...we had them back in the 60's-80's too, but they were recognized early on, and they were eventually incarcerated or encouraged to find a more suitable place to live.

[GeekDad]

A citation is a summons to appear before a judge to answer for the crime you are charged with. The officer doesn't have to let you sign the citation. If you are stopped for expired registration you CAN be arrested to be taken before a magistrate. You dont have to have committed any other crimes or be guilty of anything else. Depending on the officer's mood and the way you convey your opinion of the inconvenience he is causing you could result in a greater inconvenience if he chooses to arrest you.

Sorry but no traffic stop is a crime. Look up the rulings and law for corpus delicti
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corpus_delicti#_

That is my biggest problem with traffic stops, you are not committing a crime therefore cops have no authority to summon you to court or charge you with anything. If their is no injury their is no crime. And they are not infractions. Class C misdemeanor is considered a crime under Texas penal code. Their I just gave you a solid defense against any and all traffic tickets. But you can't win in local courts, judges dont care about the law they are suppose to up hold they are too busy getting funds added to their pensions per citation. Which also is a conflict of interest.

I respect cops and have 2 in my family. I just wish some men would stand up to this revenue generating system that harasses people. And not signing a summons is not a crime.

[speedsix]

...even citing Wiki, which is not top shelf legal advice, this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; disputes the "fact" that a traffic offense is not a crime...I hope any lawyer telling us that gives refunds...

[GeekDad]

...even citing Wiki, which is not top shelf legal advice, this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; disputes the "fact" that a traffic offense is not a crime...I hope any lawyer telling us that gives refunds...

I just sited wiki to give you a definition. How to actually defend your self in court is a whole other subject.

[hillfighter]

The situation would be the culmination of your mood and his. 97.3% of the time youre going to get the attitude you give.

If one guy starts off by asking nosy questions, sometimes that attitude affects the other guy's attitude.