Excellent stop in corrigan, tx by DPS

[TexasComputerDude]

I just got stopped tonight for the first time with my CHL by a state trooper in Corrigan, Tx for having a "defective license plate lamp" and it was the most
professional stop I've ever witnessed. completely by the book.

I pulled over, stopped my truck, turned on the cabin lights, and rolled down the windows.

He told me that the reason he stopped me was my defective lamp and asked to see my license and registration. I handed him my CHL and my License and
he asked if I had a firearm in the vehicle. I told him it was in my bag and he said "thats fine." I then said to get to my registration I'd have to cross over my bag
and he said ok. He handed me back my chl and ran my license then said "have a good night."

All in all it was an extremely professional stop and I'm glad we have folks like Officer Flowers working for us in Texas. I figure its ok to use his name as he was the
model of what any police officer should be, especially at nearly 1am lol.

[AEA]

He told me that the reason he stopped me was my defective lamp and asked to see my license and registration. I then said to get to my registration I'd have to cross over my bag and he said ok. He handed me back my chl and ran my license then said "have a good night."

Nice report. Good to hear he did not take your weapon to run the serial number......

But, in your report you said he asked for your license and registration. I kinda doubt that and bet he asked you for your license and insurance........

Your registration is on your windshield in Texas.

So, when you reached across your bag to get your registration, I bet you were reaching for your insurance.......

[TexasComputerDude]

lol it's 1am lol........

I must have misheard as I couldn't get my license out of my wallet for a little bit.

[joe817]

Those are the kinds of stories I like to hear! Good report and tnks for posting T.C.D.!

[TexasComputerDude]

I do have to wonder how long I have to fix it as I need to drive and prob. can't get it fixed till Wednesday.

[AEA]

Have a look at how it changes out. Should be pretty easy, one or two screws at the most. Then take out the bad bulb and look at the number on it. You can get a replacement at most large gas stations as they carry a fairly good assortment of bulbs. Also, there are a lot of 24 hour WalMart's in Texas!

If you get stopped again, tell them you are aware, show them your warning you got from DPS and show them the bad bulb in your hand. Tell them you are trying to find one. Tell them you can't do that on your bicycle!

Better not tell them the last part!

[WildBill]

Have a look at how it changes out. Should be pretty easy, one or two screws at the most. Then take out the bad bulb and look at the number on it. You can get a replacement at most large gas stations as they carry a fairly good assortment of bulbs.

Auto parts stores like O'Reilly are generally open at 7:30AM, so you might be able to get one on the way to work. Ask me how I know.

[TexasComputerDude]

haha, I'm closer to chester all weekend and we barely have a gas station at all.

I'll get it changed asap, and I guess as long as my inspection isn't out they won't ticket me.

[AEA]

Ummmm.........your inspection was current and he ticketed you (warning).
As long as you have that warning to show another LEO until you get it taken care of in a reasonable time (7 days or so?) you should be OK.

[bryang]

Glad to hear everything went well with your stop and you were not harassed because of CHL. There have been several reports of good stops lately.

-geo

[Fangs]

My friend's plate light was out on his Camaro SS for two days. He got pulled over 5 times in New Braunfels during those two days.

[LaserTex]

It could be that police are trained to look for those kind of items? Most of the big drug busts I see in the news start with a traffic stop. Seems they work well for that purpose...and I appreciate it because it is really hard to press the brake pedal and look at your own brake lights....

Doug

[HKUSP45C]

It could be that police are trained to look for those kind of items? Most of the big drug busts I see in the news start with a traffic stop.

Traffic interdiction is a double-edged sword for most of the populace. We want cops to find and apprehend the bad guys but we don't want to be the focus of police "contact" which is where the majority of bad guys are found.

I read an article several months ago about a small burg near a large Metropolitan city that had a tremendous number of felony warrant arrests. Nearly all of them were realized through traffic interdiction on cars driving through the small town on their way in or out of the city.

A great many people complain about the "revenue generation" attitude that appears to be presaent in some towns because of the amount of traffic enforcement they do (which is sometimes an arguable case) but, my experience is that police work, real police work, comes from making contact with people and then figuring out just how bad a boy or girl they've been and whether or not they "are the droids" the police are often looking for.

So, while I hate getting pulled over for what I think are silly reasons, tooling around town at 1AM is a good reason for johnny law to see that burned out light and pull you over just to see if you're a fish that needs catching as opposed to a law abidin citizen on a Taco Bell run for your pregnant wife.

In the grand scheme of things, if you are legit you'll have a decent chance of just an encounter and a "have a nice day."

I had an officer tell me once that pulling people over was a trivial matter. He said if he followed a car for 1 or 2 miles they'd often break several traffic laws and if he wanted to talk to them he'd have every legal reason in the world to do so.

I have never once met a cop who said he enjoyed giving people tickets because of the money his city made off of the fines.

[TexasComputerDude]

oh I'm glad I was stopped. I was leaving the shop that late and I suspect he thought I was stealing something.

I've also been stopped when I grabbed some pvc pipe from the hardware store next door at 9 at night and rushed it into our western auto lol. The guy across the street didn't know me and thought I was stealing.

I was building a screen for my projector and couldn't fit all the pipe in the back of my truck so I had to bring the big trailer. I also couldn't pick it up when the store closed at 5.

[texasag93]

wow....

I thought I was reading texasFISHINGforum.com



I have been pulled over (a long time ago) for not having up to date registration. He even said that he could "put me afoot" and tow my truck. I was half way to El Paso on IH10. I had just forgot; I own(ed) my own company, had an employee with me, and later thought of how his short man's disease was getting the better of him.

This was pre CHL.

I do have to say that I am now VERY prompt on my registration and inspection.

texasag