Cops & Ferraris

I've always been curious how law enforcement views our cars and its drivers. When they see one of us drive by what are they thinking? : (A) We are just another car and driver?
(B) Some spoiled rich guy with more money than brains?
(C) A possible drug dealer or some other kind of bad apple?
(D) A guy with a lot of possible conections that you don't need to mess with?
(E) If you have a car like that you must be out to bust some traffic laws and possibly injure and maim John Q
Public?
What has been your experence with the police in general? I don't know about you, but sometimes when I drive by a speed trap or a police car just sitting on the side of the road I feel like a deer caught in headlights. Even if I'm doing absolutely nothing wrong I just feel like I stick out like a sore thumb. I've never felt that way driving any other car. (Have never owned any other kind of exotic.) Imports like Porsche ,MB's, Bentlys , Bimmers don.t count. I just get a little bit paranoid. Am I the only one?

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/24/another-ferrari-crash-in-socal-this-one-a-double-fatality/

 

They have to catch me first.

 

I hear ya, I guess it's a fun musing.

But can you really apply such a blanket assesment that "all" cops give two flips what we are driving? I'm sure some might notice, but others probably only care if you are doing 150 mph in a school zone.

 

I am so happy with the reaction of everyone so far (one year) into ownership. My old Dodge Stealth in red used to get stopped and ticketed all the time - once in Manhattan going up Riverside Drive when the West Side highway was a mess. The limit was 25 which is absurd as Riverside is a major ingress/route out with little pedistrian traffic at rush hour. They just ticketed whatever cars they wanted to.

I think the most ticket proof car is a nice minivan. The cops just cannot bring themselves to stop their own mom (who probably drove a minivan). Once I was not paying attention driving the Sienna and passed a cop by the side. I saw him head out with lights on in my rearview mirror. I thought my F-car insurance was going up. Nope he settled in behing a red sporty car that was following me.

Local cops see me all the time and although I did my testing of the car on the track, they could easily ticket me if they resented the car. No one in No NJ drives 25 in residential, or 55 on the majors. I think Americans in general like someone who appears to be doing well.

 

In 8 years of ownership, through 3 different Ferraris and driving 7 to 10k miles per year, I have never been stopped in my Ferrari. Even when I probably deserved it...

Cops are people and they vary just like the rest of the public on Ferrari owners...so you take your chances.

 

Why would anyone care what law enforcement people think about us and our cars??? Why would they be any different from any one else? If i break any laws then maybe they might have a valid opinion and interest in the matter. But until then i personally don't give a toss about what they think.

 

What about (F) Being more amicable/less inclined to ticket as a result of just thinking it's a cool car?

 

I find that here in the west side of L.A. the Law Enforcement community is generally very unbiased and fair. Within a few mile radius of where I live I deal with the CHP, LAPD, Santa Monica PD, Sherrif Dept. They deal with high end cars all day long. It's not all that rare to see 10 Ferrari's on the Pacific Coast Hwy on any given weekend morning. Not to metion, GT3's, Aston's, Lambo's etc. I have been pulled over once for speeding and the officer was VERY cool and only wrote me up for not obeying posted traffic signs, which does not appear on your record. He said to me as he handed me the ticket "Sir I truly appreciate how cooperative and courteous you are. A lot of guys in fancy cars have attitudes" Then he said what a gorgeous car it was and wanted to check out the engine and interior, etc. The only other time I got pulled over was a bummer. The cop couldn't get me for speeding. (major speed trap and he thought I didn't see him) He pulled me over anyway and wrote me a fix it ticket for no front plates. He wasn't a jerk about it but I can tell he would have loved to have nabbed me.

 

I let a cop drive mine the other day and he hit 120 MPH and had a "photo finish" at a stoplight. (for real)

Eric

 

Last Sunday I gave a cop a ride at 160mph.

I have been pulled over in my Ferrari for things that should have been a suspended license and gotten warnings. Around here cops are REALLY cool about my car and don't rain on my parade.

 

Yep, now there's the double standards that Law enforcement usually live by in both them last posts

 

Hopefully you weren't the ones in the TR video up at the top....



Jedi

 

Do cops notice me? Absolutely - not a lot of Ferraris around here.
But I'm keeping count of how many cops have been coming right at me
and not done a u-turn to nail me for no front plate. I had one
the other day weave through traffic to get along side and look.
Another put his speed gun down to watch me go by - so he
CLEARLY didn't care. But I don't drive crazy either...

Jedi

 

Here is a policeman in China who was very interested in my CGT
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I was given a ticket for doing 87 in my Dino when I was doing 65. The trooper admitted he pulled out to get a black Mustang, but couldn't catch him, so he pulled me over. This is in a famous speed trap where the town treats the interstate as a money vein to be tapped. I hired a lawyer and he got it changed to a parking ticket with a $100 fine - all they want is the cash. The trooper was a liar and "pretended" he didn't notice it was a 1974 black Dino. Around here, NYS Troopers earn their living writing tickets on major roads. It's sickening. They also pull cars over in incredibly dangerous spots and get really angry if you try to find a safer pull off. Mind you, I have a clean license except for a "failure to yield" ticket three years ago when I got pulled over in my SUV and the trooper realized he'd clocked a Nissan but pulled me over by mistake. Wrote the ticket anyway and made me show up to plead it down. Then the judge insulted me. for being pissed. I've never caused an accident or wrecked a car in 35 years of driving (wood knock goes here.)

I'm a law enforcement lover, but NY's local and state budgets are so screwed that drivers are just sitting ducks for revenue. It's a business.


The answer is that if you are in a Ferrari and pass a trap at least in downstate NY, you're going to get a ticket at least 75% of the time unless you are crawling. I try never to take my cars on any major highways.

 

Whenever I drive my 360 Spider I usually wear my buddy's baseball cap with the letters "OSHP" (Ohio State Highway Patrol) on it, it also has his name and badge number embroidered on the back....haven't been pulled over yet, but if it happens, it just might help.....at least I'm hoping...

 

NYPD cops are COOL..If you show respect and admit you did wrong they may not write you a ticket. I have a good friend who is a NYPD and lots of stories to tell.....

 

Thanks for the accusation!! I can always count on someone to throw out an insult at Law-Enforcement.

 

So why are you grabbing his butt? just messing with ya!

 

First day I got my 328, saw a motorcycle cop holding a speed gun.

I saw him long before he saw me. By the time he saw me, I was right on 'em.

LOL He almost dropped his gun trying to get it up so fast.

 

Damn cops are always sweating my Ferrari...

 

He should be...it looks like you are holding his AZZ!!

 

I've been in Law Enforcement for 16 years...never wrote myself a ticket. I guess it's because I think my 308 is cool.

 

I got a ticket in my car last year just after getting it. First time a cop has ever been nervous giving me a ticket.. Literally.. His hands were shaking and his voice was breaking up.. I'm usually the one thats nervous. I was just wondering why he was? Maybe it was the D. reason as the OP posted or maybe he just thought I was real Important