Cops & Ferraris

I've been pulled over about 6 or so times the past 20 years of driving for speeding, but never once in the Ferrari, just MGB's. To the last every cop was nice and courteous, only have given me tickets. And I was raised to treat the police as you would a member of the military; with respect.

Of course, in my small town, I know quite a few cops, take care of most of them, and I think some have more seat time in my Ferrari that I do. When I get pulled over these days it’s the ones that haven't gotten a ride whom are trying to catch me out so THEY can have a turn. It's all in good fun

 

I tried reporting a State Trooper that was speeding to his Barracks.

I was called a wised assed trouble maker and told to get out of there.
Reporting cops breaking the law seems to do little.

You may also be aware of the accident that our Governor was in.
Despite the fact the Trooper driving the car was doing 93 in a 65, I have found no record that charges were ever brought against him.

 

You have way too much time on your hands.
Eric

 

I haven't heard of any charges brought against him either. I have a suspicion that he was speeding at the demand of your dictator...errr...Governor. I heard that your Gov took "responsibility". And no, "I was just following orders" is not a valid excuse, but in this case the State Police isn't going to write their own when the Gov told him to speed and the SP won't write the Gov as there are no real charges applicable. I am pretty happy I am not in NJ anymore -- The Great Republic of NJ.

I was working a protection detail assisting the CHP with the then California Governor (no, not Arnold). I had one of the troopers with me in my car and the Gov was in one of their rental cars. I was told that the Gov demands they drive a certain speed so he can get to where his is going on time...he apparently is always late getting ready to go places. My agency told them that they can drive however fast they want, but we will not drive that fast and we will NOT intervene if they get stopped. They even brought a police light to put in their rental...that's a no no as although they are cops, they were not FL cops...as such, they had no jurisdiction in FL. Sure enough, they sped off. They weren't stopped though.

 

Good old Ocean City, NJ...I was a summer cop their MANY years ago. Fond memories of OC. Is Gillians still there?

 

It sure is.
Wonderful town and very close to A.C.
I love to gamble and dine one or two times a week there.
PM me next time your near and i will buy you a drink.
Take care
Eric

 

I was much younger then.
I have since learned there are two sets of rules, and I just deal with it.

 

I really don't mind the 2 sets of rules because they just don't get paid enough.
To me that is a fringe benefit.
They are also the first ones you want to see when the chips are down.
I have many friends who are LEO's.
If your ever in the area let's have a drink and talk cars.
Take care
Eric

 

NO WAY. Sorry. You don't 'police' me to one set of rules, and then set-aside a different set of rules for yourself as a law enforcement officer. That's how Police States get started. You like living under that banner because you feel more 'safe'? Move to Iran.

 

+1 on Iran. I am Iranian and have visited Iran many, many times. I thought it was funny that all the cops there drove Mercedes-Benz C-240s (even though they are not fast at all) while most of the citizens make the equivalent of $100/month.


So I took a picture of these cop cars...only to be pulled over and interrogated for a minute. Thank God my uncle was with me.

 

You've lost it...if I knew you hated cops so much, I never would have troubled you to store my 308...that must have killed you doing a favor for a cop.

There are already 2 sets of laws...you as a civilian can assault someone and be charged with assault...probably get a slap on the wrist. A cop assaults someone and gets charged with assault, police butality, dereliction of duty, the cop gets sued civilly and the department gets sued, and the cop gets fired. So, cops are held to a higher standard...and they should be...I can live with that. But, that means there are 2 sets of rules. You probably have no gripe with that...so some cops speed. Get over it or do something about it.

I bet if you were still in SC and got a ticket, I would be the first one you called to try and help you get out of it.

 

Who's your uncle...the Shah? Nah, I guess that wouldn't really help you would it

 

Well, the cop was a young fellow. As part of core Iranian values, elders always have social superiority and are treated with the utmost respect.

 

Sure they do.You just have not accepted it yet.
Life stops being fair after the age of 5.At least that's what i tell my girls.
BTW you do live in a "police state"
I'm one to talk
Eric

 

We could argue all day over which is more the Police State...MA or NJ. I've lived in NJ, so it gets my vote.

 

I think i would agree with you.
Eric

 

Brother, you're taking this WAY too personally. If I got charged with something, as a Govt. Security Clearance-holder, I stand to lose more than just a few dollars, I assure you. You used to hold one, too, remember? I had no idea 'equal-protection-under-the-law' would rub badge-holders the wrong way. Funny, my Uncle is a police officer, he's never had such an attitude in the 37 years I've known him. You guys under a heat wave down there, or what?

BTW, I got my fair share of tickets in SC. I paid them ALL (ga'head, ask Charles Perry). Not that I thought 42 in a 35 was a huge deal for a whopping $50 and no points - I'd score three or four of those a year. I think a section of Summerville highway has a new set of road signs thanks to me. I have never 'made a phone call', BTW. I have never expected favors through association, and I still don't.

 

I recently drove my Ferrari from Chicago to Washington DC (600+ miles) the car had no license plates on it because I had just purchased it. A Cop pulled in behind me and stayed there for a mile or so. I got tired of that so I pulled over. He pulled over as well. I showed him the bill of sale, he compared the VIN and sent me on my way.

 

That was a very kind cop. Most cops would rightfully tell you that you need a plate for security reasons...

 

Gilnsammy,

You said I don't know what I'm talking about when I complain about the NY State Troopers who pull car over in speed traps that are revenue machines in my area. You are in the South, don't live here, and have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. But, then you are a police officer, so you must know everything about police and troopers everywhere (except don't call a Trooper up here 'Officer' or he might arrest you -- they consider it a major insult!!)

Then you say there are some bad apples but they don't spoil the whole bunch. No, but they can sure drive up your insurance costs and get your license suspended just because they think you look guilty. Honestly, why do so many speeding tickets get pled down to something else (as long as the fine stays there)?? Because it's done for the money in some places. Not by you... you're an FCar owner!

Of COURSE some cops put the pedal down in the highway. You can't seriously mean to deny it. Of course YOU don't, but many do. These are obvious truths.

Look, you are a uniquely articulate and thoughtful fellow, and perhaps your department is chock full of erudite, fair minded gents like yourself with extensive training in visual speed estimation and the proper operation of radar and laser equipment. Unfortunately, that isn't the case everywhere. How else do you explain Troopers writing tickets they ADMIT are wrong? Hell, I had a local cop pull me over for passing in a no passing zone. I made him drive back to where he said the No Passing sign was, and showed him it said "No Stopping." Then he said it was a double line. It wasn't. Then he said I was speeding. I asked how he knew. He said I had to be, because I passed a truck that was going pretty fast. I had passed a minivan going 30 in a 45 -- no truck. He wrote me the ticket, and said to show up and we'd work it out. I showed, but he didn't. Case dismissed. Evening wasted.

The fact is that when I speed I expect to get a ticket. I have done everything I can to be trained as a driver, maintain my cars, and never, ever go too fast for the road conditions, traffic or visibility. I have no interest in getting maimed or hurting anyone else. But, if there's an open half-mile or more of interstate ahead of me, I will occasionally see what the vehicle can do. Amusingly, I've never been pulled over when doing that. My last three stops were BS. One pled down, two dismissed. 15 years since a legit speeder. It is a fact that many towns treat their roads as money veins -- but not yours, obviously.

On the highway, generally speaking it is lunatics in little Japanese modded cars or racing bikes who go ripping past me at 100+, weaving in and out of traffic, not guys in Dinos or even 355s. It annoys me that I see many more Vettes and FCars pulled over than jacked up Hondas or Nissans.

It's reality. Condescending and acting like anyone who has had bad experiences with traffic enforcement is a moron, scofflaw or liar is unproductive.

And as far as the post about policemen getting KIA, every one is a tragedy, and has absolutely nothing to do with this forum. We know about losing police and firemen here in NYC. They didn't get killed writing speeding tickets to middle aged guys in expensive Italian cars!!!

 

I forgot to mention I also showed him my trip permit. The state of Virginia (where I live) issues trip permits that allow us (Virginia residents) to transport a car without tags. Insurance is still required and the permit is only good for three days. Cost is $5.

 

You wouldn't lose your clearance by getting a ticket...get arrested and that's a different story. When did I lose my clearance?? Believe me, I don't take this personally...but it appears you may. What attitude doesn't your uncle have? No heat wave, but my Jeep doesn't have a/c...it was a bit warm today.

 

Maybe you do know what you are talking about

I am in the south now, but spent the majority of my life and career to date in NJ, so I have been there, lived there...I had A LOT of dealing with all walks of law enforcement in the tri-state area (NJ, PA, NY), local, county, and state...including Troopers. And you're right, if you call them officer, look out. In the Northeast, being a Trooper is the top of the food chain. Call an officer a Trooper in FL, you'll get a beat down Definitely not considered cream of the crop.

Cops cannot suspend your license, the courts do that...if your not guilty, go to trial. Tickets are reduced to expedite getting through the court docket.

Troopers writing tickets that are wrong is, well, wrong. Remember the NJ Troopers who shot up the van of young black kids...turns out they lied on A LOT of their reports too, claiming to be stopping white men when in reality they were black. Now, when a Trooper calls in a stop, they have to announce the race and gender of the occupants. Again, I always said bad cops are bad.

Guys on crotch rockets tick me off..very hard to catch though, so cops go for the slower 355s

I don't belittle anyone for their opinions when based on facts...but generalizations that all cops this, or all cops that...that is unproductive.

You don't have to remind me of 9-11...I lost friends. But everyone forgets about cops killed in action when they are spewing BS about how cops suck 'cause they got a ticket and must be because they are being singled out (that's why I posted the site). One cop has an attitude, so people start vomiting that all cops have attitudes. I said before, painting all cops with one brush is not fair...THAT'S MY POINT. And the brothers we lost in 9-11 are rightfully considered heros...but the day before, they were called arse holes because they wrote someone a ticket. The cops and firefighters who didn't lose their lives in 9-11 deserve the same respect as those who did. They still go out there and do their jobs. But you want to separate the two groups...those who died are heros, those who didn't are still arse holes because they write tickets, suspend your license and only care about revenue. You don't have to die to be a hero. Yes, there are a few bad apples...but the rest are heros. I am not in that same group anymore. Those who wear the uniform day in and day out...those are the heros. My career took me to a different place.

Hey, I won't convince you that I am right and you won't convince me you are right. Bottom line for me...some bad cops, mostly great cops. Someone gets a ticket...deal with it. I don't care if it's all for revenue. Don't break the law, you won't pay a fine -- with the mostly good cops that is.

Writing tickets is a small portion of law enforcement but it gets the biggest rise out of people. Who cares??? Speed, get a ticket, pay it, slow down or don't. A cop's a d*&k, get over it. A cop speeds, too bad...there's not much you can do...so, get over it. It's not fair...but neither is a 16 year detective in SC only making $35k for risking his life and my wife working in retail making $55k (she doesn't work any more )..NO, that's no excuse for braking the law...but life isn't fair. You want to do something about it, become police chief...change sticks better if it comes from within.

I thought I said I was done posting and arguing...rats. STOP SUCKING ME IN.

 

LV: Come on, anyone who has ever lived in New England knows that you can be legally blind and in a vegetative state and get a Driver's License in Massachussets. Teddy Kennedy got one, didn't he? Any constable would be well advised to issue summonses to anyone sporting a Mass. plate as a prophyllactic measure.

 

That'd be all good and fine if the traffic laws that cops enforced made sense. If speed limits were created in a rational manner. Most traffic laws are idiotic and speed laws are especially faulty. Traffic Cops might be the most stand-up individuals in the world. But if you work for an idiotic system enforcing idiotic laws, you are just another idiot.