CHP "catch and release"

Was stopped a few hours ago(note time) because the trailer ball on my truck bumper obstructed my rear license plate view. Then I'm told told to step out of the vehicle and they immediately begin the DUI crap. This is C watch, so they're riding doubles, BOTH officers give me the eye test. It is determined that there is a strong probability I'm going to blow a 0.000 at the stop and at main jail, so they let me go.

fun stuff.

 

That's nothing. To get on a major highway in Beijing after midnight there's usually a roadblock and EVERYONE has to pass the breathalyzer.

 

There's does not exist civil rights in Beijing. Oranges and Bamboo. It's apparent however in recent trends, Cali is heading the same way.

Not looking for any pity here. I've been stopped numerous times since the state's budget fell deep into the hole, to the point it happens more often than at any point I can remember since getting my license. This is the first time I've ever been yanked out of the car and both officers administering the DUI test. The vehicle stop has evolved into something more of a promotion tool to put everybody into a DUI.

 

WOW!!!!!.....I thought the "Obstructed Trailer Hitch Ball" only happened to me!!!!!.....I gave the officer a ration of attitude....I was pulled over in my 2000 Ford Ranger Truck....I told the officer that in 11 years of owning my truck....HUNDREDS of police officers had been behind my truck....and ONLY HIM!!!!...had determined that the factory "installed" ball on my factory "installed" bumber....was obstructing my factory "installed" license plate.....he ended up giving me a ticket for my license plate "light" being out.....IT WASN'T!!!!!......Mark

 

I am not saying I don't believe you but how is it possible for him to give you a ticket for something that wasn't true and was proveable at the time of ticket?

 

And to fight it you have to go to court, and then it is his word against yours. Who would the judge, a buddy of the police, believe? you, or the police who obviously never breaks the law that he is supposed to uphold?

 

If you have the energy, start a letter writing campaign to the CHiP, the city mayor and the state. Name one business in that particular town where you will never visit again as the result of this harassement. Then, write a letter to that business asking the manager / owner to register a complain against the cops.

 

I wasn't "smart enough" at the time the officer(?) issued the ticket to check and see if the license plate light was out......After he left I did....I then went to the police station as it was only a short distance from my house,( 5 minutes) and spoke with the highest ranking officer ( A Lieutenent) about the fraudulent ticket, showing him my license plate light in fact worked, we had a discussion about the incident & the officer(?), he signed off the ticket as being fixed ( it was a "fix-it ticket"), gave me his "Personal" business card with his cell phone #, and told me if I had any more future problems with that certain officer(?) to give him a call.....I still have his card, I keep it right next to my registration....Just in case!.....Hey Huskerbill....I took my lover to Malibu last weekend for a 3 day getaway to visit some wineries in Paso Robles & Calabasas & visit the Getty Museum, while driving down 101 the traffic was TERRIBLE south of San Jose, I then realized it was the Gilroy Garlic Festival Weekend, judging by the traffic, the festival must have been PACKED!!!.....Mark

 

I had a similar incident where the officer who pulled me over said my taillight was out, and that was his probable cause to search. I pointed out that the taillight was working, and he said it must be an intermittent short, and that I should unlock the trunk so he could search. At the time, I was 18, had long hair, and was driving my 365 GT 2+2. I politely questioned the logic of his assertion that the working taillight was adequate probable cause, and was told that if I did not unlock and open the trunk, it would likely get damaged when he forced it open, and that if he had to go to all that trouble, he would find something (?). I unlocked the trunk, he searched my car for twenty minutes, and sent me on my way, now too late to make the opening of the show I was heading to before being stopped. I went home. I still don't trust cops, largely because of that one moron.

 

I was pulled over in downtown Lodi for "Not using a blinker pulling into a parking space". Cop didnt even say good evening just said have you been drinking dude? Yes he said dude. I know im 19 but if youre a true professional you treat everyone with respect.

Also got pulled over at school for "Illegal rear license plate lights". 3 cop cars pulled me over in the main Cal Poly parking lot and gave me the third degree about drinking and driving. Awesome.

 

Strange you should say that, now that I remember where I was stopped, there was a bar establishment in the immediate area. If they were staking out a bar, then that's a major no-no.

The CHP headquarters is about a 20 minute drive from my home, but it would probably be best if I sent to Commissioner a courteous, well document letter detailing the vehicle stop and the business location. *bleep* rolls downhill.

And I never did receive a ticket for the so-called hitch ball blocking the license plate view. These guys were after DUI's $$$$$$$$$$

 

dude, get your balls out of the way, they are obstructing JUSTICE.

 

LOL!!!!!

 

....friends.

They carry fire arms for ONE reason:

to protect themselves, not the public.

 

Yes, their sidearms are for their protection, not necessarily yours. CHP officers have a dangerous job. They could get run over by someone not paying attention because they are texting their BFF. They could get run over by a drunk. They could stop someone who's just pulled an armed robbery, and it's not on the wire yet. Their "backup" is maybe 10-15 minutes away if they're lucky, but that's 10-15 min. only because it's probably 10 MILES away, so there's no way to significantly shorten the time to assistance even if it's an emergency. They are literally on their own most of the time.

Every time I've encountered a CHP officer, I've been treated with the utmost respect. Does that mean I only get tickets I deserve? Of course not. I'm not condoning the officers' actions as reported by the OP, but just presenting the fact they have a tough job.

And FWIW, nearly every time I've been harassed or nearly run off the road by a pickup truck, there's been a trailer ball hiding a good portion of their plate, so I've never been able to report them. (Yes, if I was really determined I probably could have chased them down to get close enough to peer around the ball, but I'm not one to want to take that kind of risk.) I'm not accusing the OP of being one of those people, but there's a reason that mounting the ball all the time so that it obstructs the plate is illegal. If you don't want to get stopped for chicken s*&^ stuff, why not remove the ball?

 

...is disputing the danger in their job.

Puncturing the myth of armed law enforcement FOR public safety, was my only point.

 

I don't disagree.

 

English 101 tells me that a double negative is a positive...So you agree with me?...
good then, in all my dealings with Law enforcement I thought I was seeing things correctly. thanks for the agreement...

 

Yes, that's a double negative for that very purpose.

 

CHP's, Sheriff, city cops, etc. will look for any reason to pull you over. The 'obstruction' of a trailer ball is ridiculous! Again, just another reason that a judge will say is the officers prerogative. As mentioned above, law enforcement is the last bastion of revenue generation the counties have due to declining property tax revenue and they have to do everything possible to tighten up that gap! As for the trailer ball, just the officers scratching at straws IMO. I'd like to to see EVERY car pulled over in the state in which the driver and the occupants have a gang-banger profile. Full search, drug dogs, the whole nine yards. That's a pipe dream though as the ACLU and their lawyers would have a field day with that one

 

I got a fixit ticket for not having a front plate on my car while driving past Fresno. CHP just wants to collect $$$$ since Cali is broke. I do wish cops would focus on serious crime versus just revenue collectors. Maybe then I would have more respect for them.

 

This has occurred in some counties in California. I was pulled over once while driving my Turbo. The LEO was in an unmarked car. I wasn't speeding and observed all laws. As soon as the LEO came up to my car and saw that I already had my license, registration, and insurance card in my hand, he waived me off without taking my documents. At the time, I didn't think much of it. Since I'm neither Latino or African-American, I don't think it was racial profiling.

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/oct/23/opinion/oe-ayres23

 

"When seconds count, the police are only minutes away"

"I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy!"


The LEO's nowadays, are pretty much "clean up" crews, after the fact.

"Police work" is seldom done. Now, they're revenue generators.

Their pensions demand on shaking down the motorist. They get 90% of their last year's salary- for life. (and they work tons of overtime hours they would normally, to get an extra 100K per year...for life.)

 

Not to mention if they are out on medical leave that money is not taxed. That Fullerton police chief pulled that as they were increasing the heat over the cops beating the homeless guy to death. DUI's are big revenue generators so that's why they're really blitzing it everywhere.

 

Their pensions demand on shaking down the motorist. They get 90% of their last year's salary- for life. (and they work tons of overtime hours they would normally, to get an extra 100K per year...for life.)[/QUOTE]

I don't see anything wrong with that. I want that too, don't you?