I've had good experiences with LEO, and I've had bad ones. I generally go by this rule: If an officer is nice to me, I'll be nice back. I'll even be more amenable to the occasional "mind if I have a look-see". But if the officer rolls up to my window in full throttle power trip mode, we're both going to have a bad day.
I got pulled over a few years ago, for "suspicion" of drunk driving. I was pulling out of a Mc Donalds, with a burger in one hand, steering wheel in the other, while shifting gears, and full blown allergy season sneazing fit comes on. I managed to miss the other cars, but rubbed the curb on the far side of the road. Admittedly poor driving. I understood the stop, and even the "have you been drinking".
No, sir. Got hit with a terrible sneezing fit all of a sudden, in the middle of doing 3 things at once"(kid couldnt have been less than 10 years younger than me.)
But the probationary officer, complete with milk still on his lip, started giving me attitude from the beginning. "I don't believe that for a second. Don't drag this out. Step out of the car."
"can we skip to the breathalizer, i'm late to work"
"Then what is it you're on? there's no way a sneeze caused that." (note, there's snot running down the windshield)... "Can look in your vehicle to find out?"
"Get a search warrant, and you're welcome to it."
I was sitting on the side of the road in hand cuffs, while we waited for the search warrant. The Sargent pulls up, and isn't there 5 minutes before I'm on my way. He was nice and courteous to me, so I was nice and courteous to him. I said he could search the car(which had literally NOTHING in it) and we went on our way. He says to me "i'm sorry for the trouble, i'm a bit confused. My officer mentioned you were being obstinate and uncooperative, but you've been nothing but helpful to me."
"Your officer was beligerant, disrespectful, and treated me as a criminal from the very beginning. He needed a lesson in common courtesy and professionalism. Had I just waited and launched a complaint, I'd get the usual "we're very sorry blah blah blah"... By being a PITA for him, it garnered your attention, so you can review the recording, and handle him accordingly. Something I'm sure he wont forget, or easily dismiss"
He just smirked, while the "officer" had a look on his face that was a mix between a scolded child, and veiled hatred. 'Course, I shook both their hands, thanked them for being LEO's, and said have a good night." which rubbed him even more raw.
I got pulled over a few years ago, for "suspicion" of drunk driving. I was pulling out of a Mc Donalds, with a burger in one hand, steering wheel in the other, while shifting gears, and full blown allergy season sneazing fit comes on. I managed to miss the other cars, but rubbed the curb on the far side of the road. Admittedly poor driving. I understood the stop, and even the "have you been drinking".
No, sir. Got hit with a terrible sneezing fit all of a sudden, in the middle of doing 3 things at once"(kid couldnt have been less than 10 years younger than me.)
But the probationary officer, complete with milk still on his lip, started giving me attitude from the beginning. "I don't believe that for a second. Don't drag this out. Step out of the car."
"can we skip to the breathalizer, i'm late to work"
"Then what is it you're on? there's no way a sneeze caused that." (note, there's snot running down the windshield)... "Can look in your vehicle to find out?"
"Get a search warrant, and you're welcome to it."
I was sitting on the side of the road in hand cuffs, while we waited for the search warrant. The Sargent pulls up, and isn't there 5 minutes before I'm on my way. He was nice and courteous to me, so I was nice and courteous to him. I said he could search the car(which had literally NOTHING in it) and we went on our way. He says to me "i'm sorry for the trouble, i'm a bit confused. My officer mentioned you were being obstinate and uncooperative, but you've been nothing but helpful to me."
"Your officer was beligerant, disrespectful, and treated me as a criminal from the very beginning. He needed a lesson in common courtesy and professionalism. Had I just waited and launched a complaint, I'd get the usual "we're very sorry blah blah blah"... By being a PITA for him, it garnered your attention, so you can review the recording, and handle him accordingly. Something I'm sure he wont forget, or easily dismiss"
He just smirked, while the "officer" had a look on his face that was a mix between a scolded child, and veiled hatred. 'Course, I shook both their hands, thanked them for being LEO's, and said have a good night." which rubbed him even more raw.
My glass is still half full but the first half tasted like crap.
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