Why am I a target?

[tvc184]

Thanks for that. You have my respect!

When I was a training officer, my rookie made an obvious illegal search of a person while on a traffic stop. I thought the officer saw something that I did not. When I found out what was really happening after questioning the officer, I abandoned the traffic stop and sent the driver on his way with only a warning after we saw him run a red light. I then brought the officer in to the station to have a chat with the sergeant and the officer was terminated about 10 days later from several issues including that one.

I am not going to watch another officer violate someone's rights either.

[tvc184]

PS tvc it is good to ask questions. I'm amazed about the stories my brothers tells me on how stupid some criminals are. There's a reason why they're a criminal most of the time. Not much between their ears except air.

That is why experienced officers know that a couple of routine questions can usually determine very quickly if we are wasting our time and move on to something else.

[SNAKEHUNTER]

Well....this thread got dicey real quick. I'll put my two cents in here. Alot of time it's not the questions themselves, but the tone of voice they are asked in. Here's an example that happened to me in Princeton, TX. Got pulled over in town right across the street from the Mc D's. Dome light on ,engine off license, insurance and CCW in hand. Waited about 5 minutes before PO came to window. Didn't say a word just took papers and walked away. Another 5 minutes came back and asked me if I had my firearm in vehicle....No. Stepped away and came back real quick and held up my CCW card and asked "Where did I get this from?" I said Austin. Stepped away and ask if I had been drinking. No ....I am on my way to work......talking louder he said....Well I smell alcohol....Well it's not me....Are you sure you haven't been drinking?....Yes I am quite sure. Walks away again. This goes on for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile backup has arrived. I am now late for work. He comes back....hands me all the papers back and says, "Your license plate light is out...when do you think you can get it fixed? Didn't know it was out...I guess in the morning. I asked is this is what all this was about? He said yes and he "Didn't want to see me in town again till it was fixed." and walked away. This could have been handled in a whole different manner. It was degrading and just plain made me mad. I'm not saying every stop is bad.....but one stop like that will make you pucker up when you get LIT-UP the next time. Fishing is one thing.....just making stuff up to get you rattled is another.
Sorry...didn't mean to rant.



SNAKEHUNTER

[twobanger]

Do you believe that an officer asking questions violates a person's rights?

Come on now. You know and I know that a police officer is asking questions to try and get RS/PC to search and/or arrest him, not to shoot the breeze for a minute.

[tvc184]

Come on now. You know and I know that a police officer is asking questions to try and get RS/PC to search and/or arrest him, not to shoot the breeze for a minute.

Obviously.

Do you think that merely asking questions is a civil rights violation?

Do you think that the officer can very likely arrest you for whatever minor traffic charge that he stopped you for and inventory your vehicle and search you and your clothing incident to arrest?

[jeremy_pruitt]

Our policy states that we identify any person we come in contact with. I ask questions in a professional tone and for the most part the people answer and then go on their way. It's not till that person gets an attitude then their not going as fast. I haven't violated anyone's rights and don't plan on it. I haven't got anyone for murder with questions but plenty of felonies. I have only been doing this for a little over a year.

[Kodiakk]

Our policy states that we identify any person we come in contact with.

Even a person walking down the street that's not accused of a crime? Don't think that's legal.

[Thundervee]

Even a person walking down the street that's not accused of a crime? Don't think that's legal.

By "contact" I'm sure he means that when they make a traffic stop.... Not just seeing a person and saying hey come here and let me identify you

[GTRH8R]

Heck man, you should try being a brown guy in an airport - especially after 9/11. Sheesh. Good times.

[dope hunter]

Guys, as a fellow LEO I'm going to echo alot of things that have already been said. Are there officer's on the street that speak with an aggressive tone...yes. Are there officer's on the street who think they have something to prove...yes. Are there officer's on the street who have an agenda...yes. For every type of cop I have just mentioned there are thousands who are not like that at all. I have worked with these types of guys and I cant wrap my mind around it. As my screen name suggests I like looking for dope. I have a question for the OP. I noticed that your truck is registered to the Houston area. That could be something that could be getting the officer's attention. Alot of the dope coming from the valley goes to the Houston area. The majority of local police and THP are trained in criminal interdiction and are looking for 4 things..drugs, money, guns, and illegal aliens. The classes on criminal interdiction are teaching to stop for any and all violations you see, ask a few questions (usually doesnt take many questions to tell if someone is up to no good), and either terminate the stop or start digging deeper. Obviously they are asking the basic questions and realizing you are not involved in any criminal activity and you are on your way with a warning. I can tell you guys this...all races, genders, ages can be and are involved in criminal activity. So a clean shaven, white male in his mid 30's driving a dodge 2500 diesel is not exempt from trafficking narcotics. You dont know what you have until you make the stop. I can honestly say that I feel sorry for some of you guys who have had negative encounters with police, and it upsets me because it can and does make my job harder. I try to treat all people, criminals and non criminals, with respect even when they might not deserve it.

[thegrouse]

You are also driving a highly stolen pickup. Working i-35 stopping southbound superduty pickups turns up a ton of stolen trucks. Many times the plates are switched or they have not been reported stolen yet. Many of these are out of Austin and Dallas.

[twobanger]

Double post

[twobanger]

Obviously.

Do you think that merely asking questions is a civil rights violation?

I didn't say it was. I'm saying that its not just innocent conversation. It's someone trying to get you to get yourself in trouble. Honestly speaking, if I'm stopped for whatever reason, and the officer try's playing twenty questions, I'm just going to keep eye contact and ignore the questions and occasionally ask if I'm free to go while I record the stop. I believe in the fourth amendment and the freedoms granted by constitution. I also know that the Supreme Court has given a time frame for what is a reasonable stop.

Do you think that the officer can very likely arrest you for whatever minor traffic charge that he stopped you for and inventory your vehicle and search you and your clothing incident to arrest?

On the side of the road he can do what he wants to do. Court is where I'll have my day to defend myself, and a retaliatory arrest and subsequent empty search for standing up for my rights all on video should help me win the day there.

I'll have to look up the seat belt case and see if she refused to sign the ticket or if he decided to arrest her for it from the beginning when I'm not posting from a phone. If it was for not signing than she won a stupid prize.

As soon as an officer tramples on a persons rights, he goes from being a law enforcement officer to what he is looking for himself.

This link probably won't work from my phone, but everyone should see this, if for information only.

[ame="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_YbrrL-8aSc"]Don't Talk To Police (Under ANY Circumstances) Here's Why..... - YouTube[/ame]

[Horitexan]

OP:

The next time you get pulled over and you're finished with the questions and about to get on your way, why don't you ask the officer if you were doing something that made him suspicious? "Excuse me, officer, I keep getting pulled over every time I come down here for work and I'm wondering if there's something I'm doing that's making everyone suspicious? I sure don't mind answering all the questions and I really respect the job you're doing; but it does play heck with my work schedule and I'm curious if I'm doing anything wrong that arouses some kind of suspicion?"

Seems like, if you've been checked and cleared by the officer and he's sending you on your way, it's a good time to ask and why wouldn't they give you an answer?

I live in a very small (and poor) town and I know, for a fact, that the local PD targets out-of-town drivers to try and generate income for the city. It's BS but that's how small and poor communities (and their PDs) are. Maybe you're getting pulled over just for something like that?

[Phi Phi Hunter]

I too used to carry my pistol between the seat loaded when I was traveling a lot and before I had my CHL. I too got stopped a couple times, told the officer and he said OK no problems.