Got pulled over tonight.

[hawky454]

I got pulled over recently and I had about five pipes and 6 bags of unprofessionally marked tobacco and the police officer didn't say a word, I was pretty nervous that he might confiscate my tobaccos because they were just in zip lock baggies. The crazy thing, this police officer was covered in tattoos and looked like a total hipster. What the hell?

 

[indianafrank]

I was stopped on an interstate. My wife sat in the passenger seat while I walked into the woods to take a leak.
Officer friendly stops because he sees my car pulled off the road. Asks my wife.
"You alone? Everything ok?"
She says yes, and says while pointing. "Ugh. My husband is over there."
My back was to the car so I had no idea he stopped. I'm standing there holding myself and letting a stream flow while whistling a tune. Officer friendly walks up behind me.
"Sir."
I turn around as I'm shaking off.
"Woops. My bad." I told him.
"There's a law against this." He says.
"I'm guilty." I replied while I zipped up. "But I just couldn't hold it any longer. We've all been in this situation." I remarked.
"I know. The next rest stop isn't for another 30 miles or so. And there are no exits to a gas station for about 15 miles. I'm letting you off." He says.
I was happy for that. But boy was my wife mad.
"Do you know how embarrassed I was?"
"I told you not to stop."
"You could have gotten poison oak or something walking in the woods."
"I told you to pee in this bottle."
"Why did you drink that coffee?"
"I hope this teaches you a lesson."

 

[simong]

Great story didimauw, made me laugh. Like a scene outta one them 'dirty harry' films with clint Eastwood.

 

[leacha]

Nice stories and I have a few. The thing is, times are different even different from a few years ago. Cops are different and people are different. :crying:

 

[rx2man]

The tail light is out, you changed lanes without signalling etc are pretext stops.
"Pretextual traffic stops are often used by law enforcement as a method to initiate a stop and search of automobiles suspected to involve criminal activity. A pretextual traffic stop involves a police officer stopping a driver for a traffic violation, minor or otherwise, to allow the officer to then investigate a separate and unrelated, suspected criminal offense. Pretextual traffic stops allow police officers wide discretion in whom they choose to stop, and for what reasons they use to justify the traffic stop. By law, police officers must observe a legitimate traffic violation in order to stop an automobile."
What the officer saw was you lighting up your pipe and assumes you have pot and are a DUI. But being that it could just be a pipe full of tobacco they find something else to stop you for.
Now if you are a normal person, and NOT smoking pot this all falls in your favor. The cop is looking for a criminal. If you are polite and not a pain in the ass then most of the time you will be on your way WITHOUT a ticket. I was a parole and probation officer for years prior to blowing out my back in corrections. I worked a lot with local law enforcement looking for my heathens out up to no good at 2AM on a Fri or Sat night. So I know how they think, and unless you are getting stopped by a "traffic cop".....think motor officer you will probably be fine. I was completely burned out having worked in corrections/LE from 98 til 2013. Its a stressful thankless job and when you realize they are not trying to bust your balls but looking for REAL criminals and you are'nt a pain in the ass everything usually will go smoothly. The majority are trying to do good and "protect and serve".

 

[akfilm]

I like living in a true American state where the cops have to hand weed back to people after they even fly with it, you can travel with it, we can smoke pretty much wherever we want, (only the big in here have smoking bans indoors), and I can pee anywhere on the side of the road. Oh, and they would need a search warrant anyway to smell my pipe.

 

[deathmetal]

The thing is, times are different even different from a few years ago.

This is my observation as well. Events are accelerating.

 

[tschiraldi]

rc2man - I am a corrections Lieutenant. Spent 20 years as an officer, and you are right, attitude is everything. Great stories, all! I get some very funny looks smoking my pipes while driving home in uniform!

 

[mawnansmiff]

"Anyway I roll down the window as he approaches and he sees I'm smoking a pipe,..."
Ashdigger, if that had happened here in the UK you would likely have been charged with driving without having full control of the vehicle.
Someone was once charged and successfully convicted of driving whilst eating an apple!!!
Regards,
Jay.

 

[lotharen]

@Pagan I agree there!
It does suck that a pipe associated with illegal activities. When I talk about my pipes to the uneducated I make sure to say its a 'tobacco' pipe, just for clarification. Sad that I even need to do that.

 

[Cliff_K]

It does suck that a pipe associated with illegal activities. When I talk about my pipes to the uneducated I make sure to say its a 'tobacco' pipe, just for clarification. Sad that I even need to do that

Couldn't agree more. I've had to "educate" three officers who have been called on me while smoking on my porch in the last month. As I do all the embroidery on their uniforms and hats, all three know me personally and that I smoke a pipe. All three told me they had to come talk to me because a formal complaint of illegal activity was filled.

At each call the officer stayed and chatted for awhile and all three walked away with a new thin blue line shirt, a cob and a sample of deathmetal's finest. I saw one smoking his new pipe while driving home the other day and the others just wave at me now when I pass them.

 

[tinsel]

Kevin, do you smoke tobacco?

I'm sorry, officer, I don't answer questions. Am I free to go?

they would need a search warrant anyway to smell my pipe.

Me sentiment exactly.

 

[jamesrsmithjr]

@Rx2Man ; "By law, police officers must observe a legitimate traffic violation in order to stop an automobile.""
I thought the same until; HEIEN v. NORTH CAROLINA .
Basically, IF the officer thought that what he/she saw was a violation, the stop is ok.

 

[ashdigger]

they would need a search warrant anyway to smell my pipe.

Why, because you don't want people to know you smoke aromatics?

 

[jpmcwjr]

Kevin, do you smoke tobacco?

I'm sorry, officer, I don't answer questions. Am I free to go?
they would need a search warrant anyway to smell my pipe.

Me sentiment exactly.

Completely unnecessary and confrontational. Why??

 

[phxrock]

I try at all cost to avoid LEO in this State. The State Attorney General set president with his action of not convicting LEO for their crimes.. In other words if you are right you are wrong.if you are wrong you are wrong. If they decide to kill you your family has no grounds for conviction.example there was a man on his knees with his hands up unarmed the officer killed him at close range. All the officer got was a departmental supension. LEO are an big example of bullys and bullying at will.

 

[northernneil]

My concern has been these new distracted driving laws. Sure they were deisgned for texting and driving (and for good reason, in my opinion), but I could see that being used on someone who was lighting their pipe.
I am always very consious of my surroundings when i drive, and try to not flaunt my pipe while around police. Why push my luck, leagal or not.

 

[warren]

Some guys just can't resist talking themselves into a citation. I tried hard not to let a violator do that but, some folks were just hell bent into getting their insurance rates upped.
There is also other "probable cause" for stopping a vehicle than a traffic violation. One shouldn't make such blanket statements as laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. There are still a few counties where the JP might be riding with an officer and traffic court is held on the side of the road. You do not want to be stopped there, unless you are a resident. Often times even that doesn't help, particularly if you have a propensity to run you mouth.
Being confrontational with a person who can summon a bunch of others dressed just the same is purely irrational behavior. I never lost a confrontation. I sometimes needed a little help in winning but, I never lost. I dealt with the law on the street every day all day long. I'd suggest I was better aware of the ins and outs of the more arcane aspects of the traffic code than 99.9% of attorneys. Unless I was in extremely good humor, a rare occurrence, you would not want to "pull my chain" on the side of the road. Trust me on this.
Any jurisdiction operating with a code taken from the "Uniformed Traffic Laws" has had some form of distracted or careless driving ordinance for many years. It's just that local politicians feel the need to be visible and so, enact more laws for people to ignore or be ignorant of.
As to akfilm's observation, trust me again, if you need arresting there are twenty linear feet of law and code books, all single spaced and in small type. A well trained officer in Alaska, probably the single most socialist state in the Union (the State hands out free money every year to all qualifying residents), can come up with at least one "off the wall" violation you are guilty of. I could still make an arrest for marijuana possession under Federal Code as my oath swore me to uphold the laws of the City, State and Federal Governments. I probably wouldn't, but could. Oh, and it depends on where your pipe is and why I am detaining you as to whether a warrant is required or not.
I iterate: Guys, if you are not in the business, law enforcement, attorney etc. don't be handing out free legal advice. Even if you are, laws vary so much from jurisdiction to jurisdiction you could be steering someone into trouble. Some of the members believe all they read.

 

[deathmetal]

I dunno about the legal angle, but I have met and known a lot of good cops.
As far as the laws? Most are nonsense, done for show, but the anti-drug laws are on the books for a reason: criminals love drugs.
Now, as Schopenhauer would remind you, A->B does not necessarily mean B->A. That is: criminals love drugs, but not everyone who loves drugs is a criminal.
In general, however, the good cops I knew tended to bust those who were a risk to others or themselves, and leave everyone else alone.
Private security guards vary as well. I've known some who even let us get away with dumpster diving.

 

[ashdigger]

Excellent Warren!!