Pulled Over for "Old Car"

[AlphaGamma]

I would like some insight here.

I was driving to work and got in a turn lane to go into a parking lot, and a police officer who was behind me got behind me, followed me in, and put on the lights.

He took my license/reg/ins. info and told me my plates were suspended. He took my license and asked if he was going to find anything and I told him I was not sure. He went to his car and checked. Within a couple minutes he was back saying my license was suspended, my registration is suspended, and my insurance is out of date. This is true, and I realize that I should have taken care of this. It stems from outstanding tickets that were not paid because I did not have the money to do so, and couldn't pay for a variety of reasons, but thats besides the point. For the record, the next day I was planning on paying everything, really.

Long story short: my car gets towed and the officer does not arrest me (thankfully.) He tells me while we are waiting for the tow truck that he pulled me over because my car looks old and he wanted to run the plates to make sure they are current. My tags are current, so you would have to actually run the plates to find out about the suspension.

Within two days I had my license, car, and insurance back, and paid everything and am now driving completely legal. The officer was actually a very nice guy.

Is this legal to pull someone over because their car looks old? The complaint only says "30 in a 45" and my three violations (reg/license/ins.) My court date is coming up and I was curious as what to expect, as well. The state is Arizona.

[Samuel]

I would like some insight here.

I was driving to work and got in a turn lane to go into a parking lot, and a police officer who was behind me got behind me, followed me in, and put on the lights.

He took my license/reg/ins. info and told me my plates were suspended. He took my license and asked if he was going to find anything and I told him I was not sure. He went to his car and checked. Within a couple minutes he was back saying my license was suspended, my registration is suspended, and my insurance is out of date. This is true, and I realize that I should have taken care of this. It stems from outstanding tickets that were not paid because I did not have the money to do so, and couldn't pay for a variety of reasons, but thats besides the point. For the record, the next day I was planning on paying everything, really.

Long story short: my car gets towed and the officer does not arrest me (thankfully.) He tells me while we are waiting for the tow truck that he pulled me over because my car looks old and he wanted to run the plates to make sure they are current. My tags are current, so you would have to actually run the plates to find out about the suspension.

Within two days I had my license, car, and insurance back, and paid everything and am now driving completely legal. The officer was actually a very nice guy.

Is this legal to pull someone over because their car looks old? The complaint only says "30 in a 45" and my three violations (reg/license/ins.) My court date is coming up and I was curious as what to expect, as well. The state is Arizona.

He pulled you over because your plates were suspended. Period.

[Kimble]

Is this legal to pull someone over because their car looks old?

He could have misspoken and meant to say that what originally caught his eye about your car was that it was old. Many of the criminal element in society drive old, beat up clunkers (many also tend to live in crappy conditions, have poor hygiene, etc.). Most police have mobile computers in their patrol cars, so he could have ran your plates, discovered your registration and license were suspended, and then had the reasonable suspicion necessary to pull you over, which I'm willing to bet was the case since you said your tags were current, but your license and registration were suspended.

It sucks, I know, but unfortunately it's just the consequences if your license or registration get suspended and your caught driving.

Off topic, but out of curiosity, what does "Alpha Gamma" mean?

[AlphaGamma]

But to tell me my car looks old and to pull me over because of it?

My question is primarily: Can he run my plates and pull me over with absolutely no reason given other than "my car looks old?"

EDIT: read the last response. Thank you for that explanation. But my question about running a plate without any suspicion other than an old car still stands. My car is a 99 Toyota Camry. It really isnt a clunker, beat up car, for heavens sake.

Alpha Gamma are my initals...

[Roger Dat]

The information gained from your license plate is public information. If something about your car catches my eye and I run the plate and its suspended then yes your getting stopped.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

First off, let me say you are VERY lucky you weren't taken to jail. I'm in Arizona and circumstances permitting, I would've taken you in.

We can run a license plate at any time for absolutely no reason at all, actually. Read through a few newspaper websites and you'll find DPS along with several other agencies around the country now have cars equipped with multi-directional cameras that constantly scan passing license plates searching for stolen vehicles. There is ZERO expectation of privacy in your registration information.

And for the record, he didn't stop you because your car was old. He stopped you because your registration was suspended.

Did the officer take the license plate off your car?

[Samuel]

But to tell me my car looks old and to pull me over because of it?

My question is primarily: Can he run my plates and pull me over with absolutely no reason given other than "my car looks old?"

EDIT: read the last response. Thank you for that explanation. But my question about running a plate without any suspicion other than an old car still stands. My car is a 99 Toyota Camry. It really isnt a clunker, beat up car, for heavens sake.

Alpha Gamma are my initals...

A plate check is NOT a search and does NOT have to be justified. Next time, take care of your responsibilities - for heavens sake... :rolleyes:

[Johninaustin]

The plate is not yours. it belongs to the state and is loaned to you to be displayed.

I don't need a reason to run your plate more complicated than you just happen to be in front of me.

[AlphaGamma]

Yes, he took the license plates off my car, as well as my license and registration. Trust me, I have learned my lesson, and will never let it get to that point again. Thankfully, the whole thing only cost me 1200 dollars. It could have been far worse. Thank you for the answers....

[retdetsgt]

Start taking care of the small things in your life. You'd be amazed at how much simpler your life will become if you just put a little work in that sort of stuff. Irresponsibility will always come back to bite you in the butt.

[lawduck]

For the record, the next day I was planning on paying everything, really.

I wish I had a Buffalo nickel for every time I've heard this.

[phantasm]

Driving suspended in NYC = arrest. Driving with a suspended registration in NYC = arrest. So you were driving around unregistered (suspended), unlicensed (suspended), and uninsured. What happens if you're involved in an accident? Would you have fled? Just another hit & run accident from an unregistered, unlicensed and uninsured driver. Thanks for making MY insurance rates that I DO and HAVE been paying for nearly 15 years without a lapse higher.

[AlphaGamma]

I wish I had a Buffalo nickel for every time I've heard this.

I'm sure, and I even made a joke with the deputy saying he probably hears that all the time. I was serious, but it doesn't really matter, because I was still caught.

What happens if you're involved in an accident? Would you have fled? Just another hit & run accident from an unregistered, unlicensed and uninsured driver. Thanks for making MY insurance rates that I DO and HAVE been paying for nearly 15 years without a lapse higher.

Well, first of all I understand what would have happened if I was in an accident. Second of all, I would never leave the scene of an accident. That's absurd. And I don't make your insurance rates higher, no matter what YOU think. Sorry to tell you that. I have been paying my insurance 14 years without a lapse until 5 months ago when hit a financial crap-storm. I don't need a lecture, thanks. Sorry to take this tone, but lay-off.

[Citicop]

Sorry to take this tone, but lay-off.

No one made you come here. You showed up of your own free will and asked for our "insight," which you got.

I'm sorry if you don't like our opinions, but when you ask us what we think, we are going to tell you. If you like, you can show yourself out the way you came in. Or you can stay here and listen to what you asked to hear.

And FYI, uninsured drivers (like yourself) DO raise rates for everyone. If you paid for 14 years straight, that's good, but it does not make up for 5 months of breaking the law every time you got into a car to drive it.

I haven't robbed a bank once in my 30+ years on this planet. Does that mean I get a freebie by your logic?

-Citicop.

[PapaBear]

Curious? Not! You had a suspended driver's license, suspended registration, no insurance, warrants and you try to cast aspersions towards the officer for doing his job! Get a life and be legal.

I probably would not tell you all that I observed for probable cause to stop you because many, like yourself, come into these types of forums and try to get information that will further your degrading attitude towards LE. :eek:

It was not, I repeat, NOT, the officer's fault - IT WAS YOUR FAULT!!!! :mad:

Now that you are legal, keep it that way. ;)

Have a nice day and stop by again when you have the time. :p