I was stopped..

[not-a-popo]

OK so last night I was stopped by the police and this is my side of what happened. I will try to keep it brief but I want to explain my side so you guys can advise me properly.

This is not a, I’m mad post, or trying to get out of anything post ( I did not get a ticket), it’s to help me understand what I did wrong, nothing more, and again this is my side.

I was on my way home from my sister’s house when I came up on a red light, as I approached my cell phone rang, so I decided to stop fully and wait for a green light (you could make a legal right on red) so I can get the phone out of my pocket and see whose calling. As I answer the call I notice a cop car going south bound (he was in the left lane of a two lane road), and notice the cop is not taking his eyes off my car as he drives past, I’m not sure why, I have my seat belt on, and I stopped for the light so I’m not sure what’s the problem.
As I get a clearing I turn right, I notice the cop car had moved over to the right lane and was not doing the speed limit, at this point he had 3 cars behind him in each lane, I also notice that not one car was trying to pass him, if he slowed, everyone else did, if he went faster, everyone else did. Now he decides to pull in to a side street and let us all pass him, but by now traffic has grown behind me so he had to wait as traffic moved past to get out.

Just as I start to think he was after someone else or he was receiving a call and was doing something else, I notice a car that went from the right lane and crosses all three lanes to turn left like I was, I thought that was strange seeing how I knew a cop was some place behind us, I then notice it’s the cop car.
Now I am thinking, I so dead, but not understanding why, I stopped at the light and have done nothing wrong, so I’m lost as to what I did. I turn left, and I turned in to the left lane from the left lane, as soon as I completed my turn I notice the cop turns on his overhead lights, but turns in to the right lane, he’s behind me but in a different lane. I am now thinking I’m ok because he's in the right lane, not behind my car. The right lane is just a few hundred feet long before you have to turn right, so I start breathing again and now start thinking he’s off to a call and not after me.

Well as he approaches the right turn he darts in to the left and now is clearly behind me, still with his overhead lights on, so now I know I’m screwed.
Now we are on a two lane road and I have no safe place to pull over, so I put on my flashes, slow down from 40 mph to 25 mph (speed lint for that road was 40) and pull to the right. I live off of this road and know of a safe spot which is just a few hundred feet (from the time I’m 100% sure he’s after me) down the road.
I say the total distance driven from the time he turned on his overhead lights to the time we stopped was a third of a mile.

This is where the story gets interesting and where I am going to stop for now, I would like to ask you guys, in this kind of situation, and if what I said is 100% accurate (which I believe it to be), what would be your reaction to the driver and how would you approach the car and what would you do and say?

And your reason for stopping the car is for a window tint violation.


I hate to ask this, and again this is not a if they can do it why can't I queston, it's I want to understand.

Why are cop cars allowed to have illegal window tint?

[not-a-popo]

The other half of what happened.

We now are fully stopped. The cop quickly gets out of his car and points his gun at my car and starts yelling at me, driver put both your hands out the window.
Now I am thinking this guy has to have the wrong Honda because I have not done anything wrong, I’m not a wanted person, nor did I just commit any crimes. I also never had anything like this happened to me before, so now I start panicking and start thinking I’m going to jail for what reason, I have no idea why, but get the feeling I am.

Then the cop tells me to get out of the car and to keep my hands up, all of this time he still has his gun on me, as I get out of my car I’m shaking like a leaf because I am scared out of my mind. He tells me to walk to the back of my car and to place my hands on my trunk, keep in mind I’m shaking like a leaf, the cop puts his gun away as two other cars come up behind us, he then asks me all of the questions you guys do before you search someone, I answer no to all of them, so he searches me, another cop asks me can they search my car, I said knock your socks off, I got nothing on me or in the car so feel free to search.

The cop that stopped me starts to ask me why it took me so long to pull over; I said I pulled over in the best place possible, he said I disagree I could think of many other places where we could have stopped and ones that are more well lit. He goes on to tell me he thought I was going to run from him because I took so long to pull over, I said I would never do that, he said he did not know that. He then went on to say when people take so long to pull over he’s not sure what the driver is doing or what they are thinking, he said he starts to think the driver is: hiding drugs, hiding a gun, reaching for a gun to harm him, if the driver knows he’s wanted and he’s going to run.
I said to him you scared the hell out of me and I am scared now because how many cops are here, I said I never got stopped before. He said never, I said well not like this, he said so then you were stopped before, I said yes like 5 years ago for speeding, and that was with one cop, I said I was never pulled out of the car before.

He said, sir no one pulled you out of the car, I never touched you until I searched you, and then it was a weapons check and that was for my safety, I said maybe I’m using the wrong words, you never pulled me, what I mean was you told me to get out of my car at gun point. I said cops have been on TV for a long time now and I never seen a situation where the cop points a gun at the driver and orders him out of the car like that end well, I said I am very scared and nervous at this point.
He said I had no reason to be afraid if I had nothing to hide, I said sir I disagree with you, put yourself in my position and see my side of things, I said I am sure you can see how scary and nerve racking this situation is.

He goes to me, if you pulled over faster and pulled over in a more well lit area, and did not try to avoided me like you did (talking about the above) I would not have reacted like I did, and again that was for my safety.
He then tells me he noticed my window tint and thought it was too dark and wanted to talk to me about that. I said ok, he measures it and tells me it was illegal tint.

He said this is what I am going to do, you’re not wanted and your license is good, so I am going t cut you a break and going to give you a warning for the tint, please take care of it. I asked him to explain what I needed to do to be compliant with the law, he told me and then said have a good night sir, I shook his hand and the other guys as well and apologized for any inconveniences and left.

I just think he over reacted and did not see the need for him to do all of that.

[Strijder]

it’s to help me understand what I did wrong

now I know I’m screwed

your reason for stopping the car is for a window tint violation

Q.E.D.

georgia.gov - House Bill Restores Georgia's Window Tint Law

As for anything following, keep in mind you were watching the police car like a hawk as it went past (how else did you see where his eyes were?); shifted lanes and turned once you saw it farther down the road; refused to pull over at the time and place of his choosing, which was a safer place than half off the road somewhere else; feel guilty (now I know I’m screwed) but claim you had done nothing wrong. I should guess he's intensely curious about your actions, reasons behind them, and not happy about your lack of stopping.

Edit:
In answer to your second post, every car I've followed that
1) Avoided pulling out in front of me
2) made quick turns away from my lane after I pulled out behind them,
3) had a driver that was shaking, pale, and watching me like a hawk
4) didn't pull over immediately when there was lighting and plenty of space but continued on for a half mile despite obviously being aware of me, then pulled aside in a dark area

has always had strong reasons to avoid me. Supported by the time of day and the officer's experience and knowledge of the area, his actions were reasonable.

You were stopped, things were clarified, and you continued on your way. How's that unreasonable?

[Roger Dat]

He explained everything to you what are you missing. I dont know about your state but as soon as a cop activates his emergency lights its customary to pull to the right whether your the one being stopped or not.

The officer will decided where its safe to stop and will do so by choosing when to activate his lights.

[RoadKingTrooper]

Reason you were stopped, Tint on windows.:confused:

Your actions as stated above aroused the Officers suspicion.

The law requires you to stop IMMEDIATELY, not where you think it is safe:rolleyes:

Reasonable reaction by the Officer to your actions.

ps I WOULD have written you
RKT

[not-a-popo]

Q.E.D.

georgia.gov - House Bill Restores Georgia's Window Tint Law

As for anything following, keep in mind you were watching the police car like a hawk as it went past (how else did you see where his eyes were?); shifted lanes and turned once you saw it farther down the road; refused to pull over at the time and place of his choosing, which was a safer place than half off the road somewhere else; feel guilty (now I know I’m screwed) but claim you had done nothing wrong. I should guess he's intensely curious about your actions, reasons behind them, and not happy about your lack of stopping.

Edit:
In answer to your second post, every car I've followed that
1) Avoided pulling out in front of me
2) made quick turns away from my lane after I pulled out behind them,
3) had a driver that was shaking, pale, and watching me like a hawk
4) didn't pull over immediately when there was lighting and plenty of space but continued on for a half mile despite obviously being aware of me, then pulled aside in a dark area

has always had strong reasons to avoid me. Supported by the time of day and the officer's experience and knowledge of the area, his actions were reasonable.

You were stopped, things were clarified, and you continued on your way. How's that unreasonable?

Sir I strongly disagree with your post, I think everyone notices a cop car, especially one that is driving so slowly and clearly attract an officer’s attention.
I was not "Hawking" the cop car as it went past, I stated before I was already stopping at a red light where I could have made a right on red because my cell phone rang.
I never even noticed the cop car until I got the phone out of my pocket and looked up, only then I noticed the car and by that time the officer clearly checking me out.

I now can see how he would think I was avoiding contact with him because I stopped at a light where I could have turned, but he never brought that up, he only thing he brought up was the fact he noticed my tint and wanted to talk to me about it, I think he was fishing and noticed my car and would have even if I made the right turn on red.

Had he not gave me that hard look or just drove normal and waited for me like he did then I would have never even noticed the cop car in the first place.

Yes it's true when I turned right I noticed his position and I notice his slower then normal speed, but had that been anyone else did the same thing to me I would have noticed it just the same. Had they not been a cop and did all of the same and then got behind me like he did and then followed me for one second, I would have noticed it and called the cops.

When he put his overheads on he was not directly behind me, he was to my right on a two lane road which quickly turns (about 300’ feet maybe) in to a one lane road is, had he done that directly behind me I would have clearly knew he was after me.
Once it was obviously clear he wanted to talk with me I pulled over in the first right hand turning lane for his and my own safety. I guess because he did not push that as an issue proves I am correct, meaning it was not safe to stop once I clearly knew he was after me.
After he thought about it he said that is true, he felt I should have known he was after me sooner and whished I stopped for him a little quicker.

The only concern I have or had was why he ordered me out of the car at gun point, that’s it, the rest I am fine with. It was one of the scariest situations I ever went through and I want to make sure it’s the last, that’s all. I am not saying or claiming the cop rude or disrespectful to me at anytime, in fact he was always respectful and very nice to me and gave me a fair shake.

I just disagree with the gun pointing and ordering me out of the car; it seems you guys think he was correct in his actions, so I am over it. It’s all over and now it’s time to move on to bigger and better things. Did I know my tint was illegal, yes, but in 8 years of owning the car that was the first time it ever got me stopped, now that is has, off it comes, not a big deal.

If you guys want to hear the radio talk on this stop and see if that helps you out with your post, pm me and I will tell you where to find it.


Thanks for the post!

[not-a-popo]

He explained everything to you what are you missing. I dont know about your state but as soon as a cop activates his emergency lights its customary to pull to the right whether your the one being stopped or not.

The officer will decided where its safe to stop and will do so by choosing when to activate his lights.

Sir, if you were in that situation and you were going to a call and needed to get around me but I pulled over to the right blocking you from getting around me how would that be good?

Had he turned in to the same lane with me I would have knew he was after me very clearly and then pulled over to the right.

ps I WOULD have written you
RKT

Thank god it was not you then, I am out of work and could not afford a ticket or any size.

[PapaBear]

Just FYI:

This is CA law and is quite similar to most states that prohibit the use of wireless devices while operating a motor vehicle. You getting the device out of your pocket to see who was calling would suffice in CA as using a wireless device in violation of the section. You must be LEGALLY parked - not just stopped - in order to utilize said device.

Hand-Held Wireless Telephone: Prohibited Use

23123. (a) A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving.

With respect to your window materials, I would examine the vehicle to make certain it complies with our laws:

Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver's View
26708. (a) (1) ( )1 A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.

(2) ( )1 A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle ( )2 that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows.

(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Rearview mirrors.

(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors ( )2 that are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.

(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials ( )2 that are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.

(4) Side windows ( )2 that are to the rear of the driver.

(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.

(6) Rear window wiper motor.

(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.

(8) The rear window or windows,( )3 if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and righthand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and ( )2 that occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that window and ( )2 that provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.

(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2 installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:

(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.

(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.

(12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver, if the system is used only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated and outside of an airbag deployment zone.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the following conditions apply:

(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

(2) The material is not red or amber in color.

(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.

(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than the windshield without the material.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.

Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 413, Stats. 2008. Effective January 1, 2009.
The 2008 amendment added the italicized material, and at the point(s) indicated, deleted the following:

“No”
“which”
“when”

Again, FYI, if an officer believes that you are operating a vehicle in violation of the law, in almost all states, the officer may stop you and conduct an inspection to assure you are complying with all aspects of the code. That inspection may include your drivers license, registration, insurance, mandated equipment, optional and approved equipment, etc.

If you are operating in violation the officer may take any number of steps to assure compliance.

Bottom line: Abide with the laws and you will not be stopped.

[not-a-popo]

Just FYI:

This is CA law and is quite similar to most states that prohibit the use of wireless devices while operating a motor vehicle. You getting the device out of your pocket to see who was calling would suffice in CA as using a wireless device in violation of the section. You must be LEGALLY parked - not just stopped - in order to utilize said device.



With respect to your window materials, I would examine the vehicle to make certain it complies with our laws:



Again, FYI, if an officer believes that you are operating a vehicle in violation of the law, in almost all states, the officer may stop you and conduct an inspection to assure you are complying with all aspects of the code. That inspection may include your drivers license, registration, insurance, mandated equipment, optional and approved equipment, etc.

If you are operating in violation the officer may take any number of steps to assure compliance.

Bottom line: Abide with the laws and you will not be stopped.

In GA they do NOT have any laws about cell phones.

I do get the point you are making.

[Roger Dat]

Thank your lucky stars you werent cited other then that if you dont want our opinions dont ask for them.

[Legoate]

I just think he over reacted and did not see the need for him to do all of that.

You think he over reacted.... Really? With your vast knowledge of police tactics and your knowledge of everything that was going on in the city that night you can make that judgement? You have no idea who or what they may have been looking for and they didn't explain it to you.

The fact that there was more than one officer there leads me to believe that after he broadcast the original stop it took quite a bit of time for you to stop, long enough for other officers to get into the area to participate in the stop. Generally felony stops are conducted with three officers- meaning that three cars had to get into the area before the stop was made.

How about next time you see lights you immediately pull to the right hand side of the road like the law in nearly ever state I've seen requires.

Sorry you had a scary night with the police. I've found that if you don't violate the law, you never run into them except at Starbucks.

[scott715us]

You have received clear answers, and continue to argue, feeling that you are in the right that the officer overracted. As LEOs, we disagree.

The officer felt that you did not pull over when you needed to, which warranted further suspicion and he felt it necessary to display his firearm until he could gain control of you and anyone else he could not see in the car (because of your illegal tint). He used what tools he had available to make the scene safe, nothing more, nothing less.

Bottom line, it was a safety issue, and as others have already advised, YOU do not decide where YOU think a safe place is to pull over, HE DOES. If he feels you should pull over somewhere else from where you did, he will let you know. Next time, pull immediately to the right and stop, regardless of the roadway.

[RoadKingTrooper]

In GA they do NOT have any laws about cell phones.

I do get the point you are making.

Well.............we can and have explained it to you We can not understand it for you also:cool:

Have the best day ever!

[not-a-popo]

You have received clear answers, and continue to argue, feeling that you are in the right that the officer overracted. As LEOs, we disagree.

The officer felt that you did not pull over when you needed to, which warranted further suspicion and he felt it necessary to display his firearm until he could gain control of you and anyone else he could not see in the car (because of your illegal tint). He used what tools he had available to make the scene safe, nothing more, nothing less.

Bottom line, it was a safety issue, and as others have already advised, YOU do not decide where YOU think a safe place is to pull over, HE DOES. If he feels you should pull over somewhere else from where you did, he will let you know. Next time, pull immediately to the right and stop, regardless of the roadway.

Sir, I am not trying to argue, I am trying to make you guys see it from my side, and you guys are trying to make me see your side. I don't think you guys can see my side and I don't think I can see your guys side fully.

Was I wrong for the window tint? YES!

Did I know my tint was illegal, YES!

Was I shocked that I was stopped for that reason? YES!
I was even more shocked when that reason was given because I had that installed on the car when I bought it back in 02?

Am I shocked that this was the first time in 5 years of living in the area that I was stopped for this issue? YES!
Especially after going through many check points and this issue never came up. I was stopped in 05 for speeding in this car and this never came up, so I am shocked it came up the other night, especially after the same town stopped me for speeding.

I have to be honest, I do not like the fact most cop cars in this town have darker tint then I did and it was the reason for the stop.

Do I believe that was the real reason for the stop? NO!
I think there is more to the story, I believe they (the police) were looking for someone or a car like mine, once the officer noticed it was not the car they were looking for he made up a reason for the stop and picked that.

As I said, this is not big deal, and the tint is removed, so if that was the real reason for the stop I will no longer have any more problems with this, RIGHT?

Have a nice night guys and be safe. I am over this situation and moving past it.

On to bigger and better things!

I need to find a JOB! I have been out of work for over a year and a half now, I'm running out of money and getting desperate.

[Kimble]

Why are cop cars allowed to have illegal window tint?

It is only illegal if the law states it is, and emergency vehicles are often provided exceptions to many traffic-related laws. So, if the law says that emergency or police vehicles are allowed to have tinted windows for operational reasons, even though it's illegal for everyone else, it's still perfectly legal for police vehicles.