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Post by HighCotton on Jul 22, 2015 21:15:32 GMT -5
specifically, what is probable cause for a traffic stop? Yesterday as I was traveling west on 465 between Harding and Mann Road around 10 am I counted 14 cop cars and motorcycles that had people pulled over in that 3 mile stretch. And then there were at least a dozen more on the Mann Rd bridge and the merge ramp ready to nab more. Knowing they were there earlier, as I was coming back a little later I had the truck pegged at exactly 55. Sure enough, here came the lights and the sirens and I got pulled over. It was a state cop and he asked me for the license registration and if any weapons. Then he asked to check my load. I was hauling a large industrial softener which was comprised of 2 large boxes and a few small ones with a bunch of bags of resin. The tailgate would not close completely and I had it strapped at an angle to help secure the load.
So off we go to check the load. I had a brief discussion with the office and said I knew I wasn't speeding as I saw them earlier and just figured they had now moved their Operation Centipede to a knew part of town. He made no comment and just smiled. Then we got into a 10 minute talk on how water softeners work and how this big one compared to his residential softener. It was like the officer didn't really want to stop me or give me a ticket...as though he knew he was required to pull someone over so he just turned this into a friendly chat.
It turns out I never could find the registration for the company truck and the officer never asked me for it after checking my load. After maybe a 15-20 minute ordeal, I was on my way. No ticket. No warning. Just a friendly chat! I'm quite happy to have received no ticket .
But, it made me wonder...are 2 big boxes with an 80% closed tailgate reasons enough for probable cause to make a traffic stop?
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Post by nfalls116 on Jul 22, 2015 21:23:50 GMT -5
You are required to have your load properly secured so maybe that's what he could use?
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Post by dadfsr on Jul 23, 2015 6:13:46 GMT -5
Loose loads around Indy will get you stopped quite frequently-that category also includes landscape trucks hauling bark mulch, etc.
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Post by HuntMeister on Jul 23, 2015 6:17:03 GMT -5
They need to start issuing citations to all the dump truck with no mud flaps spewing rocks all over the road!
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Post by freedomhunter on Jul 23, 2015 6:20:32 GMT -5
If they want to pull you over bad enough they will make stuff up..then lawyer time that is all you got
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Post by HighCotton on Jul 23, 2015 6:27:35 GMT -5
Loose loads around Indy will get you stopped quite frequently-that category also includes landscape trucks hauling bark mulch, etc. That's kind of what I was wondering about. The cop just acted like he hated that he was part of this "speed trap" or whatever you want to call it. It seemed like he was almost looking for someone he could pull over for a bogus excuse and occupy a half hour or so. And then let me go! |
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Post by featherduster on Jul 23, 2015 7:21:07 GMT -5
Did you get it on video?  It was part of OPERATION SNOW STORM they were looking for and stopping white haired men possibly hauling guns and ammo or even worse yet UNTAXED VIAGRA. |
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Post by swilk on Jul 23, 2015 7:25:06 GMT -5
Are we talking the legal definition of probable cause and what is the legal justification for pulling a motorist over?
Because not every traffic stop meets that standard .... it would be fair to say that there are motorists pulled over each and every day without probable cause.
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Post by chubwub on Jul 23, 2015 9:02:21 GMT -5
I'm convinced they can pull you over for anything nowadays and it doesn't matter what your rights are. The 2nd oddest thing I had happen to me a few months back was a State trooper who pulled me over for turning a little wide while making a left hand turn but he waited for me to drive 1 mile and turn in front of the police station before he pulled me over. I'm assuming he was collecting drunk drivers, as he already had a male in the back of the seat, and was looking to pick up a few more. Several comments were made about my wide turn, lights shined in my eyes (I hate that...makes me blind for about 5 minutes) and then the final question if I was drinking. I got let off with a warning for no turn signal.  Oh well. The weird part that I am hoping was just coincidence was that he drove by our house a day later while my fiance and I were out working on one of the vehicles and rolled down the window and made a joke about rednecks and trucks or something to that effect. We just smiled and went along with it. And then it got even weirder because he did it again 2 days later. To this day I have no clue if it was a coincidence, if he was screwing with us or if he was the loneliest cop in the state of Indiana who felt some special connection with us or something and just had to see if that spark was real. |
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Post by kevin1 on Jul 23, 2015 10:34:29 GMT -5
Courtesy of Dictionay.com:
So basically an officer presumes that you've done, or are doing something illegal, and can't(or more likely won't) wait for a warrant. Or, in the case of Chubwub, probably just wanted a closer look at you.
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Post by 36fan on Jul 23, 2015 10:42:13 GMT -5
They need to start issuing citations to all the dump truck with no mud flaps spewing rocks all over the road! The ones that are too lazy to pull the rolling tarp over their loads are more of a concern to me. |
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Post by 36fan on Jul 23, 2015 10:43:59 GMT -5
I'm convinced they can pull you over for anything nowadays and it doesn't matter what your rights are. The 2nd oddest thing I had happen to me a few months back was a State trooper who pulled me over for turning a little wide while making a left hand turn but he waited for me to drive 1 mile and turn in front of the police station before he pulled me over. I'm assuming he was collecting drunk drivers, as he already had a male in the back of the seat, and was looking to pick up a few more. Several comments were made about my wide turn, lights shined in my eyes (I hate that...makes me blind for about 5 minutes) and then the final question if I was drinking. I got let off with a warning for no turn signal. Oh well. The weird part that I am hoping was just coincidence was that he drove by our house a day later while my fiance and I were out working on one of the vehicles and rolled down the window and made a joke about rednecks and trucks or something to that effect. We just smiled and went along with it. And then it got even weirder because he did it again 2 days later. To this day I have no clue if it was a coincidence, if he was screwing with us or if he was the loneliest cop in the state of Indiana who felt some special connection with us or something and just had to see if that spark was real. C'mon Chub - he got your address from your registration and then was just enjoying the view as you were bent over in the engine bay.  |
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Post by HighCotton on Jul 23, 2015 22:06:40 GMT -5
Did you get it on video? It was part of OPERATION SNOW STORM they were looking for and stopping white haired men possibly hauling guns and ammo or even worse yet UNTAXED VIAGRA.C'mon duster! I'm not smart enough or quick enough to get a video! And now that I think about it...I did ask if he could see my invisible friend...Alice! To which he replied, "  ?" And I said, "See Alice?!" Maybe that tipped him off!!!  |
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Post by chubwub on Jul 24, 2015 9:48:12 GMT -5
Boy he must have been desperate then, lol. Also I think he would have had some explaining to do to his wife.  |
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Post by trapperdave on Jul 26, 2015 11:33:59 GMT -5
id be  ed at having a half hour of my life wasted on the side of the road for no justifiable reason. |
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Post by firstwd on Jul 26, 2015 11:38:05 GMT -5
If the we're running "operation pullover", it's federal money with federal rules and they have to stop every "x number" vehicle and must stop "x" number per hour.
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jul 26, 2015 14:55:55 GMT -5
I'm convinced they can pull you over for anything nowadays and it doesn't matter what your rights are. The 2nd oddest thing I had happen to me a few months back was a State trooper who pulled me over for turning a little wide while making a left hand turn but he waited for me to drive 1 mile and turn in front of the police station before he pulled me over. I'm assuming he was collecting drunk drivers, as he already had a male in the back of the seat, and was looking to pick up a few more. Several comments were made about my wide turn, lights shined in my eyes (I hate that...makes me blind for about 5 minutes) and then the final question if I was drinking. I got let off with a warning for no turn signal. Oh well. The weird part that I am hoping was just coincidence was that he drove by our house a day later while my fiance and I were out working on one of the vehicles and rolled down the window and made a joke about rednecks and trucks or something to that effect. We just smiled and went along with it. And then it got even weirder because he did it again 2 days later. To this day I have no clue if it was a coincidence, if he was screwing with us or if he was the loneliest cop in the state of Indiana who felt some special connection with us or something and just had to see if that spark was real. You are probably on a watch list. |
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jul 26, 2015 14:59:25 GMT -5
I just try to be polite. When they see that I've never even gotten a speeding ticket; they will let me go on my way. I keep telling myself that they have a job to do.
My mom's wicked ballerina spinning backhand has kept me out of a lot of trouble.
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Post by johnc911 on Jul 28, 2015 0:43:24 GMT -5
Are we talking the legal definition of probable cause and what is the legal justification for pulling a motorist over? Because not every traffic stop meets that standard .... it would be fair to say that there are motorists pulled over each and every day without probable cause. Doesnt happen with our officers. We have many drunk driver calls that the callers say the driver is all over the road, if our officers follow them and dont witness it then they dont stop them regardless of what the caller said. But you can be stopped for simple things like a plate light or no turn signal etc. Good excuses to stop cars when the officer is looking for drunks. |
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Post by swilk on Jul 28, 2015 5:39:26 GMT -5
I'm sure it doesn't....
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Oh well.
