A few years ago in New Jersey, I noticed a police car following my car. I quickly assessed that I was following all traffic laws and made darn sure I continued to do so. After a few miles I went through a yellow light. Got a ticket for running a red light!
Another time I'm driving home with my kids in my minivan when I notice a cop following me. When he continues to follow me after I turn, I get nervous. I turn into the next side street. The cop is still following me. I pull over. He pulls over. Doesn't do anything. After 20 seconds, I pretend I'm getting my kids out of the van to go into one of the houses. He drives away.
Is it common practice for police officers to follow motorists hoping to find an excuse to give them a ticket? I'm a white mother of four driving a minivan on local roads. Particularly because the second cop pulled over when I did and didn't confront me, I now get real nervous when I see a police car behind me and get away as soon as I legally can
2007-01-16 01:41:13 · 14 answers · asked by lc1967 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Strange. But, I would think that if I knew a police car was behind me I wouldn't go through a yellow light. Anyway, the second incident was certainly strange. Maybe you aren't driving as safely as you think you are. Are the kids in car seats, are you wearing a seat belt, is the car in good shape, and do you have a long history of vehicle violations? If this were to happen again, get the car information and call the police from your cell phone asking if there is a problem. Is it the same officer? Then, you may have a problem of a different kind, and need to contact his commanding officer. Don't confront him.
2007-01-16 01:50:32 · answer #1 · answered by Nancy W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had at least one person come to the station and "accuse" me of following them. I had no idea what they were talking about. I think that I just happened to be going in the exact direction they were and they were particularly paranoid about it.
I agree with other answers, why would you go through a yellow with a cruiser behind you?
You must be acting very nervous and agitated for the officer to single you out like that. Many of us have our "spidey senses" activated by drivers that make a point of continuously looking in their rear view mirrors and acting nervously. Why are they so nervous? Are they suspended drivers? Is the vehicle stolen?
The second officer may have stopped and waited until he received your vehicle information and your licence status from the dispatcher. Once everything seemed okay, he left.
2007-01-16 04:23:05 · answer #2 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wonder if its more a random thing. When it comes to police, its always " yes sir, no sir, three bags full !" Years ago I got stopped after being followed for miles in Dallas. At the time I had longer hair. I was not cited, but I protested being pulled over and my car was searched , and my brother was arrested for an outstanding hitch hiking warrent. ... fortunately for me, and with out my knowledge, the cops did not find the ounce of weed my brother tossed under the front seat. - Had I known he had it, I would never have agreed to drive or gotten in the car with him.
Your van may have matched a report. One never knows.
Still cops are best avoided in traffic. They may or may not have your best interests at heart.
Last speeding ticket was 6 years ago.
2007-01-16 02:11:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes they just happen to be driving around and are behind you and happen to catch you in the act, which sounds like the first. Sometimes they do it when they are running a license plate for warrants, which sounds like the second. Someone told me that they look to see if you keep glancing in the mirror or act nervous, because if you are nervous you must have done something wrong.
2007-01-16 01:54:10 · answer #4 · answered by erin7 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How do you know he was following you on the first occasion if it was on a main street?? Just because he was behind you does not mean he was following you. The second one I am not so sure about, but I think they can legally follow you for up to 3 intersections on a backroad. Otherwise, they just drive around til they find someone breaking the law.....not following, just driving. Quit being so paranoid and maybe they wouldn't pull you over!
2007-01-16 01:54:02 · answer #5 · answered by balooney2 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ever watch Dragnet with those pesky APBs? Your car may have matched a description of another car and the cop was running your tags...
Or, you may drive erractically or like you're drunk and they're looking to see if you make anymore mistakes...
2007-01-16 01:55:44 · answer #6 · answered by The Tin Man 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question and not without justification. I believe that a cop can stop anyone anytime that they really want to. It is all in their personality and perspective and yes they do follow us and yes it is a ploy to make us nervous so that we will do somethng so they can ticket us. Have you noticed how the laws have changed so that they have more and more excuses? They do it for purposes of writing the tickets and making more money for the government. Some cops don't do it, some cops do.
2007-01-16 01:48:51 · answer #7 · answered by Friend 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Unless if you really are driving badly....... but other than that what the cops are doing is wrong.... there are good cops and bad cops...... If it continues to happen I would call the department and speak to the chief...
2007-01-19 17:52:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but your nervousness, must be making them a little
suspicious, are you looking a little guilty when you are'nt........
Stop worrying even if you have a cop following you, maybe
they are just going in the same direction as you, do not let
yourself get paranoid especially if you have done nothing........
If you are guilty of something different, I am sure a routine
pull over and check won't put you out to much, this is their
job, remember, and they have a right to follow you if they
are suspicious of you.................................................................
Do not sweat it if you have nothing to hide................................
2007-01-16 01:58:28 · answer #9 · answered by gorglin 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Welcome to America, were the right to own guns make cops nervous too. It common procedure for cops to do their job, stop acting like your guilty of something, if your not.
2007-01-16 01:55:42 · answer #10 · answered by pompanopete0 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋