Can anyone tell me what the laws are on highway patrol officers SC pulling thier firearms/guns out on a woman.

Question

I was driving down a street and ahead of me I saw two (not police Regular) cars blocking up the street, I backed up a lil and went down the next street. When I got to the corner there was a police car in front of me and one behind me. I know for sure the one in front pulled his gun and pointed it at me through my windshield. he told me "put your hands up and turn off the car". I was scared and did not know what I did. I still had my hands up and he told me to turn off the car. I did and another officer came up to me atthe side and simply asked for my license and insurance. I gave him the license but couldn't find the insurance card so I asked him if he could look it up (yes I do have insurance). A asked what I did and they told me the other street had a road block, I didn't know It just looked like people blocking the street talking. They had no lights on, no officer was in the street and the cars ahead were blocking me.
Q: What are my rights, they didn't even apoligize.

I understand the following but why not flash lights? Why not sound alarm? Whenn there is a road block there are lights, the officers show they are there. Would it have been different in another neighborhood? I have seen it different in another neighborhood. No I didn't live in the neighborhood I was driving through but I am a Realtor and on my way to a property. In my area they would have been polite and wouldn't have done that. So do you feel that people in "good" neighborhoods can't harm you?

I understand the following but why not flash lights? Why not sound alarm? Whenn there is a road block there are lights, the officers show they are there. Would it have been different in another neighborhood? I have seen it different in another neighborhood. No I didn't live in the neighborhood I was driving through but I am a Realtor and on my way to a property. In my area they would have been polite and wouldn't have done that. So do you feel that people in "good" neighborhoods can't harm you?
The Question is: what are MY rights? I do understand yours. But bad things happen when officers panic and If I woulda gotten scared and moved or something in a way he felt uneasy my kids would have been without a mother

They weren't looking for anyone. No one armed and they are targeting that area and I spoke to the councilwoman and the mayors office and they was just in that area within the last week. This isn't even thier jurisdiction.

Again the quetion is about rights, the story is just to help understanding, can ANYONE tell me about civillian rights???
And if it was your wife/mother/sister would your answer be the same?

Answer 1

What you did is "avoid" a police road block. That is the reason they chased you down and pulled you over with force. Because they thought you had a reason for avoiding them because you turned away and left. Usually, people that do so have a reason to not want the cops to check them out...so for precaution, cops will pull arms until they know you are not a threat to them. You have to remember, they are out there every day having to defend their lives from trigger happy people that have something to hide. You can get a ticket for avoiding road blocks or even stop signs...i.e. if you go through a parking lot to avoid waiting for a red light/stop sign.

They acted within reason, I would have reacted the same way if I was not sure if a person that was fleeing from a stop was hiding something or not. Put yourself in their shoes:)

Answer 2

It's sad that many do not understand what law enforcement goes through on a daily basis that prompts such a response when in a situation like yours.

You are obviously a person who has had little contact with police or what they do.

Police are no different than any other citizen other than they have to deal with the less than shiney side of the coin on a regular basis. Once in awhile a good citizen gets stopped with having done something that amounts to a very small infraction.

The police have become accustomed to dealing with the harsher side of society and are attuned to dealing with them not the good citizen.

So when folks see how the police act arrogant, surley, impolite, or harsh...the officers are more apt to be displaying a type of "command and authority" to insure they maintain control over a situation that's POSSIBLY hazardous.

You obviously were unaware of what was going on ahead of you yet the police assumed you were attempting to run a roadblock for some illegal reason or you were entering an area where there may have been a serious situation requiring very stringent control over the area.

There was certainly a misunderstanding and lack of communication.

I would have at least said something about why you were approached as you were and appologized for the inconvenience. But I've been doing this profession for way too long to not have learned that there are reasons why some don't appreciate law enforcement.

When you see comments such as D2Ward that were uncalled for, immature, and stereotypical...you can understand why some officers are prone to be "stand offish" with the general public!

In hopes that your next contact with law enforcement is better....best wishes.

Answer 3

Here we go again... what can i do to the big bad policemen because they scared me. I was fine up to that point with your story. You avoided a road block you could have been anybody. The have a very high risk job and the took caution to see that no body got hurt. Why do you feel a need to "get even."?

Answer 4

Sorry but you did deliberately, or at least deliberately appear, to avoid a road block. And why should you being a woman make any difference? A woman can fire a gun just as well as a man.

Answer 5

They were looking for somebody, that's the reason for the roadblock, they do not necessarily have to have their lights on, and you were stopped because they perceived you as trying to run the roadblock and needed to check you out. Their guns were drawn because obviously the person there looking for is armed and dangerous. So they owe you no apology at all, and they were the ones within there rights. Sorry.

Answer 6

the first two cruisers thought you were trying to avoid them because you backed up. that's the only thing i can think of. although with hindsight and not knowing the entire story, the action seems rash, but when my and my partners safety is in danger, it is better to be safe than sorry. if your that shaken up about it, go to the police station and ask to file a report.
* remeber, its not personal, we dont know who you are, or why you avoided us. you could have a dead body in the drunk for all we know.

Answer 7

I agree with KC V.

The other entry he mentioned more than likely did something in his/her past that caused them to deal with law enfiorcement up close and personal. Oddly enough, if you lead a clean life, you will not have any problems with L.E. whatsoever. Funny how that works.

Answer 8

It's not personal, they don't know who you are. A women can kill me just as quick as a man, so depending on the circumstances such as that you described I would have done the same thing.

Answer 9

Let me say, first, that my general opinion of policemen is that they are control-freak a--holes who are probably compensating for having a small penis by gripping their guns so lovingly. However, let me say this in their defense: you don't know what situation was up ahead in the street they had blocked off. They were probably on an elevated-alert status & taking every security precaution. Maybe running a little high on adrenaline, too. Chances are they were trying to protect you, too, and keep you out of harm's way, but got a little carried away with the gun-pointing.

>edit
Well, 5 "thumbs-down" so far, huh? Then let me amend my answer to say that police officers are always courteous, helpful, and make the best decisions in all situations. They never abuse the power their position grants them. You should always do exactly what police say without questioning them. In fact, it would be better if you just read their mind and did what they wanted without them having to tell you. Clearly, you were in the wrong by driving down that street. Shame on you -- you dirty criminal! How dare you make a mistake!! You are a threat to society. In fact, you are probably a member of Al Queda! Now just shut your mouth & put your hands behind your head, get down on your knees & hobble back to your house. Stay inside & don't come out til the cops grant you permission & tell you it's OK.

Answer 10

they thought you were the dummy they were lookin for. none of your rights were violated..........