what do i do if i share same dob, physical des. last name w/ someone w/ a warrant.?

Question

I got pulled over 2 nights ago for rolling through a stop sign. Cop approached my window like he was going to draw his gun. long story short he asked be to get out of the car and handcuffed me & told me that I had a warrant out for my arrest in a different state. The warrant also said that this person had violent tendencies and that i possibly possessed a weapon. After 20 mins the cop confirmed my first name and social was totally different. He actually let me go thinking it was my problem to deal with and that it could happen again if i get pulled over. If I get pulled over again I could very well get tackled to the ground and have to explain in a calm voice that they have the wrong guy and possibly brought in until the cop figures out that their computer system is still running on windows 98. After talking to six different department I'm still at square one. They all tell me not to get pulled over until the actual criminal is caught. Is my only option to feel like a criminal now?

Answer 1

Carry your Social Security Card with you at all times from now on.

Sorry, but blaming the Police isn't going to help anything and the only thing suing the Dept. will accomplish is making your wallet lighter in Attorney's fees. The Police cannot be held responsible because of the fact they are only acting on information that they have available to them at the time. And let's face it, the same last name, physical description and d.o.b. does put you at a disadvantage.

You are going to have to deal with the extra scrutiny you get when contacted by the Police until the other person is taken into custody.

If it does happen again, don't get bent out of shape with the Officers and above all COOPERATE with them. Understand that they don't know you from the next person.

Calmly explain that you've seen stopped before, and are aware of it and are not the guy they're looking for and wait until they can verify it. And yes, it may take a while, not all Departments have the latest, up to date computer systems in the world.

Answer 2

Yeah, and to lose the piss-poor attitude about police.

Do you know how many cops get killed on the job while conducting traffic stops?

They don't know who they're dealing with when they stop people. It's not their fault your name is similar to some loser with a warrant.

As a suggestion, why don't you get a print-out of your driver's record to present to the officer if you get stopped again.

Answer 3

Find out the municipality that wants this clown and have them write a letter explaining that you're not the guy they're looking for. Keep it and present it if this happens to you again.

Barring that, yeah, drive like a damn driver's ed instructor.

Answer 4

They are just doing there job,stick your hands out of the car an do what they say,an feel luck the officer did not give you a tic for running stop sigh stop means stop

Answer 5

yeah that sucks

not a lot you can do in that situation

i guess you have to tell yourself that at least you know it isnt you they really want , and that after a bit they'll figure it out and let you go

could maybe change your hair color or get it cut real short or let it grow out , maybe get glasses

and like the cops said ....dont get pulled over : )


B.

Answer 6

This sounds like a very dangerous situation for you. I'd discuss it with an attorney. Perhaps he can draft a letter to the local police departments notifying them of the situation. At that point, they will need to figure out the procedures to help protect you.

That way, if it happens again, they would be liable and could be more easily sued. I suspect that the second time it happens you will need to go see a therapist for many very expensive sessions and perhaps you will be unable to work or drive as a result of this irresponsible and preventable action.

Hire an attorney to notify them and sue if it happens again. I think you would deserve a big settlement.