I'm 16 and I've been pulled over twice. They always say that I was driving "questionably" late at night. I'll be coming home from a party ( Not drunk or under the influence of anything ;D ) and I get pulled over and have to do the whole sobriety test. They police are never mean to me, so I don't really have a BIG problem about it.. I just get home late and it's hard to explain why I got pulled over when I was driving the speed limit and "10&2" the entire way. Can they pull you over just.. because? Haha I'm pretty goofy sometimes so maybe they think I'm tipsy or something?
2007-09-24 15:06:52 · 17 answers · asked by Samantha 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
...To the person who asked about my race... I'm asian. HAHA I doubt thats why they pulled me over.
2007-09-24 15:13:14 · update #1
Sometimes driving too careful can be a reason for a stop. Everyone swerves a little, or exceeds the limit by a few miles an hour. You were probably trying to be the perfect driver. You're young, and it is late at night, or early morning. That alone would draw suspicion.
2007-09-24 16:42:17 · answer #1 · answered by CGIV76 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Some things never change. When I was in high school back in the 1960's I had to work full time at night, from 5PM to 1AM Monday through Friday to get money for college, because my family had no money for college and I was absolutely determined to go.
Yes, on my way home I was pulled over frequently. The question that I was always asked is what am I doing out so late on a school night?
Yes the police do pull you over late at night and early in the morning if you look young because they do not think that you have any legitimate reason for being out late.
Many areas do have curfews. In the area where I grew up there was a curfew for young people under 18. However the exception to that curfew was if you were going to or coming home from work.
In most cases I suspect that I was pulled over for a suspected curfew violation. However since I was going home from work I was not in violation of the local curfew law.
In my experience when I explained why I had to work so late the police accepted my explanation and did not give me a ticket.
But yes I agree that young people out late do get pulled over because they look young. Most police officers do not expect a young person to have to work late at night.
Generally the police were quite reasonable when they heard my explanation, though.
2007-09-24 15:28:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Years back I had to go to traffic school. The instructor was a highway patrol officer. He was asked that question. The man replied something along the lines of they're 500 different reasons I can pull you over. So I took it pretty much as they can do what they want to do.
The term "questionably" sounds pretty generic to me. They might have thought you were younger than you really are and wanted to be sure you really had a license.
2007-09-24 18:24:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Police officers need what is called 'probable cause' in order to interfere with your civil liberties. If your driving was 'questionable' or erratic, they may naturally assume there is a drunk driver that needs to be investigated, particularly late at night. You obviously know how to handle the situation since it has happened twice, but the key is to not get pulled over in the first place. Don't drive in such a manner that it attracts attention.
Also, the first answer, Becky, was not too far off the mark. I can get pulled over for 'probable cause' in some neighborhoods particularly at night, probable 'cause I'm white. Prejudice and racial profiling do exist, it's just harder to prove.
2007-09-24 15:21:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
At 16 you are a minor so yes they can stop you. They need a probable cause to stop drivers, and checking that you are 16 and not 14 or less it's a pretty valid reason to stop you. And yes, looking "tipsy" it's another valid reason to stop you too.
Besides I have never seen a16 year old being a good driver; I'm sure you over rate you own skills as a driver and drinker, that's why many kids die and kill inocent families on the road.
At 16 you shoud be at home early and not parting around asking to be raped by a carjacker or killed on a car crash with a drunken driver.
2007-09-24 15:24:42 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
police do need a reason to pull u over. it could be the they thought that you were tipsy because you were acting goofy. i do know here in ca in the highwaypatrol we have to have a reason to pull someone over.
2007-09-24 15:19:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Ask them next time why they stopped you? It is a legitimate question. Just be polite about it. I always tell a person that I stop why I pulled them over. You stated they said you were driving questionably. Ask them what you did to be considered questionably driving.
2007-09-24 15:25:21 · answer #7 · answered by chill out 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If they keep thinking you are drunk, maybe you are just a bad driver. There are tons of you out there. If you keep weaving, they think you are drunk, wholla, you get pulled over. Learn to drive in a straight line, it may help.
2007-09-24 15:15:59 · answer #8 · answered by Scott B 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The police can do anything they want. They pull young girls over trying to get lucky. You should be glad you made it home after being stopped by a cop and you were alone. Make a report at the station about being stopped for no reason. Try not to drive by any donut places late at night. Evidently there's some terrible crimes taking place at the donut shops. There always filled with police.
2007-09-24 15:16:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 6⤋
They dont have to have a reason. If they need one its unsualy suspensal doubt. or did you hit some road divder bumps. that will do it every time. Are you driving out of your county they can tell. Hope this helps.....
2007-09-24 19:26:20 · answer #10 · answered by teniakay 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋