This happened to me yesterday. I'm at a 4-way stop (busy) intersection 2nd car in line facing east. Police first in line facing west. They come through intersection pull beside me, stare in my face. I move up, stop, take my turn (left) and see they are turning around. They end up maybe 3-4 cars behind me and I see their lights flashing as they pass the 3-4 cars behind me and get directly behind me. He drives behiind me for maybe a quarter mile and then pulls me over. Sits in his car for a couple of minutes, then approaches me, asks for my license, looks at it, looks at my windshield for current stickers (which I have) and then says "sorry to bother you, I'm looking for someone in a dark vehicle like this". I didn't say anything but I drive a very popular 4WD SUV and he's going to be pulling over a lot of people if that is all he's going on. Shouldn't he just run my plate for info? I was thoroughly shaken and embarrased - this happened two doors up from my home. Ugh.
2007-10-17 07:45:55 · 26 answers · asked by Barbara H 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Wow, quick answers! Thanks. Some of you are insinuiating that I have something to hide. I do NOT. I am a law-abiding citizen. Never had a ticket and I've been driving for 25 years. I am a nervous person. My 14-year-old son was with me and it happened 2 doors up from my house, right in front of the neighbor's house. I just think he could have checked the registration, seen the address and then watched to see if I pulled in the driveway and voila - it's not who I'm looking for. Done. My nervousness at being pulled over should have made him more suspicous but thank goodness he didn't seem to notice that. The cops have been harrassing people in our town lately pulling them over for no apparent reason then letting them go.
2007-10-17 08:24:41 · update #1
Sure they can. They can pull you over for any reason or no reason at all.
I live in a suburb of Philadelphia. My son, who is 24 is stopped 2 or three times a week when driving my car. The reason, he has dreds. They think it's a black guy at night and stop him for that. Of course, he's white, so they have to give an excuse, and guess what it is?
"We are looking for someone and the vehicle fits the description."
2007-10-17 07:53:52 · answer #1 · answered by Charlie S 6 · 0⤊ 6⤋
Yes, of course they can. They can pull you over because you're in the wrong place at the wrong time even if they don't know what kind of vehicle they are looking for. It's reasonable, prudent, and proper.
They aren't going to be pulling over every similar vehicle forever -- but if somebody two blocks away was just robbed 5 minutes ago by a guy in a car like yours, they sure can pull you overake a look at you to check you out.
There is absolutely no reason for you to have been "shaken and embarrased." What nonsense.
You might appreciate the scenario a little differently if you think of it from the point of view of someone who has just been robbed.
2007-10-17 07:53:46 · answer #2 · answered by Matthew O 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why are you getting all bent out of shape over this? If you don't have anything to hide and aren't the "bad guy" - then you should be glad the police are doing their job. And yes, they have the right to do this....
Lots of people switch license plates on stolen cars. Perhaps the person they are looking for murdered someone, or is a drug dealer, or a pedophile, or whatever - I sure as heck would want a policeman to pull over whomever s/he needed to in order to get the "bad guys"..
You should be glad the police are being so thorough.
2007-10-17 07:57:55 · answer #3 · answered by Mama's on the half tip 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have been pulled over for the same thing. But their logic was way off base. The man they were seeking no longer owned a vehicle like mine and hadn't for years. He also said that my long hair made him think it was him. They hunted this man for well over 2 years and KNEW for a fact that he was actually living in another state. If these morons had actually bothered to check employment records they would have had him long before. Doing a job is one thing but to lie straight to my face after doing this is why I have such a nasty opinion of most cops. They can do this, will do this, and absolutely lie to you about why they did it. Ever been stopped for a light problem only to see that he was lying all along. If you gt pulled over for a maintenance problem you should definitely ask him to point it out to you. Not always but sometimes it is just a bogus idea to pull you over.
2007-10-17 08:19:56 · answer #4 · answered by pappyld04 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nothing you have in your question was improper for the officer. He stopped a vehicle matching the description of the one that left a crime scene. The time in the car was probably running your plate and drivers license (if you are the registered owner of the vehicle). Nothing to be embarrassed about.
2007-10-17 07:51:48 · answer #5 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Sure he can, He may have just gotten a call about a vehicle just like yours in that area. He may even have gotten a partial plate number that matches your vehicles plate number. Why are you embarrased? Did you do something that you shouldn't have done? Lifes is too short, Move on! He apologised didn't he? Even tho he didn't have to!
2007-10-17 07:53:30 · answer #6 · answered by SGT. D 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It is a valid stop if the vehicle and/or you met a description of someone the police were looking. Vehicle stops require reasonable suspicion which this scenario would meet.
2007-10-17 08:06:09 · answer #7 · answered by El Scott 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lucky that's all. I have a friend who was in a similar situation a few years back. The suspect was armed so when my friend went for his glove box for his insurance the cop assumed the worst and had my friend up over the hood and spread legged in no time.
2007-10-17 07:55:14 · answer #8 · answered by Ken O 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, and if your not breaking any laws, you have nothing to worry about. Obviously something happened in or around YOUR neighborhood so be thankful the police are doing their job.
2007-10-17 08:01:43 · answer #9 · answered by DOIN' RIGHT AINT GOT NO END 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's called Reasonable Suspicion. Similar analogy: if you've been stopped for speeding and your car smells like pot smoke, there is reasonable suspicion to believe you have weed in the car. They can then search the car.
2007-10-17 07:51:12 · answer #10 · answered by medleylxa 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋