they cant go question u when they havent seen anything illegal yet. So they called his boss to see if he was a suspicious person and if so then thy would have watched and waited to see if he did anything illegal so then they could catch him


makes sense to me!

Not me...

I know what you are talking about Coomer. I'm getting the same thing, or atleast almost.

Actually just 2 days ago I'm driving home from my girlfriend in the middle of the night and some cop starts following me around town. Then after a while they pull me over and explains that this was just because they didn't know who I am.. They had to check it out.. I mean, come on.. How dumb is that? I'm going to my police station one of these days and complaining. This is just plain harrasment.

If I had been doing something wrong, fine. But they can't pull me over just because they think it would be a good idea. And the other cop is like "hey, don't worry.. it's just a rutine check. we haven't seen your car before"

We are "only" 17 000 people in this town, but wtf. they cannot know every car so why bother stopping them all one after another to "check them up"?

I say start taking notes when they pull you over and if it continues, file a complaint.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm going to write a professional letter to the police department regarding the situation.

I just bought a personal recorder too so that in the future I can flip it on quickly once I am getting pulled over, then I can listen to the conversation later and take notes(since it's probably illegal for me to record the conversation, even though the cops can.) The only problem would be if they searched the car and found it, because my car's been searched a couple times(they've threatened me with a ticket if I didn't let them.)

And my car is legal for the most part. The only illegal thing is probably the exhaust noise at WOT, because it's loud, but I never hit full throttle in the city or anything, and the only thing a cop has ever said about it was "Any exhaust system that's not stock is illegal," which I know for a fact is wrong.

I've been told that my current headlights, windshield banner, and tint are illegal too. But they're not. My headlights are Sylvania lights(I keep the packaging in the car, but one officer still didn't believe it), my windshield banner does not extend more than 6" below the top of the windshield(I checked the law, and that's what it is), and I had my tint tested by another officer at the station who had a tint tester, and he said it was within the legal limit.

Ever asked for the code under which they are justified in searching your car? Don't object, just make sure you are told under what legal authority they are taking this action. If the police are non-responsive, well, that's just fodder for future complaints.

Better yet, carry quotes of the legislation dealing with your questionable modifications. The issue of headlight colour and output, window tint, etc. are all laid out. Have that printed out, with act, section, paragraph cited, so you can respond when an cop is being an ass. As a suggestion, don't pull it out unless he's threatening you with a ticket and refuses to give you a clear explanation of where you are violating the law.

Most states only regulate private conversations and recording devices. You are having a conversation on the street -- by definition a public place. Just as anything you do in a public place is subject to public scrutiny, so too is anything you say. It'd require some impressive legal wrangling to say citizens don't have the right to record their encounters in public with police -- that would mean media wouldn't be allowed to secretly videotape anybody doing anything in public. >>

And maybe keep a log of when you were pulled over the explanation you were given for being detained. If you can lay out a pattern of barely justified stops, you build a strong case. The media particularly like timelines, if it gets bad enough you need publicity.

stop trying to argue or out-smart the cops, it will only make things worse. You are classified as a ricer and trouble maker whether it is justified or not.

sell the Celica or move.

one last note, if you really want to help your situation, when you see a cop on the side of the road, pull over and talk to him. Tell him you feel like you are targeted and you don't know why. Explain to him your car is legal and you cause no trouble.

BTW, recording someone (audio) without their consent is illegal.

Every time a cop pulls you over, right when they get up to your window ask for there badge number (write it down) and full name (write it down) they have to give it to you. (if they ask why, tell them: you are undergoing harrasment by the local palice and your atturny says you have to keep a record every time a cop pulls you over for no reason) then keep an ever growing list of them (if any of the officers are nice to you then leave them out) but for the rest, take it to the local police department and tell the person at the frunt desk that thies officers have been unlawfuly harrasing you, and you need a complant form to submit to your atturny in order to file a suit aginst them, and the state for allowing it to continue.

by the way, if your gana stop and talk to an officer, I would not sugjest talking to a local one. maybe a state trooper, or someone outside your area.

recording voice:
put a peace of paper up in the side windows that says your car is monitored and your voice may be taped. (then its fully leagal to tape any and all conversations that are within hearable distance from your car.

This post has been edited by creis: May 4, 2005 - 2:05 AM

coomer you need to watch "Getaway in Stockholm".

it would make you feel much better.
But definitely contact a hire authority, and sue like crazy!

eventually, they will back off.

haha do get Getaway in Stockholm 2 as well

I went to my local police station today and explained what happened to me the other night, and the spokesman actually came with an apology(spelling?). I'm all happy now since they agreed that they did wrong in stopping me like they did.

u realize ^ will change nothing... they're gonna watch u closer

Just tell them you dont need to be on their watch list, tell em your already on the FBI's list.
=P

Batman, I dunno about you, but I figure that holding the police to account, like any other part of the government, is a citizen's duty. If they're doing their jobs right, and acting legally, then they'll be fine. It's all about how you do it. If you ask them why they're searching your car, that's one thing. If you tell them they're not allowed to, that's another.

Hell, I live in probably North America's most actively governed jurisdiction, and the police still have a duty to follow the law. They have significant and usually necessary legal authority. The problem comes when that authority is overstepped or abused. Often, it's well meaning. For instance, stopping and checking every young male in a sports compact. Street racing is a legitimate concern. Detaining me just because I'm young, male and drive a sport compact is not a legitimate response, any more than stopping every black/Hispanic/Asian man driving a nice car is a legitimate response to drug trafficking.

As for the legality of taping public conversations, I would, as I've said before, check your local laws. I'd be suprised if taping a police officer on the street talking to a member of the public is illegal, but you never know.