Stupid cops!

[Mr 5 0]

Kaspar:

Thanks for validating my point.

Yes, it's very scary and induces instant spincter-tightening to unexepctedly see those red and blue flashing lights in your rearview mirror. Who doesn't get a queasy feeling when that happens? That's part of the power of the police and they know it. Intimidation.

One can be a responsible citizen in every way, but drive down the highway and suddenly see those lights in your rear-view mirror and you feel about 5 years old and helpless, at least for a second or two. This is especially common for a new driver.

Then, have a cop with a 'tude (for no reason other than you're young or have a Mustang) start looking for petty 'violations' just to harrass you and abuse his authority, well, it pisses people off, big-time. Handing out bogus tickets just cements the animus and contempt for the police. For what? So Barney Fife can 'show you who's boss'? This is where negative attitudes toward police stem from. Stories like yours, Kasper.

This is also why these types are usually still doing traffic duty when they're 40 instead of moving up the ranks to a higher position or at least better duty.

Look, it's one thing to knowingly do 80 in a 55 zone, get caught and ticketed. You may not like it much but you know you 'played the game' and lost. You deserved the ticket, even if you didn't like receiving it. Lesson learned.

On the other hand, being unfairly ticketed (like you) or harrassed for trivial stuff that endangers no one is what rankles most people and justifiably so. Someone telling you that 'The cop has a dangerous job and could get killed' means little or nothing when your being legally screwed over by some cop with a desire to ruin your day just because he can.

Your experiences are typical of the negative attitude some have toward police, especially where traffic laws are concerned. We all try to stay 'clean', no one wants tickets, but when you're ticketed for petty stuff it generates a poor perception of police work and for most of us, our perception is our reality.

Good, smart cops know this and use good judgement and develop a reasonable attitude when dealing with ordinary citizens in a traffic stop. They're the good guys, I support them and I believe they're in the majority.

I would prefer to leave it at that.