Apparently, I fit some odd ethnic profile and have been pulled over several times.
Now as a peaceful law abiding citizen I have no problem with a friendly just checking from law enforcement. The police were profesional and I was sent on my way each time but it dopes get annoying.
When a police officer makes four turns and you can see their facial expressions in the rear view mirror that is tail gating and a form of intimidation. I would rather the cops set up a nice check point and dispense with the formalities. Have you been drinking ? License registration and insurance ? Breathalizer ? In my case I wanted a breathalizer . The cops seemed more interested in asking questions and seeing if the answers were consistent. Where do you live ? I still live in the same place I did five minutes ago.
Drunk driving and security are no laughing matter ? Still if the police were curious a patrolman could have struck up a conversation and we could have eliminated the cloak and dagger. Policemen have a tough job to do but tailgaiting and intimidating drivers seems overkill. I do accept as a new person in town that law enforcement has some natural curiosity but checking to see if I put my car in the lot where I said I live is absurd.
Thus is the reality of ethnic profiling . As a NYC resident in Vermont apparently I carry a higher probability of being a dangerous criminal. I do not cry or whine about it as this is the new reality of the post 9-11 world we inherited.
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14 comments:
Don't worry about it Beak.
The cops in small towns are notorious for this kind of thing.
Is it always the city police or is it different branches (city police, county sheriff, state police?) Call the local Chief of Police or Sheriff and ask him what the problem is.
Be polite and ask him if you are doing something wrong because its getting annoying.
I am surprised because if he looked at my windshield he could see what I am doing in town . I have a special parking permit and they know what it is.
“I do not cry or whine about it as this is the new reality of the post 9-11 world we inherited”
But whining about it is EXACTLY what you are doing.
A few observations from my hustand and me:
1. As Warren pointed out, in small towns stop drivers more often, especially if you are easily identified as an outsider. See more below.
2. Are you driving a rental car?
3. Do you have out-of-town plates?
4. Do all your vehicle's stickers "match" the usual ones in your area?
5. Pardon me...How are your driving skills?
6. Is your physical appearance Middle Eastern?
7. Do you or your vehicle look like someone/a vehicle on the lccal PD's wanted list?
8. Are you driving way below the speed limit?
9. Have some of those parking stickers been stolen and reported to the local authorities?
10. Are you driving a Mustang? Ha, ha! But, seriously, some vehicles are cop-magnets. I'm never stopped in my Crown Vic, which I bought from the police department.
Beak Boy you get harassed by the police? Ethnic profiling? I don’t think so. What’s a matter, you thought that because you’re white this type of thing shouldn’t happen too you? Next time tell them you’re a Bush supporter, maybe they won’t bother you. Also, I suggest a few strategically placed pro-Bush bumper stickers.
One can write a long, long list of reasons the police stop a person, but the last time I checked this was still a “free” country and a person has the right (I think) to go anywhere and do anything they want (within the law) without being harassed by the cops. As you said the times have changed and they (cops) will stop you for any reason, in fact they don’t even need a reason. This is a clear example of allowing some of our rights to be taken away from us. They take some and next thing you know they take them all.
Harrassment??? Absurd Caution??? Since when is confirming what someone tells them "harrassment" or "absurd?" I'd expect "no less" from our boys in blue. Helps me sleep soundly at night.
And since when do we want police officers to play the "straight man" to all of our comic criminals out there? I'd hope they'd all be "professional" anti-comics by now.
beak, I'll bet money you've still got out-of-state tags and are staying out WAY too late at night. People in those parts go to bed at SUNSET.
I wouldn't call it "ethnic" profiling either. I'd call it "suspicious character" profiling. And "suspicious" is an urban out-of-stater wandering around the back woods late at night. They know you aren't out there "spotlighting" and "poaching" like a local.
-FJ
Guys
I still have NY plates and it is not a rental car. Unfortunately, I live on bar row and driving after midnight will get me stopped.
They apparently pull cars over all
night. I am a special target with out of town plates even with a low profile car.
My main problem was the tailgating
and lack of a breathalyzer. I offered to take one immediately but was told that is not necessary.
Asking me the same question several times was annoying.
This is the world we inherited on 9-12. I am not complaining this is the new reality. I do not look remotely Middle Eastern.This was more of feeling me out by the local cops.
Sanitizer
Great idea the locals probably think I'm a wacked out liberal or commie like 167. I will have to put out a few key bumper stickers and away no 5-0.
Wouldn't the locals (this is the state Howard Dean was governor of) accept/trust you more with John Kerry bumper stickers than with pro-Bush ones? :)
beak,
You're a "Rudy Republican". You should appreciate the James Q. Wilson, "Fixing Broken Windows", Zero Tolerance police methods... ESPECIALLY the tailgating.
Broken Windows
You know they're watching you. Take comfort from the fact.
-FJ
You Beakerman!
Come home!
We miss you........
Vermont? Doesn't Dean hang out there?
mwah!
Pamela aka "Atlas"
Pam I miss NYC so badly but this is the Republican area. They do not like liberals up here. I constantly hear are you sure you are a native NYC resident.
Esther
The locals are not liberals but they are more libertarian . They hunt, fish , smoke and drink up here. The area I am in is not liberal wonderland.
Pam I miss NYC so badly but this is the Republican area. They do not like liberals up here.
Ah, you're in the part of Vermont that works for a living?
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