Question:
Should I file a complaint?
2009-07-13 07:26:58 UTC
This morning, on my way to work, I was going about 48 in a 45, and I was slowly going past an unmarked patrol car (I could tell because of the make of the car and all the radar equipment inside.). This was a 5-lane road, by the way (2 on each side + turning lane). I had to make a left turn at an intersection I was coming up on, so I waited until I thought I had gotten far enough past him to move into his lane. I looked in my left side-view mirror, and he was far enough behind me for me to move into his lane. So, I moved into his lane, and I saw his roof lights turn on and he pulled me over in a parking lot. When I pulled in and stopped, I rolled down the window and put my hands on the wheel, like you would with a normal pull-over. I then heard "take out your license and get out of the car!", so I opened the door and stepped out. He then started basically yelling at me and telling me that I came up past him really fast and that he shouldn't give me a ticket, but charge me with reckless driving, take away my license, and impound my car. I saw on his shirt that he was Charleston, TN, police chief, and I was NOT in Charleston, TN. I was in Cleveland, TN, so he does NOT have jurisdiction there to pull me over. Plus, I was not driving recklessly. I made a misjudgment, and I apologized for that. He didn't even know what a restricted license was because when he looked at my license, he said "What is a restricted license?", and I tried to explain it to him, but he just started off again, and I said "Do you want to see another ID?" because I have a military ID because my dad is a retired Army Colonel. He looked at it for awhile, then started going off again saying how he wouldn't even give me a ticket, just take my license away and impound my car. The entire time, I was just very calm and quiet, and apologizing for what I KNOW I did wrong (the lane thing). Finally, he said, "Consider this your break, kid." and left. Should I file a complaint for harassment? Because he pulled me over out of his jurisdiction, and he harassed and threatened to take my license and car away just for going 3mph over the speed limit (most police in CLEVELAND (he was Charleston, CHIEF OF POLICE, for Christ's sake) won't pull you over unless you're going like 15 over or more) and "reckless driving". What should I do?
Fourteen answers:
Colt 45
2009-07-13 07:48:05 UTC
Let's see...how does an "unmarked patrol car" have "roof lights"? That's one inconsistency in this story out of quite a few. From how you described what you were doing, you must have done something different than you said to have kept looking back at the patrol car. You waited until you got far enough past him to make a legal lane change? That doesn't make sense. 15 mph can be considered reckless driving, as well as an illegal lane change, swerving, tailgating, passing in the non passing lane, etc. It does not always have to be speed. The fact that he was from a different jurisdiction has no bearing, if you are driving recklessly, you can be pulled over by any officer. As to be arrested or given a citation, that he would need an officer from that jurisdiction to do. He can run your information as well. He most likely said "What is the restricted license for?" because a license can have many different reasons for carrying a restriction. He wanted to clarify with you, rather than tie up dispatch with a license query. You are not a cop, nor do you know the policies to say that they only pull over for 15 mph or more. 1 mph can be pulled over if necessary. As for the harassment, you need to do a little bit of research kid. Harassment is defined as persistent and on going behavior, being pulled over once does not count, that would be called the cop doing his job. It boggles the mind that you are allowed to have a military ID. Next time tell the whole true story.



As for those who say "he wasn't following procedure". You are not cops, so you wouldn't know correct procedure unless you count Law and Order or CSI as your basis on your conclusions of real police work.
Johnny D
2009-07-13 14:41:38 UTC
I believe that there was no harassment involved except of course for reason being you were to close to his car when you switched lanes. Also I"m not sure if you mentioned but I would like to know if you did signal left-turn before moving onto his lane?



Its state law for New York and New Jersey where I drive. Another thing, it is to my knowledge that you shouldn't be cited for reckless driving unless of course you didn't signal.



The only thing he could have pulled you over (if he did indeed have jurisdiction in your area) was doing 48 on a 45 zone. Now did you managed to get his visible ID# from his badge? If you did so you can file the complaint.
John U
2009-07-13 14:38:33 UTC
Don't think for a second that if he would have gotten on his radio and called the Cleveland PD you would'nt be staring down three or more of their officers and would have received everything this chief promised. Let it go and be glad you didn't act like a complete a$$. And just so you know, one police officer trumps a kid whose daddy is a retired Army Colonel.
2009-07-13 15:28:50 UTC
I can tell you are upset, as well you should be. But I would not file a complaint and this is why, it has been my experience that many law enforcement officers threaten many things they simply cannot do, hoping you do not know any better. I absolutely hate that, as I DO know better and when I argue they cannot do something, they only get madder! Figure that? The thing is, they all stick together. There is much truth in that "blue wall." And if you did file a complaint, him and his other fellow officers would keep an eye out for your car if you ever came into the area and you would surely get a ticket for something....probably anything they can stick you with. They are sore loosers with control issues. It is almost as if they feel they are above retribution.



I had a police officer that threw me up against a wall when I simply said to him regarding a response I had with someone, "How do you know, you werent there?" He handcuffed me and since I am very short and they were very tall, I was literally off the ground when they took me to their station. My arm was out of the socket, my wrist was bruised and my little finger was fractured. Definatly abuse of power. All documented by an emergency room report.



But instead of filing a complaint or lawsuit, which I now wish I had done, I wrote his comanding officer and met with their public relations officer. I didnt want some other woman to be treated in such an abusive manner. LIttle good it did me, as I thought it was all over and when I didnt show up for court, they sent officers to my house for failure to appear for something as stupid as disturbing the peace and in the end I had to apologize to the officer! Several years later, this same sherriff was released due to criminal charges against him! They were not the least bit thankful I didnt file a lawsuit and went forward with their issue.



Granted, my situation is a little different than yours and my advice totally does not make any sense, especially after what I told you happened to me. But you did get away with no ticket or anything, so be thankful. Yes, I do realize he probably couldnt have issued a ticket anyway.



Unfortuantely, this is the world we live in. Police abuses left and right. Very little you can do. However, I live in Pittsburgh and they do have a citizens review board. That has helped tremendously with this. Officers overstep their boundaries left and right, day after day and there is very little you can do about it unless they file actual charges, something you can actually fight in court. And even then, they all stick together and it is still very difficult. I know in my situation, they all lied and since it was me against the rest of them, well, you know I had no chance in hell. But that pig sherriff got what he deserved, even if I was not the one that dealt the hand. Usually these people are not only doing it to you, but to others and then it takes some crazy fool to get really mad and POOF....they are shot or taken out of office. So, they get theirs in the end. The good police officers do their jobs well, dont threaten with stuff they cannot do and do not abuse individuals simply because they can.



I know my opinion is very severe, but I did not appreciate being abused in that manner or threatened with stuff they cannot do at other times with other officers. Good luck, just take a breath and calm down. Its not worth it.
?
2009-07-13 14:38:40 UTC
maybe he wasn't even a cop.



maybe he was a criminal that stole the unmarked car, knocked out the real officer and took his uniform. Maybe he was looking for someone he could pass for so he could "confiscate" their license and car cuz an unmarked police car would be easily spotted by other cops.



Would kinda explain why he didn't follow correct procedure, know what he's spose to know, and kept looking over your ID (maybe considering if he could pass for you). I'd at least report it to the actual authorites, see if they have someone from out of town that's allowed to be making stops.
James M
2009-07-13 14:32:35 UTC
You'll be dealing with situations like this all your life.



My advice kid is to move on and go on with your life. No sense in wasting time and energy to complain about something that really had no effect on you whatsoever.





And as a vet myself, nothing pisses me off more than officer brats bringing up their parent's position for any reason. YOU weren't an Army Colonel, your father was. You want to use position like that for any reason, then go earn it.
2009-07-13 14:38:44 UTC
Yes you should file a complaint. He was not only out of jurisdiction, all police know what restricted license are. He may have been a fake police, or out of his mind, temporarily or permanently ? Drugged ,or something. His behavior sounds vicious and ignorant.
Layla
2009-07-13 14:33:46 UTC
Did you even get his name or any kind of information to file a complaint?



I'd say let it go, it's over with and he didn't do anything to you. But if somehow this happens again, get the policeman's info and report it.
Vage Centurian
2009-07-13 14:33:10 UTC
This is all very annoying, but you don't want to continue on this. It is his word against yours, which is something you can't win.



Best is to imagine that it was something really nasty that put him into such a mood and then forget the whole thing.
A.B
2009-07-13 14:35:44 UTC
Hes probably a rookie who decided to practice.. so he went out of his jurisdiction... chill man what you being a dick
hello
2009-07-13 14:32:25 UTC
you should just forget about that crazy guy and not get involved with him anymore than you already have
2009-07-13 14:31:38 UTC
No. You where speeding.
2009-07-13 14:30:22 UTC
I would.
dadsayno
2009-07-13 14:29:46 UTC
no


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