This is why some cops piss me off
TL;DR version: Some cops are jerks. Some cops are great. TPS needs to train them better in being polite and respectful.
Long version:
I just ran into a bunch of cops on the north bound on-ramp to the DVP from Castle Frank/Bayview Extension and was reminded why some cops piss me off. I had no idea what was going on except there was a crap load of cop cars on the road, and since it was on a curved ramp, I couldn't see what lane they where in. So, naturally, I slowed down to a crawl (3rd gear near idle) and put my hazards on.
A cop signaled me to stop so I turned on my interior lights, turned off the stereo, and lowered my window. The first words out of his mouth were: "Is there something wrong with your car? [chuckle] Why are your 4-ways on?"
A bunch of other cops in the background also chuckle.
Me: "I see a bunch of cop cars on the road, I have no idea what's going on. I don't know if it's a RIDE program or what."
Him: "Well, it is a RIDE program. Have you had anything to drink tonight?"
Me: "Nope"
Him: "Okay" [walks away]
So, I turn off the hazards, turn off the interior lights, put her in first and pull away.
Him: "EXCUSE ME!!!"
I stop again, wondering WTF.
Him: "Turn off your 4-ways!"
Me: "They ARE off."
Him: [he looks] "okay, go!" [walks away again]
Look, it's not a big deal. The whole thing took 10 seconds, but if the Toronto Police Service wants the respect and support of the citizens of Toronto, have a little courtesy and politeness. My significant other said it's because he was acting like a big-shot while training the rookies who were observing; I don't know if that's true, but if so then these rookies are also being trained improperly.
First, be glad I've got my hazards on and I'm crawling up your un-signed, un-labelled RIDE stop. If you want, next time I'll come screaming down the ramp at exactly the speed limit, and I won't brake until you tell me to. Would that make you happier? Or maybe I won't turn on my hazards, so the car behind me will ram into my back end?
Second, having a RIDE program at a ramp is remarkably stupid. We can't see you unless we look WAY up the road. At least have some road flares or flashing lights on the ramp so we'll slow down ahead of time. (But that would apparently contradict the first objective for us screaming up the ramp at the speed limit.)
Third, be polite! I know you don't have to be polite. You aren't paid to be polite. But in the end, it is the citizens of the city who hire you. It may be "ancient history" to some, but any police force is established on the basis of Consent Policing. That is to say, we consent to the authority of the police force in order to serve and protect us, and it is under this consent that the police force exercises its authority; the power lies not in the police force, but in the people who consent to being policed. To put it simply, the police does not exercise its authority over the population, only over individuals, while we as a whole exercise authority over the police. Maybe the historical context of policing isn't taught in their academies, but it certainly should be to bring perspective to their role in society.
With that in mind, how about opening with a "Good Evening"? Or even a "Hello"? A "Hi"? Any sort of greeting at all? What was with the chuckling? Are you laughing at me? Is it because I'm being overly cautious? Do I have a milk-mustache? How would you feel if I laughed in your face?
When you're releasing me from this temporary detainment, say "Thank you" or "Have a good night" or something to that effect. Saying "Okay" and then walking away from someone you had forced to stop is disrespectful. Even the beggar on the street says "Okay, thank you. Having a good evening" when I apologize and say I won't give him change. This particular police officer did not have the manners of a street-side beggar!
I understand when you stopped me a second time, incorrectly thinking I had my hazards still on. Maybe you thought you still saw the lights. No matter; you made a mistake, but everyone makes mistakes. The correct thing to do would have been to apologize, not just "Go!". You were rude to me the first time you released me from the stop, and you were rude to me the second time you released me from the stop. Don't bark your orders as if you are talking to a dog.
All I'm asking of the TPS is a little courtesy and politeness. I shouldn't be this annoyed over a 10 second encounter with the police.
Last time I was stopped at a RIDE program, the officer was polite and respectful. Even though he detained me for a good 15-20 minutes while he figured out how to recalibrate his Breathalyzer, I had no issues because I consent to policing, and I consent to the RIDE program on the basis of the public good. We had a great conversation about our respective jobs while the machine was being sorted out. He escorted me to and from my car, and even reminded me to grab my jacket when I got out of the car for the Breathalyzer test. At the end we thanked each other; he thanked me for being cooperative and taking my time, while I thanked him for the job he was doing for us on a cold winter night. That is how the relationship should be between those hired to police and those who consent to be policed.
Just treat us with respect, politeness, and dignity, and we'll treat you with the same. And maybe, just maybe, if you treat us well, we won't object next time the TPS wants its budget raised.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Ya some cops suck, I got a trespassing ticket for parking my car at home depot. I decided to fight it and when I was in court the officer said I set up a table in the parking lot and was organizing a gambling event.
I asked the Justice for a recess so I could get the security camera footage of the parking lot and said to the prosecutor if I'm telling the truth I'm sueing the TPS and I want the officer charged with purjury. They dropped the charge pretty fast.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
I've had similar instances with TPS. I was dropping my gf to school and a officer to was doing radar on the on coming traffic. I had a rho-plate on my sedan and as soon as i pulled into the school where he was standing he tells me to pull over...
Officer: why is your plate in that position?
Me: What's wrong with it?
Officer: only certain cars can have it there...
Me: You can see what the plate says right?
Officer: If you want to be a dick i can be a dick too
Me: I'm not being a dick you can clearly see my plate so i don't know why you are harassing me
Officer: move along...
Stuff like this makes me wonder why cops go on power trips thinking they know everything..yet i know that if he can see my plate CLEARLY he had no reason to ask me why it was offset.
My other time was when i had put new headlights on my car and forgot to put my license plate back on the front of the car...
Again officer is doing radar on oncoming traffic..sees my car and flags me down.
Officer: Where is your front license plate?
Me: I forgot it at my friends house i will pick it up later today
Officer: Oh ok. Well get that on as soon as possible i will put it in the system that you are picking it up today.
Me: Thank you will i get stopped again?
Officer: It's in the system. Officers won't harass you.
and i drove away...2 minutes later another cop car is coming in the on coming lane..passes me and makes a U-turn. I get pulled over again..wtf.
Officer: Where is your front license plate
Me: i just got pulled over 2 minutes ago for the same thing. i told them i was picking it up later today and they put the warning in the system
Officer: I don't care you're getting a ticket.
like wtf? i just told him i got pulled over 2 mins before and he didn't even give me a chance. He had the i don't give a shit I'm a cop attitude which i don't like because you're a human being like me..but you lay down the law as if you're over everyone else. These cops really need to work on being polite to citizens..
/story
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
I'm no fan of (some) cops myself, but I dont think theres anything wrong with what happened to you there thrizzl3....sure it sucks, but ultimately just because 1 cop gives you a warning doesnt mean another will cut you slack. It *is* against the law to drive without a front plate, even for 5 minutes, and even if you;re going to pick it up right then and there. The 2nd cop should have been nice and understood you were aware of the problem, but at the same time for all he knew you were lying and had been driving for months with it off. Those type of tickets are often difficult to avoid - cops really have no way of telling how long you've had it off for, and if they see you without a plate (even if its in the front windshield), you're getting a ticket. I know this from experience lol
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
lol i know nothing was wrong with the situation but the fact that he came across as a dick with his attitude is why I posted it.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
i got pulled over for no reason what so ever one time in markham.... showed him my licences and that was it.... ride programs are a bit more easy as long as u got a cup of timmies on u. cuz u kno thy get timmies for free.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
While being stopped at a RIDE check point two weeks ago on Bathurst-St. Clair, I got asked about my offset CPE-Towplate as well. Officer asked me if it was a modification or did it come like that from factory. I told him its a modification. Give me a slight dirty look and told me to move on.
The offset plates seem to really attract a lot of attention.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
One time I was in Waterloo and after a late class there was a huge snowstorm. I tried to pull out of the parking lot and my car got stuck. I saw a couple of cops down the road and I asked them if they can give me a hand getting my car out of the snow. They chuckled, said no, and walked away. To serve and protect my ass.
edit: Oh, in case you were wondering, story ends with two random passer-byers giving me a hand and I drove them home in the cold.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
slam525i
Me: "I see a bunch of cop cars on the road, I have no idea what's going on. I don't know if it's a RIDE program or what."
Him: "Well, it is a RIDE program. Have you had anything to drink tonight?"
Me: "Nope"
Should have said yes. After the confusing Breathalyzer result: "Dasani brah"
http://i.imgur.com/EcKhk.png
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Thrizzl3
I've had similar instances with TPS. I was dropping my gf to school and a officer to was doing radar on the on coming traffic. I had a rho-plate on my sedan and as soon as i pulled into the school where he was standing he tells me to pull over...
Officer: why is your plate in that position?
Me: What's wrong with it?
Officer: only certain cars can have it there...
Me: You can see what the plate says right?
Officer: If you want to be a dick i can be a dick too
Me: I'm not being a dick you can clearly see my plate so i don't know why you are harassing me
Officer: move along...
Stuff like this makes me wonder why cops go on power trips thinking they know everything..yet i know that if he can see my plate CLEARLY he had no reason to ask me why it was offset.
My other time was when i had put new headlights on my car and forgot to put my license plate back on the front of the car...
Again officer is doing radar on oncoming traffic..sees my car and flags me down.
Officer: Where is your front license plate?
Me: I forgot it at my friends house i will pick it up later today
Officer: Oh ok. Well get that on as soon as possible i will put it in the system that you are picking it up today.
Me: Thank you will i get stopped again?
Officer: It's in the system. Officers won't harass you.
and i drove away...2 minutes later another cop car is coming in the on coming lane..passes me and makes a U-turn. I get pulled over again..wtf.
Officer: Where is your front license plate
Me: i just got pulled over 2 minutes ago for the same thing. i told them i was picking it up later today and they put the warning in the system
Officer: I don't care you're getting a ticket.
like wtf? i just told him i got pulled over 2 mins before and he didn't even give me a chance. He had the i don't give a shit I'm a cop attitude which i don't like because you're a human being like me..but you lay down the law as if you're over everyone else. These cops really need to work on being polite to citizens..
/story
Had a similar issue when I for got to put on my registration sticker that I had picked up earlier in the week but never got around to putting it on since I had the TM3 cover plate on. Figured I had a few more days and have it put on the coming weekend. Get pulled over by YRP and get a ticket. He wasn't rude but said that I need to have them on. Fair enough. I'd bring in my receipt to the court and get it thrown out. However, going along lakeshore later that night with a bunch of friends and get pulled over. Officer says that my sticker expired. I told him I already got a ticket earlier that day and showed it to him. He started laughing and said that York Regional Police have all the gadgets since it was a computer generated ticket and how nice it must be for them to all the new toys. Handed me back the ticket and told me to fight it.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
silverstarmazda
i got pulled over for no reason what so ever one time in markham.... showed him my licences and that was it.... ride programs are a bit more easy as long as u got a cup of timmies on u. cuz u kno thy get timmies for free.
You can be pulled over at any time for the following reasons:
- To check mechanical fitness
- Check for valid insurance
- to check sobriety
I'd rather get pulled over and waste 10 minutes of my time in hopes that one time they do catch a drunk guy, or someone who has brakes that will fail or no insurance and will **** me over when they hit me.
Most people have a horrible attitude towards police without any thought from their said. I know I would have a hard time being the nicest person when I deal with the worst society has to offer every time I went to work. But for the most part caps are nice, fair people. but like any walk of life 10% will be dickheads, the problem is you never hear of the nice cops, only the bad ones.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
I've got no issue with being pulled over as long as I'm treated with respect, as I treat the officer. I was pulled over once by a guy getting lots of people in the HOV lane on Eglinton. Walked up to the window and said "Thought you didn't have a front plate on there, you can go" (had my offset plate as well).
The only dick cop I've encountered was in Barrie, when I was going to fast and went through a yellow. It was a chick on a power trip. She tried to pull me over on a 1.5 lane street so I pulled into the parking lot to our right instead, to which she berated me for not stopping where she indicated (this was an extra 30ft slow drive into the lot, not evading police). Then ranted about my speed through the yellow, which she didn't book me for because a) it was yellow and b) she didn't have a radar reading. Made my night.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
zzz3
LOL!!! :chuckle
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RedRaptor
While being stopped at a RIDE check point two weeks ago on Bathurst-St. Clair, I got asked about my offset CPE-Towplate as well. Officer asked me if it was a modification or did it come like that from factory. I told him its a modification. Give me a slight dirty look and told me to move on.
The offset plates seem to really attract a lot of attention.
Dam..that sucks. Well you can tell them the Mitsubishi Lancer (forgot which trim) is offset BY FACTORY!! XD
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ogata
Dam..that sucks. Well you can tell them the Mitsubishi Lancer (forgot which trim) is offset BY FACTORY!! XD
i think its only the Evo but i could be wrong. regardless if its factory or not. its still not illegal. that's like saying we aren't allowed to put after market rims on our cars cause they didn't come like that.
ive had my fare share of ******* cops but i find that even if you are really nice to them and don't talk back at all and answer everything properly. you'll still get one that's an ******* at some point
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
I'm fairly certain the HTA only specifies that the plate be visible from the "front" of the car, not that it be centred on the car. As mentioned, if Evos (and Ralliart I believe) can have them offset under the HTA there is no reason other cars can't as well.
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Aitch
I'm fairly certain the HTA only specifies that the plate be visible from the "front" of the car, not that it be centred on the car. As mentioned, if Evos (and Ralliart I believe) can have them offset under the HTA there is no reason other cars can't as well.
Quote:
The number plates for a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or a motor assisted bicycle, shall be attached to and exposed in a conspicuous position on the front and rear of the motor vehicle. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 628, s. 9 (3).
source: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/reg...s_900628_e.htm
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Fuman
Got the wrong part (rear plate only).
Quote:
(3) The number plates for a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or a motor assisted bicycle, shall be attached to and exposed in a conspicuous position on the front and rear of the motor vehicle. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 628, s. 9 (3).
Re: This is why some cops piss me off
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Aitch
Got the wrong part (rear plate only).
FML, i quoted the wrong thing.
The right one:
Quote:
(3) The number plates for a motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or a motor assisted bicycle, shall be attached to and exposed in a conspicuous position on the front and rear of the motor vehicle. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 628, s. 9 (3).
