More accurately... drive a Forester! I swear, it's the uber-stealthmobile - especially if you don't go overboard with tint and loud exhaust, and keep a generous coating of dirt on the car and all shiny aftermarket parts.

Roo and I were going 110+ on the 505 once with a bright yellow MR2, when we saw a CHP cruiser doing a 4-wheel drift across the median and come after us. Guess which one of us got pulled over? The cop caught up to our Forester and gave us one inquisitive look, then punched it and went after the MR2...

 

I'd have to say the biggest one is TINT. Cops hate tint. But really, don't get caught up in a racial profiling zone. I just made that term up, but it holds water. It's sad, but true. For examle, in S.F., there are areas that are deemed areas of high drug traffic. Basically anywhere near any project. Like where the Valencia Gardens used to be at 15th and Valencia. Or more specifically 15th and Albion (that little alley st.) Basically if you're black and driving any American made car built prior to the 90's, you're getting pulled over and the cops are going to whatever they can to find a way to search your car. Same goes for Asian, Hispanic, and other races. You drive through the wrong area fitting the profile, you are getting pulled over. The cops want to pull you over in these zones, they just need to find an excuse first. A loud exhaust, tint, ride is too low, anything will work. If you must drive a modified car and are forced to drive through these areas theres not much you can do. Go out of your way to meet some of the local beat officers so you'll have a name to throw down when you do get pulled over. Every time I see Coco county Sheriff roll through my neighborhood (it's rare) I always wave. If he ever pulls me over, he'd never want to give the nice guy that always waves a ticket..lol. Or you can get your license plate confidentialized...that works wonders...lol.

 

LOL!

 

Don't drive with or next to Resident Smurf.

 

don't be black or a mexi!

 

Don't drive Mark's car

 

I did have a cop give me the "EVIL" eye last night...hence the idea for this thread.

BTW I painted my shiny Helix muffler black the other night,...turned out well.

Last I heard a CHP11-99 plate frame cost $1800 and knowing somebody whos already a member.

 

whats this citiczen member sticker you speak of?

 

You gave my secret away! A cop friend recommended that to me.

 

Well I hate to say this and the cops rearly admit it, but if you are the wrong race for the area, or look out of place you will get pulled over for something.
It is more to get a look in your car of make sure you don't have any warents, but the effect is the same.

My car is stock, but I have blond hair and blue eyes so I should be ok.. LOL

I look at it this way. If you get pulled over speeding don't lie. Never lie... They love it when you do because they will nail you for it. if I get pulled over speeding I will tell them so when they ask me why. Then proceed to tell them that you are getting an unusual sound in your turbo at certain RPM's and you weren't looking at your speedo while trouble shooting the issue. This works some times..

No blue tape on your headlights... I know this is required for SCCA events but get it off when you drive home. It just sticks out.

 

Correct. That's for the lifetime membership - the one that gives you the badge, pin, plaque and license plate frame. As for knowing someone who's already a member - not sure on that.

For those who are curious about what the 11-99 Foundation:

The CHP 11-99 Foundation is a group that supports the wives and dependents of CHP officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. 11-99 is the CHP code for 'Officer In Distress', hence the name of the foundation. The organization is widely recognized and respected by the CHP, and increasingly so with other state and local law enforcement agencies.

Anyways, the 11-99 Foundation is actually DOES support the officers directly - it's not some BS charity thing (such as the Police Activities League) where you really have no idea where your money is going. They help pay for medical expenses, monetary support while the officer is on disability, legal fees, extra care for their children and wives, etc. If you hadn't noticed, I'm a big proponent of the 11-99 Association.

But while membership hath its privileges, there are some caveats that come with it. So these are some guidelines for those that get involved that can make your life a little easier when dealing with the police:

1) DO NOT get pulled over with an 11-99 frame without carrying the badge, or otherwise being able to prove that you are in fact a member in good standing. That's an almost guaranteed ticket. They had a problem with people buying extra frames for all their cars, then having them given / sold to friends, neighbors, etc who were NOT members. People were also leaving them on the cars that they sold, and thus more got out into the world to non-members. So now if they see an 11-99 plate, they might not pull you over in the first place, yes. But if you DO get stopped, and you can't prove you're the real deal, the officer is not going to be pleased.

2) It's not a guaranteed 'get out of tickets free' item. You can't just throw the badge in the officer's face and expect him to let you go. You need to be polite, courteous and discreet when you hand over your license and badge (I carry my license and badge in a separate badge wallet and just hand that over). Most of the time, if the officer recognizes what it is, he'll probably let you go. If he doesn't, disputing it with the officer on the side of the road is probably not going to help your cause.

3) The 11-99 Foundation CAN revoke your membership. There have been few documentated cases of this, but I know it's happened. If you anger enough officers, or the wrong officer, it WILL get back to the association administration and they WILL do something about it. They won't jeopardize their standing with law enforcement because of one or two 'bad apples'. The general idea behind this is that spending $1800 doesn't buy you the right to be a pecker to any officer who pulls you over. What it DOES buy you the right to have an officer cut you some slack and let you go when you damned well deserve a citation.


As always... YMMV.

- Bis

 

I've been profiled many times in Santa Clara and pulled over for BS. You can try to be as stealth as you want, but if a cop wants 2 pull you over, he will. Just be polite and don't talk back.

 

I got pulled over in SF doing 80mph in a 35mph zone. It was on Sunset going around the lake... if you know SF you will know those series of flowing corners. I usually drive pretty fast through there so didn't think much of it until I saw the red and blue lights behind me after I'd stopped at the red light.

I was really scared because I knew I was speeding but I didn't know the speed limit and I really didn't know how fast I was going. I thought the speed limit was 25mph.

He seemed pretty pissed and said he'd pulled someone over already but saw me speeding right by him "airing out" my motor (I was at WOT). He let that guy off and chased after me. So when he asked me how fast I was going, I said 40mph. He asked me again, how fast I was going and added that the truth goes a long way right now, I said 40mph? Seriously I didn't know how fast I was going and was just guessing. He didn't seem too pleased.

He told me to start my car and rev the motor. He said my exhaust was too loud and he'd have to give me a fix-it ticket. He then said that he didn't get me on radar so he has to take my word for how fast I was going. He told me at least I stopped for the red light and didn't weave through traffic. He gave me my fix-it ticket and told me to slow down... I was really lucky and was still scared like hell after that.

 

or asian in a "modified" car.



shoot...I'm german but I look mexican to many. I've been popped quite a few times and picked up on the profileing bit.

I couldn't tell you how many times I got pulled over in my civic and the cop looked surprised as hell....even had one tell me....didn't expect a big white guy to get out of that car..haaaa.

As for my biggest one.... I used to have a shaved head and a big gottee and I was much more fit than I am now. I got pulled over in my old truck in milpitas. Lowered in the front. Big tires. Centerlines...etc. nice little ranger. Miss it.

anyways. the guy does the gun bit get out put your hands on the truck bed..etc. Does the stand on one foot deal. Flash light deal. Etc. Then another cop show up and makes me do it again. Keep asking me when the last time I used Meth was. Searched my car. Broke my glove box. etc. About 2 hours into the whole deal the guys giving me a lecture and asking me how much I've had to drink tonight for like the 10th time....I finally broke...i was totally calm and respectful though I was freezing my *** off around 2 in the morning at this point.....I said...well I had a couple snapples and a Dr. pepper at the show I just left...he got pissed. Told me he should arrest me for being on drugs..etc....etc...etc. I told him to go for it. Put my hands behind my back..whole nine. Said do it bro...I'll embarass you then file a law suit for harassment. Then...and only then does he tell me why I got pulled over. OVER 2 hours after I got pulled over.

He says...well since you're religious...had a bible in my car...you obviously know that junk is bad for you so I'm just gonna give you a ticket for running that red light back there....I was on the freeway..just got on.

I said...what are you ****ing kidding me. i did not run that light. I was sitting at it when it was red...it turned green and I went through it.

He wrote the ticket.

I took it to court. Had photos of the intersection and the times for how long green lights and yellow lights last and how long it takes for the average car going from a stop to get through the light. Was there at the exact hour I was there...for about 2 hours.

I came in.....he looked at me. Looked at my chart...he had his note book, ticket book and was wearing a suit.........he dismissed the case and walked out.

I would have REEEEEMED his ***.



so yeah......it's not just the asians, black, mexicans that get profiled. If you look like you could cause some trouble you get profiled. Your car gets profiled..etc.

and quite honestly...generally they have good reason to do it. Their safety. generally speaking they go with percentages. It sucks. It's bull**** but knowing enough cops I can see their justification...





bizmark.....you read my post? the last one....I'm feeling you on the 11-99 issue. I can't stand people that fake it or just get it to get out of tickets. It's a great fund and does a lot of good. When funds present itself I plan to do it.

almost lost 2 family members to the force. My former brother in law is CHP.

 

sucks man, I think if a cop accused me of doing something I didn't I would snap.