I got a speeding ticket....

[Tamrahan]

on the way home from work. Yeah, I deserved it, or at least I probably did... the truth is I have no idea how fast I was going as my car was on auto pilot. My mind was on dinner, a retirement party tomarrow...you get the idea. So yeah I was probably speeding.

Anyway, it was wierd. I pull up to stop light to make a right turn. I notice in my mirror that a police car was in the middle lane but hanging back a ways. She was also talking to the car right behind me. As soon as the light turned green I made my turn and she pulled into my lane and pulled me over. Another car, (may have been the car behind me) pulls over ahead of me. So we all sit there maybe a minute. I'm thinking to myself 'What the heck is going on?"
I 'm looking in my rear view mirror and it's a women officer and in the passenger is a kid. The 1st person out of the car is the kid. She runs up on the passenger side of my car up to the 1st car. Then the officer gets out of the police car and walks up to collect my licence, registration,ins and tells me I was speeding then goes back to the police car to call me in/write my ticket.

I'm just baffled by the fact that a ride along passenger in a police car is allowed out of the car, especially a kid. I mean at that point the officer did not know who I was. How did they know I wasn't a dangerous criminal?

I'm wondering what you guys think. What are the rules on 'police ride alongs'? Is this an endangerment issue? Should I call the police station and let them know that this happened? (part of me kind of wants to do this since she was so nice to give me a ticket I would like to return the favor) Or is this no big deal?

 

[bundschuh]

Ride alongs are common, my oldest son rode along 2 x with a police officer as he was contemplating a career in law enforcement.

My son was surprised at the number of domestics an officer encounters on a normal shift. He wasn't allowed out of the vehicle and their vehicle had a pretty decent shield between the front and back.

I think it is an excellent way to show youngsters what work is about. My oldest son wasn't interested that career after the ride alongs, but my youngest one still is.

 

[jgarr44460]

First let me say I understand your frustration in getting a ticket deserved or not.

My son participated in ride alongs with the police department as part of his Master at Arms training with the US Navy Sea Cadet Corp several years ago. I believe he was 16 at the time and they were very specific about what he could and could not do. He was taught how to look up a person on the police car computer etc but he was NOT allowed to get out of the car when the officer made an initial stop. He was riding the night shift and I'm sure that was also a factor. They do make you as parents sign their life away before letting your child ride along absolving them of all responsibility should they get hurt or yes killed. This was in Rhode Island.

To answer your question - if you are curious you could call and ask what their policy is on ride alongs and go from there. I'd be sure what your motive is first though. Do you want a small revenge on the officer or are you trying to protect children in future ride alongs?

JenG

 

[Tamrahan]

Do you want a small revenge on the officer or are you trying to protect children in future ride alongs?JenG

A little of both actually. But the officer was nice and polite so I don't really fault her for doing her job. Like you said it is frustrating to get a ticket-deserved or not. But it did seem to me a little irresponsible. I mean how many crimes are solved accidentally by an officer pulling someone over for a minor infracton, ie: speeding, tail light out etc, only to find out that they are a wanted felon, or drug busts? I just see how an incident like that could have had the potential to turn bad, like a hostage situation, so I guess I'm more concerned for the safety of all people involved but especially a kid.

OTOH, at the time I was alarmed to be 'sandwiched' it between the 2 cars. All these thoughts were going through my head: What the h... is going on?" and "well it's only 5pm and it's light out still and I'm on a busy street/intersection so nothing bad should happen". and "that's a kid in the front seat, is that even a real cop??" and"am i getting carjacked?" Lol, it REALLY freaked me out at the time. So I'm a little annoyed at that.

I told some guys at work about it and they thought you had to be 18 to go on a ride along but they must be wrong.

 

[Tamrahan]

The MOST annoying thing about this is when I told DH about it, of course I get a mild lecture. Of course he has never in his 44 years had a ticket and the only time he's ever gotten pulled over was because I didn't have my seat belt on. So aggravating, lol.

 

[kathryn]

I do think it was a bit irresponsible of the officer to let the kid out when she did. She should have waited until you had left. Like you say, how would the officer know you weren't some dangerous criminal? Or someone who goes berserk when they get a ticket and starts shooting? Though the officer might have called in your license plate previous to stopping you, to check and see if there were any warrants or tickets associated with the car.

 

[janie1234]

My brother is a San Francisco Police officer 10 years now and truth is the cop probably ran your plate while pulling you over so she knew that the car was not stolen, and that you don't have any warrants out for your arrest. The kid probably got excited and jumped the gun and wanted to be a part of the action. Although my brother never lets people get out of the car during ride a longs and he is very strict on that. The kids could have been run over by a rubber neck driver, . .it happens a lot! Hey cops make mistakes too, . . and unfortunately sometimes they are really bad ones but ultimately their jobs are to ensure that the roads and streets are safe. I wouldn't sweat it. I think it is more humbling to have to get a ticket and be made an example of in front of other people. That is not an easy pill to swallow, but hey don't worry trust me it happens to a lot of people.

 

[pamelajo]

I have worked in law enforcement for 16 years. Ride alongs are very common, but at least for our department have very strict guidelines. There are more officers killed in the United States on routine traffic stops than any other type of call that officers respond to. How old was the rider? Could it have been a very young or young looking plain clothes officer? I have seen officers that look like they could pass for 12 easily..especially the older I get!
Most riders are not allowed out of the patrol car, unless the are the PD or office. However a lot of times, riders are actually officers from another department. You may want to contact the department and ask a few more questions, but it doesn't hurt to make your concerns known. I cannot imagine an officer letting a kid out of a car on a traffic stop, so there may be more to it.
Hope this helps a little!
Pam

 

[Tamrahan]

I have worked in law enforcement for 16 years. Ride alongs are very common, but at least for our department have very strict guidelines. There are more officers killed in the United States on routine traffic stops than any other type of call that officers respond to. How old was the rider? Could it have been a very young or young looking plain clothes officer? I have seen officers that look like they could pass for 12 easily..especially the older I get!
Most riders are not allowed out of the patrol car, unless the are the PD or office. However a lot of times, riders are actually officers from another department. You may want to contact the department and ask a few more questions, but it doesn't hurt to make your concerns known. I cannot imagine an officer letting a kid out of a car on a traffic stop, so there may be more to it.
Hope this helps a little!
Pam

Thanks for your reply. Yes this does help.
To me this kid looked young, like 10-12. I checked the departments website and I was thinking about emailing all the info I relayed in my above posts and just leaving it at that. I haven't decided what to do and will give this some more thought.

 

[LauraMax]

Holy crap! That kid could've been run over or had his head blown off! I am shocked by this. Really shocked. I mean, just b/c your plates are clean doesn't mean you're not a criminal (I mean, we know you're not, but the cop doesn't ). Jeez, half the serial killers in the world have never even had a ticket for jaywalking.

Maybe it's a consequence of where I live--a very lovely, affluent little community that's bordered by a number of very low income, high crime communities--but no driver is a safe driver for our police, & boy oh boy did that officer expose that child to potential harm, & her dept. to some serious liability!

 

[fit_fairy]

It sounds dangerous to me. I agree with LM that whether she ran your plates or not there is no way of knowing what potential danger could be there. How old was this kid?

 

[dr.mel_PT]

I'm also confused as to why there was another car involved?

 

[Tamrahan]

Holy crap! That kid could've been run over or had his head blown off! I am shocked by this. Really shocked. I mean, just b/c your plates are clean doesn't mean you're not a criminal (I mean, we know you're not, but the cop doesn't ). Jeez, half the serial killers in the world have never even had a ticket for jaywalking.

Maybe it's a consequence of where I live--a very lovely, affluent little community that's bordered by a number of very low income, high crime communities--but no driver is a safe driver for our police, & boy oh boy did that officer expose that child to potential harm, & her dept. to some serious liability!

And just because the plates are clean/and the car has not been reported stolen doesn't mean that the owner of the car is the person driving. A few years ago a guy hijacked a women and her sports car here in Des Moines, dumped her body on the way to Counsil Bluffs and was driving around for how long I don't remember before they finally caught him.

It sounds dangerous to me. I agree with LM that whether she ran your plates or not there is no way of knowing what potential danger could be there. How old was this kid?

I guesstimate that this kid was maybe 10 or 12 years old. It's hard to tell these days though.

I'm also confused as to why there was another car involved?

IDK. I'm still confused by this as well.

As I said, this whole experience was very weird.