Is there a lesson learned here?

[Al Today]

A little background:

First of all, let me say I was negligent. My birthday came two weeks ago and my Ohio drivers license expired. I didn't notice that. Oopsie… My bad…

Secondly, I work north of town. Everyday, I have to drive through town to get home which is south of town.

Yesterday, I was driving home from work. I couldn't help but notice that the local city police patrol car was on my ass. All through town, it was on my ass, tailgating. I was driven to watch my speed limit, and wondered if this officer drove like this on his time off. This made me nervous. I try to ignore buttheads who tailgate, but being a police officer, I wondered “wassup” with this? Does he have any road manners? Thinking derogatory thoughts about what type of person this was. Remember, he was right on my ass, driving through town. I could see his front windshield in my rear view mirror, but not his bumper. He was that close. I eventually came upon a street light that turned yellow as I was going through. Within seconds he turns his lights on to pull me over. I pulled over and wait for less than a minute when he gets out and walks to my car. He then asks me why I went through the yellow light. I told him I didn't SLAM on my brakes because I didn't want to cause an accident. He then informs me that he called in my car plates and saw that I had an expired drivers license. I didn't say anything, but my question is, when he called in my plates. Must have been way before I went through that yellow light. So anyway, I was cited for driving with an expired drivers license, which was the truth. Makes me wonder if he is driven to generate revenue to become “officer of the month”. Does he drive around calling in car plates looking for a bust? What happened to innocent till proven guilty? Is this an example of authority sworn to protect and serve? Protect and serve who?

So now I wonder, what is going to happen when I refuse those mandatory vaccines?

 

[Buddy]

Does he drive around calling in car plates looking for a bust?

I don't know about the vaccine, but I do know from experience, that police DO call in car plates routinely, without having or needing probable cause to do so. In fact, I believe field officers are generally requested not to do curiosity call-ins when dispatchers are busy, but to call in plates if there is anything at all suspicious, so most of them are out there looking for something at all times. Like any other job however, some will be just passing time, watching the clock.

What happened to innocent till proven guilty?

It may have morphed into "innocent until you catch my attention." :)

 

[Johnno]

I commented on a seatbelt thread and I've copied it here.

I see it as a way of revenue raising and "creating criminals".

As Anarchasis the Greek said

Written laws are like spiders' webs, and will, like them, only entangle and hold the poor and weak, while the rich and powerful will easily break through them.

There's another observation I came across from Ayn Rand

There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power government has is the power to crack down on criminals. When there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Unjust laws have to be fought ideologically; they cannot be fought or corrected by means of mere disobedience and futile martyrdom

I found out recently, it's illegal to back out of my drive!

 

[JEEP]

It reminds me of this:

Everything I Want to Do Is Illegal
_http://www.acresusa.com/toolbox/reprints/Salatin_Sept03.pdf

I thought this appeared on Sott.net, but couldn't find it. The search function for Sott never seems to work well for me. So I gave up and located it on Google.

 

[Gimpy]

It's been my experience Al, that local cops have quotas just like a factory worker, and are required to make a certain number of 'revenue generating ticket offenses'. The only reason the guy was on your butt was he knew he could nail you, and he was looking for any excuse to do so. I had the same happen to me one winter. The cop followed me in like manner through icy streets for over an hour to my house, and pulled me over because I couldn't stop at a stop sign. (Icy road conditions made it impossible) He pulled me over before I could enter my drive way, and made me sit there for 45 minutes, trying to find anything else to cite me for.

I fell asleep in my car, as it was late at night, and I was exhausted. At that time I lived in a bad part of town, and while my husband wanted me to fight the ticket, I didn't. He (the cop) thought I was a gang banger because of where I lived, and when he saw me sitting in my car in a business suit it shocked him. Rather than cause a fuss, I paid the fine and moved on.

My hubby told me he busted me because he spent so much time following me home, he couldn't justify the time any other way.

If you watch, the number of people being cited for traffic and other money making fines will spike near the end of every month, when the quotas come due.

 

[RedFox]

fwiw I've had a few times where I've driven my moms car with either expired insurance or MOT.....both of which I could have been nailed for if caught.
What it taught me to do was to stay on top of these things! And not to think of them as small if they could cause a great deal of problems for me if avoid/ignore/forgotten.
I'm inclined to include such things in 'know the methods of attack'. The cop was just the agent of attack....the forgetting to renew your licence was the hole in your awareness that gave the 'attackers' an opportunity to strike.

 

[Gimpy]

fwiw I've had a few times where I've driven my moms car with either expired insurance or MOT.....both of which I could have been nailed for if caught.
What it taught me to do was to stay on top of these things! And not to think of them as small if they could cause a great deal of problems for me if avoid/ignore/forgotten.
I'm inclined to include such things in 'know the methods of attack'. The cop was just the agent of attack....the forgetting to renew your licence was the hole in your awareness that gave the 'attackers' an opportunity to strike.

Yep. Sometimes the cops will pull you over for nothing at all, though, which can result in a 'butt covering fine'. How that's handled can make a difference too.

 

[PepperFritz]

What it taught me to do was to stay on top of these things! And not to think of them as small if they could cause a great deal of problems for me if avoid/ignore/forgotten.
I'm inclined to include such things in 'know the methods of attack'. The cop was just the agent of attack....the forgetting to renew your licence was the hole in your awareness that gave the 'attackers' an opportunity to strike.

I think you have summed up very well what the "lesson" in Al's situation was. I have a petty-tyrant neighbour who is constantly calling the cops on us for the smallest by-law infraction, and live in a small-town where the cops are not busy enough and frequently drive around just looking to nail you for something. Getting angry and railing about the situation is useless and just makes you more vulnerable. I too have learned that these individuals are simply there as mindless agents of attack, and the onus is on me to be constantly vigilant and aware of the possible avenues and methods of attack, and ensure that I do not leave myself open.

I treat it like a game, an exercise in awareness. Whenever I leave my house, I am hypervigilant about my surroundings -- not in a fearful or stressed way, just in an "alert" way. I make sure that I'm doing nothing that will set my petty-tyrant neighbour off, and avoid police cruisers like the plague (e.g. if I see one coming in my direction, I immediately turn the corner). My cousin and housemate gets very upset about the situation, railing about how "it shouldn't be!", and how "we shouldn't have to live like that!" and "we deserve to be left in peace!". And I always patiently explain to her it is what it is; that all the wishful and entitled thinking about how it "should be" is not going to change anything; and that taking a light and playful (but always alert) attitude is the best defence. She's gradually learning....

 

[Al Today]

What it taught me to do was to stay on top of these things! And not to think of them as small if they could cause a great deal of problems for me if avoid/ignore/forgotten.
I'm inclined to include such things in 'know the methods of attack'. The cop was just the agent of attack....the forgetting to renew your licence was the hole in your awareness that gave the 'attackers' an opportunity to strike.

I think you have summed up very well what the "lesson" in Al's situation was.

Yep, I left myself open to attack alright. But for me, the lesson I think learned, (again), is that "they" are out there. I try to accept this as fact. They are plotting, planning, waiting for an open opportunity to advance their cause. Seems mostly their cause is self-profit. To gain benefit from the prey. Especially unsuspecting prey. Knowledge does protect, but even more important is the application of said knowledge. Vigilance and preparedness perhaps are the keys. One must keep in a constant state of awareness. THIS IS HARD, I keep falling back asleep. As soon as I let down my guard, wham, I got nailed. Maybe another lesson is that this reinforces the point that this world is full of agents, be they aware of their actions or are merely ignorant puppets/pawns. I have this program that wants me to trust others, when in actuality, I cannot or will not from now on. Bugs me that i gotta expect an attack. Yes, this is becoming a hell on earth.

 

[Jacques]

I commented on a seatbelt thread and I've copied it here.

I see it as a way of revenue raising and "creating criminals".

As Anarchasis the Greek said

Every ways are good to raise the revenue.

Last year, while i was riding my road bike on a quiet sunday morning, i was alone in the streets. No car, no other bikes, no pedestrians.
At a certain moment, i arrived at a stop and i reduced my speed but i did not immobilize my road bike for 3 seconds and i did not put my foot on the ground. Unfortunately, a police's car was hidden and i got a ticket. It cost me 38$ and i lost 3 points on my driver's license.

 

[PepperFritz]

Vigilance and preparedness perhaps are the keys.

Perhaps? I think the C's have made it clear, over and over, that they ARE the keys. What would the alternative be?

One must keep in a constant state of awareness. THIS IS HARD, I keep falling back asleep.

Yep. That's why it's called the "Work".

I have this program that wants me to trust others, when in actuality, I cannot or will not from now on.

Sounds like you've identified the program that you have to work on.

Bugs me that i gotta expect an attack.

That's about as useful as me getting angry when I get bitten by mosquitos when I garden in the evenings. Hoping that they won't be out there this time is just wishful thinking, complaining that I shouldn't have gotten biten is just entitlement thinking. The only "solution" is for me to take calm, rational steps to avoid being mosquito-lunch, like donning protection or changing my gardening routine.

From your posts in this thread, Al, I would say that your "challenge" and "lesson" is to let go of the anger, and get your entitlement and wishful thinking in check. View the situation calmly and objectively, and take appropriate action. You've been given a gift -- a reason to work on staying awake and aware. Today you get to deal with annoying teensy-weensy Petty Tyrants. Tomorrow you may have more serious situations to deal with. Be thankful you have been given the opportunity to "practice" your awareness and protection skills on a daily basis, so that they will be well-honed in future situations.

Yes, this is becoming a hell on earth.

If you let it.

 

[JEEP]

Last year, while i was riding my road bike on a quiet sunday morning, i was alone in the streets. No car, no other bikes, no pedestrians.
At a certain moment, i arrived at a stop and i reduced my speed but i did not immobilize my road bike for 3 seconds and i did not put my foot on the ground. Unfortunately, a police's car was hidden and i got a ticket. It cost me 38$ and i lost 3 points on my driver's license.

What's even more ironic and frustrating is that our taxes are paying the salaries of these public servants! Of course, it doesn't pay to have a conversation with an officer of the law that challenges their reasons for pulling you over as tempting as it may be. Smile, be polite and respectful even if you feel unfairly targeted.

Where I live there are several four-lane divided roads with a speed limit of 25 mph - a whopping 5 miles faster than a school zone! I almost never go a strict 25 on these roads, usually closer to 38 when there is little to no traffic. Amazingly, I have avoided being caught for speeding. I am vigilant as regards kids playing/walking, animals being present, or people attempting to back out of their driveways and slow down accordingly. When I lived in WV, the residential street speed limit was 35 mph statewide, so going 38 would probably not ever result in a ticket--and these are two lane roads up and down hills no less. I guess drivers were expected to use common sense when driving in residential areas (and studies have proven that the vast majority of drivers do drive at reasonable speeds for the roads they are on and under the current driving conditions). And just for the record, I lived on a two-lane highly traveled city street in a county seat in WV when I was the parent of a two-year old with an unfenced yard. I did not expect the people using the road in front of my house to slow down to a crawl because I happened to have a small child. I chose to live in a house on a busy street and I knew it was my duty to keep an eye on my child and to teach my child how to be safe and to not run out into the street. I also feel the same way about pets - it's the owner's responsibility to keep them safe and not allow them to run around the neighborhood and into streets.

I did get stopped once by the local police where I live now. I was leaving my subdivision and needed to cross one of the four-lane divided roadways. At that time, the four lane did not have a stop sign for the traffic on that road itself. As I was running a little late, I only stopped momentarily at my stop sign in order to cross the road without having to wait for an oncoming car to travel past the intersection. It was dark and I didn't know this car was the police. Fortunately, the street I was on is under state jurisdiction and its speed limit is 35 and despite running late, I did not exceed the limit. Nonetheless, I soon saw flashing lights. I pulled over and the officer approached my car and asked me if I knew why I was stopped. As it doesn't take a lot for me to become emotional, I was extremely nervous, fumbling to find my insurance papers in the glove box, and stammered, "No sir". He explained that I did not stop long enough at the stop sign - there is a 3-second rule or something. Anyway, I got off with a warning. I'm sure the officer was expecting me to speed since I did a quick stop at the stop sign and so, since I didn't speed, he decided to let my infraction go. And maybe it wasn't the end of the month either!

Now, I have to, at this point, relate a happy episode with my local police. It was dark and I was on my way to the assisted living facility where my mother lives. As older people know, it is not uncommon to develop night vision problems. I was going along not seeing anything unusual, when WHAM, I hit an unseen object in the road full force - a cinderblock! It was laying in the shadow of a tree from a streetlight. Needless to say, my tire was destroyed. I pulled over onto a closed city facility entranceway. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, my spouse now resides and works in another state and could not come to my aid. I did call him and then called the road service number and set out to wait for someone to show up. It was most likely going to be a while before assistance would be at hand. However, within a few minutes, a local police car came by and stopped to see what the problem was. Long story short, this officer changed my tire! In the process he got a fair amount of grease on his hands. I was very grateful for his assistance and the next day, dropped off a specialty dessert-type bread from an in-town bakery for the officers to enjoy with my thank you for the help. The officer that helped me wasn't there at the time, but I assume he was made aware of my thank you gesture and got some of the bread, too.

At this point in time, I feel the police force of my city are of a very high caliber and can only imagine the stuff they have to deal with on an ongoing basis. I am also working on driving closer to the 25 mph limit even if I don't feel it is justified on those four-lane divided roads. It just feels so excruciatingly s-l-o-w! :/

 

[ana]

I have this program that wants me to trust others, when in actuality, I cannot or will not from now on. Bugs me that i gotta expect an attack. Yes, this is becoming a hell on earth.

Maybe the problem resides in generalize, So when you say trust others you mean the whole beings around you, the group here, politicians….As I see it, It is not about trusting everyone or no one, it is about taking into account your knowledge, experience and instinct, merging them with the higher state of awareness you can achieve, maybe it leads to a natural state of being where you are able to trust in yourself and those of the same condition.

 

[Beau]

Al Today, you should come up to Canada. I was pulled over last year for not wearing a seatbelt and after (quickly) issuing the ticket the officer actually apologized to me and said he hoped he didn't ruin my night, quite sincerely! Being an American, I was pretty much astonished at this act of kindness, seeing as though if I had been back home not only would I have been subject to a routine search of my person and vehicle with a surly policeman, but backup would have been called because of their being more than 1 person in the vehicle. My mind was pretty much blown from this encounter with an actual friendly policeman. They exist, but not in any great capacity within the Greater 48 I'm afraid.

I would also suggest that if a cop is tailing you so clearly and obviously, just pull over to the side of the road and either let him pass you or get behind you and get on with issuing a ticket.

 

[PepperFritz]

...At this point in time, I feel the police force of my city are of a very high caliber and can only imagine the stuff they have to deal with on an ongoing basis....

Yes, I'm feeling very positive about the police right now as well (despite my snarky comment above!). I live in the Oxford County area of Southwestern Ontario, where we have been living through the awful experience of a local 8-year-old girl (Tori Stafford) gone missing in April, and subsequently discovered to have been abducted and murdered by a young man and woman who have been arrested and charged with the crime. However, until just three days ago, her body remained unrecovered. Long after the public lost interest in the case, the police continued their search for her with extraordinary dedication, and a member of the investigation team finally found her on Sunday in a remote rural area while driving around looking on his time off. Sgt. Jim Smyth and his fellow investigators have earned my great respect and appreciation.