Cop Talk

Rear - red or amber

Front/side - clear or amber

Originally Posted by BobDoe3

Hey OHCM3 or Frobie,

I was wondering what color can the front, side, and rear signals be? I've seen newer cars with red signal tails and sidemarkers.

Also, are extendable batons illegal to have in person? And what is the talk about having a bat in the car?

Thanks

Batons are restricted for law enforcement use/carrying in public or in your vehicle in CA. A bat is considered a baton if its in your car or on your person and you don't have a legitimate reason for carrying it (i.e., on the way to play baseball). All of these should be found in 12020 P.C. where basically all illegal weapons are noted

Alright, so i got a ticket turning right on red coming up PCH in Malibu near the Pepperdine Campus....

Apparently there are 3 signs there saying no right on red and they are only one month old. Three questions:1. What kinda absurd fine should i be expecting to pay for a no right on red? 2. Any thoughts on what I should do? 3. Is there a way to keep this from making my insurance go up?

BTW: Just cause I drive a BMW doesnt mean I can afford it. Student loans exceeding $80000 and my parents with $250,000 in debt.... I hate cops and people who tell me that since I drive it I should afford it....

Originally Posted by OHCM3

Batons are restricted for law enforcement use/carrying in public or in your vehicle in CA. A bat is considered a baton if its in your car or on your person and you don't have a legitimate reason for carrying it (i.e., on the way to play baseball). All of these should be found in 12020 P.C. where basically all illegal weapons are noted

So I have a non-extendable baton under my seat.. should I take it out? I always liked it because I'm just a skinny white kid in a bad area driving around a nice car.

Originally Posted by gyoung_06

Alright, so i got a ticket turning right on red coming up PCH in Malibu near the Pepperdine Campus....

Apparently there are 3 signs there saying no right on red and they are only one month old. Three questions:1. What kinda absurd fine should i be expecting to pay for a no right on red? 2. Any thoughts on what I should do? 3. Is there a way to keep this from making my insurance go up?

BTW: Just cause I drive a BMW doesnt mean I can afford it. Student loans exceeding $80000 and my parents with $250,000 in debt.... I hate cops and people who tell me that since I drive it I should afford it....

That's my old patrol area...

First off...Traffic controls and signs are always put in to address a safety or qaulity of life issue, so that's why the sign is probably there. Cops obviously are hired by a city and told what types of things to focus on, so that's why he was there. Its a pretty simple equation, and the fact that you chose to disobey posted signs (either by accident or on purpose), but seem mad at the cop because of your error is a little unreasonable.

If this cop told you that you should be able to afford it because you drive a BMW, that's unprofessional and isn't something I support. In fact, people in nicer cars often feel they are being targeted, but you should drive by my station parking lot one day and see that many of the deputies have nicer cars then those they are pulling over. Usually, the fact that we pull over nice cars or crappy cars most often is a byproduct of the area you patrol and the concentration or lack of wealth there.

To address your questions...1.probably a lot. I'm guessing between $250-300, but we have a resident fine calculator who will probably chime in and give you a more accurate answer. 2.Nothing to do but pay the fine and go for traffic school. You can try to go to court and fight it, but if the cop shows up, you're toast and you may not get to go to traffic school. 3.Go to traffic school to avoid any impact on your insurance.

Tickets suck, I try not to hand out too many of them, but I guarantee, you'll watch the signs a little closer now..

Originally Posted by adept

So I have a non-extendable baton under my seat.. should I take it out? I always liked it because I'm just a skinny white kid in a bad area driving around a nice car.

Hey, I'll never tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do in order to protect themselves or to feel safe. The hard and fast letter of the law says you can't carry it. If a cop pulls you over and for some reason wants to search your car, be honest with them, and hopefully it will work out without a problem (maybe he'll just ask you to put it in the trunk or something). Bottom line is that if you use it to ward off an attacker at some point, its not like you're going to get arrested for having it in the first place (at least I can't imagine you would be).

The only thing I like to caution people about when they carry anything for protection (even pepper spray), just remember that if you run into someone who is doped up, mentally unstable, or just a flat out better fighter than you, it could always be taken away from you and used against you...

I have a question, not really for cops but it would involve your crazy supercomputers.

I recently got an insurance quote and the ins company says I have an at fault with injury accident on my record, but guess what, it never happened. I got a copy of my driving record from the DMV, and sure enough the accident is there, but the only info that I have on it is an FR Case No. I tried to get some more info on the case by calling my local sherriffs station, who told me to call the local court house, and ask someone in the public records office, noone could find anything.

I was hoping that one of the cops here could look into it for me and help me sort it out.

The info I have is as follows:

04-06-05 99 Laguna Hills , this is the case #: 05-03-23911


And thats it, so please help me!!!!

Originally Posted by Devonjordan

I have a question, not really for cops but it would involve your crazy supercomputers.

I recently got an insurance quote and the ins company says I have an at fault with injury accident on my record, but guess what, it never happened. I got a copy of my driving record from the DMV, and sure enough the accident is there, but the only info that I have on it is an FR Case No. I tried to get some more info on the case by calling my local sherriffs station, who told me to call the local court house, and ask someone in the public records office, noone could find anything.

I was hoping that one of the cops here could look into it for me and help me sort it out.

The info I have is as follows:

04-06-05 99 Laguna Hills , this is the case #: 05-03-23911


And thats it, so please help me!!!!

Unfortunately, the file/report would only be with the agency that took the report. I would call all applicable agencies and see if you can figure out who took it (i.e. CHP, Laguna Beach PD, Orange County Sheriffs Dept, etc). All I would see in my computer would be that you have an at fault accident, I wouldn't be able to access the report or any details. That goes for any cops other than where the report was taken.

Good luck

Originally Posted by CiRaceTechnik

Q: I was talking to some of my friends about racing harnesses. Most of them say that racing harnesses are basically overall street illegal in california, but I have a couple of them who have said that certain harnesses, such as one of the Schroth series which are DOT approved are street legal? Can you confirm? Thanks!

any info on this? thanks in advance!

Originally Posted by OHCM3

Hey, I'll never tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do in order to protect themselves or to feel safe. The hard and fast letter of the law says you can't carry it. If a cop pulls you over and for some reason wants to search your car, be honest with them, and hopefully it will work out without a problem (maybe he'll just ask you to put it in the trunk or something). Bottom line is that if you use it to ward off an attacker at some point, its not like you're going to get arrested for having it in the first place (at least I can't imagine you would be).

The only thing I like to caution people about when they carry anything for protection (even pepper spray), just remember that if you run into someone who is doped up, mentally unstable, or just a flat out better fighter than you, it could always be taken away from you and used against you...

Thank you for answering my question... I have another curious question I have that I've been thinking about for a while.


Picture me doing something illegal (say going 10 mph over the speed limit) and you see me doing it as you are sitting on the side of the road looking for speeders. Would you as a police officer be less likely to pull me over if you noticed that I was smiling as if I was in the happiest mood ever? Or is this just a stupid thought? What about if you do pull me over and you notice that me and my girlfriend are both in great moods and we are about to go on an awesome date (or something like that). Would you be less likely to give me ticket if I was in a really good mood or if I was just acting normal?

-- This thought came to me after I was driving around ~1 month ago and I had a huge smile on my face due to something my GF said and I was also happening to be looking at a policer officer at the same time, and he smiled back at me (and I think I was noticably going a little too fast).

Originally Posted by adept

Thank you for answering my question... I have another curious question I have that I've been thinking about for a while.


Picture me doing something illegal (say going 10 mph over the speed limit) and you see me doing it as you are sitting on the side of the road looking for speeders. Would you as a police officer be less likely to pull me over if you noticed that I was smiling as if I was in the happiest mood ever? Or is this just a stupid thought? What about if you do pull me over and you notice that me and my girlfriend are both in great moods and we are about to go on an awesome date (or something like that). Would you be less likely to give me ticket if I was in a really good mood or if I was just acting normal?

-- This thought came to me after I was driving around ~1 month ago and I had a huge smile on my face due to something my GF said and I was also happening to be looking at a policer officer at the same time, and he smiled back at me (and I think I was noticably going a little too fast).

I frankly don't notice the emotion before I pull someone over. I'm not big on tickets unless the violation is really bad or the person is an a-hole. If you're a nice guy/girl, and acknowledge that you may have made an error, its unlikely that I would cite you. Not all cops are like this (especially if they work traffic and need to write some cites), but most of the guys I work with are.

say you see me going a little fast and hit a turn at 12:30am with the tail on the verge to come out, but I keep it under control, no tire noise, I immediately notice you behind me and slow down 1-2mph below the speedlimit.

You pull me over and I'm dead quiet, and just hand you my drivers license, you ask me "do you know how fast you were going?" I respond "As far as I know I was driving the speed limit" You ask me "are you calling me a liar?" and procede to question me for the next 10 minutes and ask if I've been drinking numerous times, and all I said was no once, would you have given me a ticket, or stalked me for the next 4 days.

Was followed by cops for the next 4 days after I got pulled over that one time with no ticket.

Originally Posted by Lucky579

say you see me going a little fast and hit a turn at 12:30am with the tail on the verge to come out, but I keep it under control, no tire noise, I immediately notice you behind me and slow down 1-2mph below the speedlimit.

You pull me over and I'm dead quiet, and just hand you my drivers license, you ask me "do you know how fast you were going?" I respond "As far as I know I was driving the speed limit" You ask me "are you calling me a liar?" and procede to question me for the next 10 minutes and ask if I've been drinking numerous times, and all I said was no once, would you have given me a ticket, or stalked me for the next 4 days.

Was followed by cops for the next 4 days after I got pulled over that one time with no ticket.

Every cop is different as is every agency. Hard to make the call. If you live in a small town and you somehow pissed off one guy who told all his buddies, maybe that's why they were paying particular attention to you, otherwise it seems pretty unlikely that people would take the time or effort to follow you around, especially if they didn't hit you with further citations or anything. Perhaps the cops just happened to be around a lot on the route you take?? Seems pretty far fetched that anyone would take the time to follow you for 4 the next 4 days. If that guy was really that pissed the first day, he would have cited you.

To go a little further, most departments work 4 10 hour shifts or 3 12 hour shifts per week, so by day 4 or day 5, it would be a whole new shift of people making your contention even more far fetched...

Originally Posted by OHCM3

Every cop is different as is every agency. Hard to make the call. If you live in a small town and you somehow pissed off one guy who told all his buddies, maybe that's why they were paying particular attention to you, otherwise it seems pretty unlikely that people would take the time or effort to follow you around, especially if they didn't hit you with further citations or anything. Perhaps the cops just happened to be around a lot on the route you take?? Seems pretty far fetched that anyone would take the time to follow you for 4 the next 4 days. If that guy was really that pissed the first day, he would have cited you.

To go a little further, most departments work 4 10 hour shifts or 3 12 hour shifts per week, so by day 4 or day 5, it would be a whole new shift of people making your contention even more far fetched...

He was very mad at me, but didn't have any evidence that I did anything wrong. I worked at a restaurant/bar/club and I got off anywhere from 12-3am and from thursday to sunday night I had a cop about 7 carlengths behind me, they even followed me into my appt complex, but didn't ever pull me over.

Originally Posted by Lucky579

say you see me going a little fast and hit a turn at 12:30am with the tail on the verge to come out, but I keep it under control, no tire noise............

I'm no cop but just from knowing most officers can gauge/estimate speed by sight, coming close to getting your car's tail out would indicate you were going over the speed limit.

But then again, you could be driving the speed limit at the apex of the turn/curve then you snap the steering wheel, you could probably get that tail to snap......like starting a drift manuever.

Originally Posted by Lucky579

He was very mad at me, but didn't have any evidence that I did anything wrong. I worked at a restaurant/bar/club and I got off anywhere from 12-3am and from thursday to sunday night I had a cop about 7 carlengths behind me, they even followed me into my appt complex, but didn't ever pull me over.

So your car has no tinted windows, stock exhaust, nothing hanging from your rear view mirror, no windshield crack, enough tire tread, you didn't cross the lane markers when you made the curve, your insurance was in hand and up to date, etc, etc??? Basically, if a cop is really mad, there is almost always some reason to cite someone if you really want.

Anyway, hopefully if there was some animosity between you and him, he's over it...

Originally Posted by Da Jemster

I'm no cop but just from knowing most officers can gauge/estimate speed by sight, coming close to getting your car's tail out would indicate you were going over the speed limit.

But then again, you could be driving the speed limit at the apex of the turn/curve then you snap the steering wheel, you could probably get that tail to snap......like starting a drift manuever.

You could be driving the speed limit and still get cited... the CA basic speed law says you need to drive at a speed safe for the conditions regardless of the posted speed limit (although that is a factor too), so you're right, losing traction indicates that someone was violating the CA basic speed law (22350 cvc)

I just find all of this stuff so fascinating....

Originally Posted by OHCM3

So your car has no tinted windows, stock exhaust, nothing hanging from your rear view mirror, no windshield crack, enough tire tread, you didn't cross the lane markers when you made the curve, your insurance was in hand and up to date, etc, etc??? Basically, if a cop is really mad, there is almost always some reason to cite someone if you really want.

Anyway, hopefully if there was some animosity between you and him, he's over it...

As soon as I get pulled over pull out my license and registration and proof of insurance, and just wait for the cop to ask for it. Yes my front windows are tinted, but I roll with them down, all of the time except when it's raining. Nothing hanging from my rearview mirror, that is tacky, stock exhaust at the time, always stay in my lane, crack windsheild on a bimmer, lol.

now i have straight pipes, and cops dont even look at me

Originally Posted by OHCM3

You could be driving the speed limit and still get cited... the CA basic speed law says you need to drive at a speed safe for the conditions regardless of the posted speed limit (although that is a factor too), so you're right, losing traction indicates that someone was violating the CA basic speed law (22350 cvc)

So easy to fight this one.

Do you need to use a blinker when you change lanes? By law? I'm not talking unsafe lane change, just need to use a blinker/turn signal?

Originally Posted by Lucky579

As soon as I get pulled over pull out my license and registration and proof of insurance, and just wait for the cop to ask for it. Yes my front windows are tinted, but I roll with them down, all of the time except when it's raining. Nothing hanging from my rearview mirror, that is tacky, stock exhaust at the time, always stay in my lane, crack windsheild on a bimmer, lol.

now i have straight pipes, and cops dont even look at me



So easy to fight this one.

Do you need to use a blinker when you change lanes? By law? I'm not talking unsafe lane change, just need to use a blinker/turn signal?

second part....

yeah you have to use the blinker when changing lanes....