Back seat driver
I've been pretty honest in the past when I've talked about how for the most part, I let a driver's attitude dictate their punishment on traffic stops. This memorandum serves to notify you I that the attitudes of your passengers may now dictate your punishment.
Last week I stopped a mother and daughter duo for driving the wrong way on a one way street. The driver (daughter) was polite, answered my questions, and asked my permission to get out of the car to retrieve her purse from the trunk. The passenger (mother) was a bitch on wheels. Snide remark after snide remark was sent my way as I conversed with her daughter. They went ignored, but not unnoticed.
The daughter was from out of state and unfamiliar with the area. I took that and her cooperative attitude into consideration and opted for a written warning and an offer for directions. This wasn't acceptable to mom.
"Officer! My daughter just flew in today. She doesn't know the area. I received bad news today and I don't have the patience for this. This is ridiculous!"
"Lady, one-way signs look the same in Florida as they do here. I know. I've been to Florida. Receiving bad news does not give you a free pass to disobey motor vehicle law. Regardless, your daughter got a warn..."
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
"You're right. (To the daughter) Go ahead and give me that warning back. I'll issue you some tickets instead."
"Mom, shut up already! Jesus Christ!"
"(To the mother)Are you done?"
I took the fact that she wouldn't make eye contact with me to mean she was finished. I gave the directions to the daughter to get her back on track and cleared.
Drivers - I'm making it your responsibility to tell your passengers to keep their mouths shut. The faster I can get my questions answered, the faster I can get your information, the faster I can decide my action, and the faster you are back on the road. Trust me, you will not offend nor hurt my feelings by looking at a passenger and telling them to "Shut the fuck up." In fact, I'll probably respect you more for it.
Passengers - Your driver may put up with your bullshit backseat driving on the the road, but I will not have you interfering in my traffic stop or investigation. You've been warned.
Last week I stopped a mother and daughter duo for driving the wrong way on a one way street. The driver (daughter) was polite, answered my questions, and asked my permission to get out of the car to retrieve her purse from the trunk. The passenger (mother) was a bitch on wheels. Snide remark after snide remark was sent my way as I conversed with her daughter. They went ignored, but not unnoticed.
The daughter was from out of state and unfamiliar with the area. I took that and her cooperative attitude into consideration and opted for a written warning and an offer for directions. This wasn't acceptable to mom.
"Officer! My daughter just flew in today. She doesn't know the area. I received bad news today and I don't have the patience for this. This is ridiculous!"
"Lady, one-way signs look the same in Florida as they do here. I know. I've been to Florida. Receiving bad news does not give you a free pass to disobey motor vehicle law. Regardless, your daughter got a warn..."
"Don't you have anything better to do?"
"You're right. (To the daughter) Go ahead and give me that warning back. I'll issue you some tickets instead."
"Mom, shut up already! Jesus Christ!"
"(To the mother)Are you done?"
I took the fact that she wouldn't make eye contact with me to mean she was finished. I gave the directions to the daughter to get her back on track and cleared.
Drivers - I'm making it your responsibility to tell your passengers to keep their mouths shut. The faster I can get my questions answered, the faster I can get your information, the faster I can decide my action, and the faster you are back on the road. Trust me, you will not offend nor hurt my feelings by looking at a passenger and telling them to "Shut the fuck up." In fact, I'll probably respect you more for it.
Passengers - Your driver may put up with your bullshit backseat driving on the the road, but I will not have you interfering in my traffic stop or investigation. You've been warned.
Labels: pet peeve, stupidity, traffic stop
posted by Moe at 21:40
3 Comments:
Too bad you couldn't write a ticket for the mother for being nasty.
Moe:
STFU...
How I love to use those words.
And those ARE words to live by..believe you me!
WTG!
Clady:
If it were *me*, I'd do an "obstruction of justice" gig on her...but I'm from the "old school"...LOL!
(diplomacy? WTF is THAT?)
Saty safe.
Nice display of professionalism for not making the daughter pay for the sins of the mother. There are limits to our patience, though.
I have been known to "ask" the mouthy one to step out, egg 'em on a bit, then hook 'em up for disorderly because their actions 'caused public alarm.' hehehe I love that charge.
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