Do you feel Police officer PROFILE cars?

[Little6pack]

I am going to say YES

WHAT CARS/TRUCKS DO YOU THINK THEY TARGET MOST?


I can tell you driving home late at night for the past 20+ years after midnite
they will never touch an OLDSMOBILE.

Since I got my S10 4x4 I am amazed at the followings I get... not sure why but my guess is they think 4x4 TRUCKS = BLUE collar Drinker.

I cannot shake them. I will drive under the speed limit or at the speed limit with cruz on.. I guess the 3rd shifter PO's are RARING for ACTION at midnite

 

[John Larkin]

I think they target anything they might be able to issue a citation on. Cities and states are strapped for cash. Our governor told the highway patrol that he got them raises and they need to go out and catch people breaking the law.

 

[Little6pack]

I think they target anything they might be able to issue a citation on. Cities and states are strapped for cash. Our governor told the highway patrol that he got them raises and they need to go out and catch people breaking the law.

TRUE.. But the 2 hick towns i drive thru must have the same officers on every 3rd shift.

most must be pretty observant & would figure after seeing the same truck roll thru 5 nites a week it would turn a light bulb on some of these guys/gals there goes the same dude at the same time over & over.

I don't think they rotate shifts? my guess is the senior guys have days & the Gung HO rookies have 3rd shift & that is the reason I get followed so much. I still think its the TRUCK

 

[Boost231]

i'm going to say YES on this board.


Every officer/sheriff has there own thing they key on. Like raider stickers, steeler stickers, political stickers, tinted windows and some might be larger vehicles with dark windows.

each has there own thing that they like to target. is this right or wrong you can decide yourself.

Just my .02

 

[Roc87]

I say yes! It wouldn't matter when/where I used to drive the Iroc, they would follow me & pull me over for the most BS thing you've ever heard (loud exhaust with a flowmaster & stock manifolds w/ a 305). I used to drive the GN everyday, and the cops usually don't even give it a 2nd look, only been pulled over once in it & it was years ago for window tint. They also seem to follow me more in the elky than the vette. For the most part, I think they are looking to hassle younger guys.

 

[GregInAtl]

Sorry, but 99.99999% do. If a red civic w/ a big wing, fart can and and decals all over it is going 50 in a 35 besides a new Buick grand ma car w/ a blue hair looking under the steering wheel, the civic gets it....
That goes for any car that is more flashy, or obv loved. I have experienced this for ages, and actually got out of a ticket over this once. The officer said IN COURT; "the vehicle was arrest me red, so I picked it out!" The judge immediately dismissed it because I was in a line of 10 cars, mid pack. I was plucked.
I dont think it makes cops crooked, it makes the human. Face it, you guys would likely get a car brand or age bracket you like less if you were in their shoes w/ the option. You know skip the first car to get the second more flashy ride. They just are already doing it....at least in GA this is the rule, not the exception.

 

[bmackinnon]

Of course they do! Flashy, nice, and fast cars cause they are jealous pricks, and junky, dirty beaters 'cause they are prone to be occupied by drunks and meth heads... at least around here...

 

[SilverSleeper]

I've been told on occasion, for BS tickets..

"You drive a nice car, you can afford it". Right from the officer's mouth verbatim. I've been told this a few times now. Twice way back when my Cruiser was new, and again with my Regal at least once or twice.

Like I've said in another thread. Around here, you don't get BMW, Audi, Benz, upscale Caddy, etc. So when I can sit back here and listen to the scanner (surrounding counties just got an online feed, in addition to my home scanner) you can hear what type of car they are radio'ing back to dispatch. You don't hear Chevy, Honda, Ford.. you hear Escallade, Audi, BMW, Lincoln, etc. They profile people who have nice cars, especially those obviously not from around here.
It's a shame, but its also part of the reason my last run of daily drivers don't get much attention. I've had a 91 G20 conversion van, a 94 Escort LX, a 96 Astro AWD, and now a 04 LeSabre. The only attention the LeSabre gets is from the HIDs, and I haven't been harassed yet by a LEO about them. It's a very non-descript car. Silver, stock wheels, no stickers, no emblems, no tint, etc. And my current job has my often going in at 3am, which, if they wanted to stop me for something, it would be an easy target. But honestly, aside from an official plate, it still looks like a government fleet car. Even still has the "no smoking in company vehicles" sticker on the drivers door.

So consider this: Several tickets/warnings in the Regal, several tickets/warnings in the Cruiser, and a handful when I was driving my 73 Electra. Oddly enough, a got a lot of "Your car fit the description of blah blah..." and they let me go after looking the car over, nitpicking stuff. Not a single one for my G20, Astro, Escort, or LeSabre (yet). Same driver, same roads, mostly the same LEO's here. Not exactly scientific data, but it makes you wonder.

 

[Flaco]

I think it depends on the type of neighbor hood, City, prior knowledge of a suspect car. In Mira Mesa the asain crip gangs cruz in lowered hondas or acuras and are 3-4 deep. I'm sure any local PD guy with common sense and good beat knowledge would zero in on that type of car and look for a good felony arrest.

 

[GNBRETT]

I think your question is a little vague.

If a Police officer is running radar at night he won't know what type of vehicle he/she is stopping until it passes thru the trap.

Operating a truck in NH is a pretty common vehicle and if it's late at night a rural cop/trooper is gonna hone in on any vehicle as a possible DUI. There are not a whole hell of a lot of on site violations/crimes that are gonna take place in ur neck of the woods.

Very few stolen cars, robberies, drug sales, etc...

I can honestly say that I have never gone out looking for any particular vehicle unless there is a BOLO put out for a particular vehicle.

In reality, it's the chit boxes that are usually unregistered, uninsured, misuse of plates, etc... vs. the sportier vehicles. If I see a newer Mercedes or Corvette I am gonna assume it's likely registered/insured. I may run the plate to see if it's stolen or because I can and don't need any particular reason to run a plate but stopping that vehicle would require some sort of PC or reasonable suspicion and few cops are going fishing in a vehicle like that in ur neck of the woods or mine for that matter.

Most cars that the police stop were cars that brought attention to themselves by way of a loud exhaust, spinning their tires or reving their engine while traveling fast.

I would say NO to cops profiling a particular type of vehicle unless they have on these on their bumpers......

 

[83turbomon]

in one word YES... it DEFINETLY depends on the neighborhood and the officer pulling you over.....

 

[Little6pack]

I would say NO to cops profiling a particular type of vehicle unless they have on these on their bumpers......

OMG that is SO funny. the cars with all the eco & Barry stickers are the most crazied drivers up here. Just the past 2 weeks I take the highway up to work & the speed limit is 55 in some sections. these maniac are going by me like i am standing still. Usually a young broad that is ugly as sin!

 

[qwks6]

yes. Even on radar, they'll stop people they believe are fast drivers, they'll let you go at the same speed in a different car or different looking driver. I'll even go so far as to say they are prejudice.

That said, the white T never gets a second look...

 

[bison]

WHAT CARS/TRUCKS DO YOU THINK THEY TARGET MOST?

Whatever ones have a highly visible flaw like a missing light, no front plate, etc. Or the driver is doing something illegal like speeding, not signaling, talking on cell phone without hands free device,etc. People drive so f'd up in this country they dont have to look to far to find a problem.

 

[bison]

I think your question is a little vague.

If a Police officer is running radar at night he won't know what type of vehicle he/she is stopping until it passes thru the trap.

Operating a truck in NH is a pretty common vehicle and if it's late at night a rural cop/trooper is gonna hone in on any vehicle as a possible DUI. There are not a whole hell of a lot of on site violations/crimes that are gonna take place in ur neck of the woods.

Very few stolen cars, robberies, drug sales, etc...

I can honestly say that I have never gone out looking for any particular vehicle unless there is a BOLO put out for a particular vehicle.

In reality, it's the chit boxes that are usually unregistered, uninsured, misuse of plates, etc... vs. the sportier vehicles. If I see a newer Mercedes or Corvette I am gonna assume it's likely registered/insured. I may run the plate to see if it's stolen or because I can and don't need any particular reason to run a plate but stopping that vehicle would require some sort of PC or reasonable suspicion and few cops are going fishing in a vehicle like that in ur neck of the woods or mine for that matter.

Most cars that the police stop were cars that brought attention to themselves by way of a loud exhaust, spinning their tires or reving their engine while traveling fast.

I would say NO to cops profiling a particular type of vehicle unless they have on these on their bumpers......

I totally agree with the political sticker thing. Sometimes freedom of speech will get you a ticket. I doubt they profile them for the political bs but chances are they will have a much harder time sympathizing and thrawting a citation if they have the wrong political sticker on their car. Bumper stickers are for a$$holes anyway.

 

[bison]

this will get you pulled over in CT city faster than you can blink too. Correct me if im wrong Brett:biggrin:

 

[GNBRETT]

Otto's got one of these stickers on rear of his Truck and for the life of me I can't figure out what it represents. Yea, you drive with Maine plates in Bridgeport and ur likely gonna be walking home.

 

[bison]

otto's got one of these stickers on rear of his truck and for the life of me i can't figure out what it represents. Yea, you drive with maine plates in ct and ur likely gonna be walking home.

lmao!:biggrin:

 

[$uckin6]

lets see,i live in a very low crime rate city,the police officers do a phenomenal job in keeping things in check, i drive my suv every where i never get hassled, whip out my gn just this month i got pulled over twice and followed numerous times while i'm sure they were running my plates because they turned every where i turned. while i was conversing with one of the officers,i brought up the subject and she didn't beat around the bush, she flat out told me it's your car, where i then replied, I've got 15 inch rims (weld stars), stock stereo, salt and pepper medium length hair and not a single tattoo, she didn't say anything,last time i got pulled over three cop cars showed,after i gave them the info. they wanted and we got to converse,she told me i thought you were going to be troublesome, i used to power lift a long time ago and i'm still a decent size but i use my brain not my brawn and just for the record, i'm not very fond of female officers they tend to be too assertive as though they are trying to prove that they are not intimidated, so i vote yes. tough job they have though.

 

[Pronto]

Maybe you should donate to the State Police so you can get one of those big stickers that says "I Support NH State Troopers". Stick that on your back bumper. Maybe they'll not follow you so long. That time of night is when the drunks are out. They're just looking to see if you are impaired or panic and run. I got pulled over in the Maxima once. A very young cop followed me for several blocks and pulled me over. When he got out he went over to my plate and wiped off a bit of snow that was on the plate. It had snowed and I cleaned off the car good but the plate was recessed and got most off but not all. He gave me a lecture about wiping off snow off the plate. I'm looking at some kid that was the same age as my son telling me to clean my plates. In the mean time jerks were speeding by. What ever...