Weird. I guess it's just a difference in who we are, and where we were stopped.
When I was a kid, I was stopped at least once a week. Of those stops, I was never ticketed. They just liked harassing me (there's a long story behind that). Every time I've been stopped in the last 20-some years, I've always if I knew why they stopped me.
Try arguing that in court though. There could have been a sign at the border of the county, so anyone entering the county "should have known". When I'm crossing into the county, I'm more worried about the other cars on the road, and the abundance of stop lights and idiots who don't know either what a red light means, or what those funny white and yellow lines on the road are for.
I got a ticket once in Los Angeles county, for running a stop light. It's generally accepted to turn right on red after making a full stop and ensuring it's safe to proceed. I did it in the middle of the night. When I was stopped (about 1/2 a block later), they told me "there's a sign that says no right on red". I argued that the sign didn't exist. I drove through there again the next day, and neither I nor my passenger saw the sign. So we went around and checked again. It was 1/4 mile back on the side of the off-ramp, behind an overgrown bush. I'd driven through the area quite a bit, and people always turned right on red at that light, since it was the light at the end of the offramp, and took forever to change.
Sure, the sign may exist. I haven't seen it. But, I'll be out looking for one. It may simply not be on the routes that I drive.
Since I accelerate into lane changes to clear my blind spot, yes, that does look like a beautiful mix for an accident. I signal, I check to see if I can see anyone. I didn't see the car in my blindspot, but I accelerated and wouldn't have hit him. But instead, as I start accelerating and moving over, the light turns yellow, so now I just barely got in front and slowed down. That's a great plan, if you're in the body repair business too.
Actually, an idling engine usually takes very little fuel. It's when it's trying to move it that it burns up a lot of fuel.
Try driving for an hour, and see how much fuel you burn. Then leave the car idling in your driveway for an hour.
I moved cross country once, in the middle of the summer. We had a U-haul, and the car on a trailer behind us. We had 3 cats to transport, which simply couldn't fit in the cab of the U-haul. We left them in the car, with it idling and the A/C on. The cats were very comfortable, and over 2,700 miles we only used about 4 gallons of gas. 675 mpg is very good mileage for a performance car.:) The truck on the other hand averaged 4mpg, but that was primarily because of the weight inside it.
Most traffic signals that I know of are either timer based, or combine timers with inductive loops. If there's a vehicle (except motorcycles and bicycles, apparently), it should trigger the light sooner. When I rode motorcycles, I never had an inductive loop pick it up. Even in my car, I usually have to rev the engine slightly (like to 2,000 rpm for about 5 seconds) for it to see me. (larger magnetic field, better impression for the loop to see). Here's some info for bikers on tripping the sensor.
They are usually set with min/max cycle times, so the light can't stay red in one direction forever.
Now, if places properly set up their lights, I'd *really* appreciate it. Constant speed is so much easier on your car (and it's fuel efficiency), than constant starts and stops.
There's one stretch of road I drive a lot, with about 30 lights on it. I have to be doing 60mph (in a 45mph zone) under the first light when it's yellow to make it through the following 10 lights. They'll each turn red behind me just about 5 seconds after I go under it. I've never made it under all 30 without hitting traffic. The nighttime pattern isn't too bad, I usually stop at 5 or 6. The rush hour pattern is terrible, where you're pretty much guaranteed to stop at 20 of the 30 lights. I had the GPS in my phone tracking my speed when I was going to meet someone. It showed 60mph for several minutes, and suddenly large gaps of 0 with intermittent 40mph spikes.
There's a particular downtown area, where the lights are almost perfect. You'll wait at the first light, and if you slowly accelerate to 40mph, you can stay one light behind the one cycling green. (i.e., The light ahead is green, the next is red. When you reach the intersection, the next one turns green). There's one light a little out of sync towards the end, where I've seen people get into accidents because they tried to hit the intersection as it turns green, and it didn't quite yet. Once you're out of the downtown area, you're screwed though, and you'll end up stuck at about half the lights.
Don't forget though, it's in the best interest of the state for you to sit idling at traffic lights. It doesn't sound like it makes sense, but.... Sure, they'll get complaints about long lights, but they're also collecting tax money on road-use fuel (i.e., gas from the gas station). If you get 20mpg because you stop at every light, rather than 30mpg because they're timed perfectly and let you through, that's a lot of money for the state over the life of your vehicle. Who cares that you'll spend over an hour during rush hour, to make a 15 minute drive.
Because today is ticket quota day?
Because the doughnut shop is closed?
Because you're trying to compensate for your small penis by driving a big patrol car and carrying a gun?
Because you think I'm cute? Fuck off, I'm not gay.
Because you realized how much of your life you've wasted writing tickets, and needed someone to talk to?
Because you know I just robbed that bank?
Because I wasn't going fast enough to get away?
I still like your answer better.:) I won't ever use it though.
Your later example is very true. I rarely get pulled over cruising on the Interstates. I don't drive too fast (like 100+), I don't tailgate, and I don't cut in and out of traffic. I'm even one of those lunatics that uses their turn signals for lane changes.:) I've been passed by patrol cars who were chasing down someone stupid in front of me. I'd rather be moving quick and safe, than in a way that'd make me (and probably someone else too) dead. I just posted one of the rare times that I've been pulled over on an Interstate, and that was let go with a verbal warning. I'm very happy to see them ticket someone who thinks the lines are just decorations, and my bumpers are a guide to exactly how close they can get.
Once in a while, you'll get a cop who knows the fine line between protecting and serving, and trying to find any any reason to write a ticket.
Several years, I got pulled over on I-10 between Ozona, Tx and Ft. Stockton, Tx. Literally in the middle of nowhere. I'd had the cruise control set to 85mph for a few hours, and thinking about how much sooner I could get there at over 150mph. There was very little traffic. Just the occasional large truck or RV. The roads were straight, and visibility was very clear. As I was cruising along, I saw a patrol car come up the top of the next hill, and then turn around. I slowed down, and when he hit the lights, I stopped.
When he stopped me, I told him what I always say. "no sir, I don't know why you pulled me over." He told me I was doing 85mph. Hmm, good guess.:)
He checked my plates and drivers license, saw that I was just driving through, and told me to be careful.
I got pulled over in El Paso later the same day. That time, I was driving just under the speed limit in traffic. He was stopping me to make sure it wasn't a stolen car. He actually looked really surprised when he saw white guy, rather than a hispanic person. He wasn't quite sure what to say, so he just asked if I had insurance. He didn't ask to see the insurance card, nor registration, and told me to go and have a nice day.:) I'm pretty sure if I had been hispanic, this story would be ending with what the inside of an El Paso jail looks.
My friend there made provisions for me. It's not nice though. There's no room in the driveway, so I have to park in their yard. I'd prefer the hovering at 200', rather than getting dirt on my car.:)
Apparently parking on the sidewalk *is* accepted, even though it too is against the law. Since the sidewalks there don't appear to have been maintained on 50 years, I'd really run the risk of damaging my tires on the severely cracked up sidewalk. To get into their yard, I have to drive across one of the very few unbroken spots in the sidewalk.
Most of what I've seen in traffic court is always "he said" vs "she said". Except your side is the defense, and their side is an arm of the court, upholding their sworn duty to enforce the law.
I've sat in on a few, just to hear the nonsense. It ranges from pathetic to humorous.
One guy was trying to negotiate the speed on the ticket down by 1mph, because tickets given at that speed are a conspiracy between the state and the insurance companies. The guy had a whole rant about it, which almost kinda made sense. He lost.
In the same day, a lady was fighting a ticket for running a red light. The cop had a clear view of the traffic light and her vehicle. She swore the light was green. Then she had the 7 passengers in her van, all kids she was driving to school, all also swear that it was green. It was plainly obvious that she coached them to say it was green. 8 witnesses for her side, vs 1 witness for the state. She won. The judge cracked a joke about it, clearly indicating that he knew they were all lying.
My case was for a "careless driving" ticket. I was driving by myself on a 4 lane highway at like 2am. I was wide awake, and doing 5mph under the speed limit, since I knew there were always police patrolling it. I didn't know it was a cop that came speeding up behind me (in excess of 80mph). But, since he failed to appear, when I tried to say anything the judge told me to shut up. Well, it was more like "He didn't show, you've already won. You don't have to say anything." So I said "thank you, your honor", and walked out.:)
It's not the pot that makes them stupid. It's just the fact that people are stupid.
Did you ever notice that just about every stop on Cops results in an arrest? They cut out all the rest of them. It wouldn't make good TV to show a bunch of traffic stops where the people say "no, I don't have anything illegal" and "no, you may not search my vehicle without a warrant.", where the suspects were all let go.
That was pretty much the way it went with a traffic stop with me several years ago. I was scooting down a large road in a convertible with the top down. I saw him on his motorcycle going the other way, and didn't think anything of it. I ended up stuck in the middle of a large clusterfuck of cars, where a few roads merged. I heard the siren behind me, so I pulled over.
The conversation went pretty much the same. After asking me twice, he told me, "you're really making me mad. I'm going to walk away and come back, and you'd better tell me what I expect to hear." When he came back, I said the same thing, "No sir, I don't know why you stopped me.".
He had me get out of the car, patted me down, and told me I was going to jail. That's odd, since I still didn't know why he stopped me.
He believed I was speeding when he saw me a few minutes earlier. Well, his words were "you were passing the other cars like they were standing still." Since I wouldn't confess to anything, and he had nothing to prove his statement, he gave up. We ended up having a nice polite chat after that.
It's a lot easier for them if you just confess to whatever. "Oh ya, I must have been speeding, and I was following that car too closely." Great, 2 tickets with no proof.
Part of a traffic stop is high visibility. When the police have someone on the side of the road, it makes everyone slow down to the speed limit. By spending an extra 5 minutes with me stopped, even without a ticket, it brought the flow of traffic down to the legal limits.
Oh, it was humor and truth, rolled into one.:) There are plenty of instances where particular funds or donations to associations are used as a cover for bribes. The "Widows and Orphans fund" doesn't happen to be one where I am though. The PBA (Police Benevolent Association) is another common one. That's not to say both don't exist or aren't worthwhile charities, it's just the difference between giving to the official charity, and handing over a "donation" that will never end up with them.
Even though it was late, I had time to burn, so it was worth my time to be friendly.:)
The leading question was exactly that, a leading question. If the car was stolen, or I had an outstanding warrant, I would have likely hauled ass. If I was doing something illegal, I would have run. Instead, I shut off the car, put my keys on the roof, and handed him my license. Well, and told him it appeared he was looking at the house across the street (where his spot light was pointed).
In talking to him, I found it would be less than desirable to work for a neighboring county's sheriffs department, even if it were in IT (like, what I do). Even for his department, it would be less than desirable. Well, his answer was more of a laugh and "oh, you wouldn't want to work there."
Maybe we can work something out. I'd like to make this cash donation to the "Widows and Orphans Fund". Would you be kind enough to deliver it for me? I don't need a receipt.
You're right. Next time I'm stopped, I'll confess to speeding, running a stop sign last week, and the fact that there are 5 kilos of heroin in the trunk next to the dead hooker.
No, hold on. How about I let him tell me why he's pulling me over, and I'll graciously accept the ticket for the burned out taillight.
(Just kidding about the contents of my trunk. I promise.)
I've been stopped for suspicion of DUI before. Well, not stopped. I was standing outside my car talking to friends when the police showed up. The officer driving down the road, seeing us stopped and talking, could estimate my blood alcohol content. I've also been told I looked like I was going to buy drugs; speeding (without actually driving); and thinking about robbing a closed store (with my car parked in front, under a street light, on a busy street).
Just a couple nights ago, I was (to the best of my knowledge) parked legally. I came out of where I was visiting, and saw a patrol car stopped in the road with his spot light aimed at a house across the street. I got in my car, and started the engine. The patrol car pulled up and he rolled down the window. "You weren't going to drive off while I'm running your plates, were you?" My plates?
I played along nicely. I told him I'd wait while he did, and provided my license. In talking to him, it's illegal to park along any road in the county, even though it's not posted anywhere, and it's done all the time.
Then we started having a nice conversation.
We talked some more, and he said a lot of times when they spot a car parked on the side of the road in that area, it means someone's robbing a house, and they left the car in the road for a quick getaway. He was feeling me out to see if I had intended to rob someone, or if I was just leaving a friends place.
He then warned me that besides being against the law, about half the time when they try to do a traffic stop in that area, the person will run, and that doesn't usually end nicely. Cars parked on the side of the road frequently get hit. He liked my car, and didn't want to see it damaged.
Now he knows what I look like, and what my car is. If someone else is messing with my car, they'll get stopped. He knows I'm one of the "good guys", so it's less likely I'll be messed with.
It's doubtful that you could show an appropriate chain of evidence with the GPS. It's easily argued that you tampered with any such evidence.
Ticketing for illegal speeds is pretty easy, most people confess to it.
"Do you know why I pulled you over?"
"I was speeding."
"I saw you doing 80mph"
"Yes sir, that's about right. I'm sorry."
Voila, instant ticket for 80mph, and a confession to back it up.
I did the opposite. You never *KNOW* why the officer stops you. You may have been speeding. He may be pulling you over for a burned out taillight, or your vehicle may match a description of one seen at a crime scene, or it may even match the description of a vehicle from a missing persons case. Don't guess.
I tell people, if I ever end up in the hospital and the nurses tell me "He's exactly like Dr. House on TV", I'm going to demand a different doctor. The fucker almost kills every patient he has, and usually saves them at the last minute. They never come out of it well. Invasive brain surgery. Mistreatment with serious chemicals and/or radiation therapy. Etc, etc, etc.
I want a doctor who will get it right the first time, without a huge ego and an irresponsibility streak a mile wide.
Really, I know. The analytical part of me understands complete. The comfort food pleasure centers disagree.
I know I have a few vitamin deficiencies. The most obvious condition is "Angular Cheilitis" (cracking in the corners of the mouth, due to B2, Iron and Zinc deficiencies. It comes and goes depending on what I'm eating. Well, more like it's never present when I'm working, since I eat a regular lunch and dinner daily. Since I haven't been working, I've been eating poorly lately. The Angular Cheilitis became a fungal infection, which unfortunately made it very hard to eat. Well, that and smile, talk with lots of mouth motion, etc. It's very unpleasant.
I do intend to quit again soon. I just started seeing someone new, who doesn't drink sodas, which will be a big help for me. It's hard to quit something, when your significant other, and/or people that live with you all do your bad habit too. The bad influences are gone, now it's up to me to finish the job.
Regular Dr Pepper = 28 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
So 3.5mg/oz
I drink two pints first thing in the morning. 32oz * 3.5mg = 112mg. Then about 12oz/hr after that throughout the work day, and back to pint glasses when I get home.
32 + 108 + 64 = 204oz Dr Pepper = 714mg caffeine. Or on the generic coffee scale that you provided, about 8 cups a day. To scale this in medical levels, I drink a lot, but well under the toxic level.:)
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Weird. I guess it's just a difference in who we are, and where we were stopped.
When I was a kid, I was stopped at least once a week. Of those stops, I was never ticketed. They just liked harassing me (there's a long story behind that). Every time I've been stopped in the last 20-some years, I've always if I knew why they stopped me.
Ya, there was a bit much, and the trunk was just tied half way open. I was hoping they wouldn't notice.
I swear, I just found it, and I was taking it to the police station. :)
Try arguing that in court though. There could have been a sign at the border of the county, so anyone entering the county "should have known". When I'm crossing into the county, I'm more worried about the other cars on the road, and the abundance of stop lights and idiots who don't know either what a red light means, or what those funny white and yellow lines on the road are for.
I got a ticket once in Los Angeles county, for running a stop light. It's generally accepted to turn right on red after making a full stop and ensuring it's safe to proceed. I did it in the middle of the night. When I was stopped (about 1/2 a block later), they told me "there's a sign that says no right on red". I argued that the sign didn't exist. I drove through there again the next day, and neither I nor my passenger saw the sign. So we went around and checked again. It was 1/4 mile back on the side of the off-ramp, behind an overgrown bush. I'd driven through the area quite a bit, and people always turned right on red at that light, since it was the light at the end of the offramp, and took forever to change.
Sure, the sign may exist. I haven't seen it. But, I'll be out looking for one. It may simply not be on the routes that I drive.
Since I accelerate into lane changes to clear my blind spot, yes, that does look like a beautiful mix for an accident. I signal, I check to see if I can see anyone. I didn't see the car in my blindspot, but I accelerated and wouldn't have hit him. But instead, as I start accelerating and moving over, the light turns yellow, so now I just barely got in front and slowed down. That's a great plan, if you're in the body repair business too.
Actually, an idling engine usually takes very little fuel. It's when it's trying to move it that it burns up a lot of fuel.
Try driving for an hour, and see how much fuel you burn. Then leave the car idling in your driveway for an hour.
I moved cross country once, in the middle of the summer. We had a U-haul, and the car on a trailer behind us. We had 3 cats to transport, which simply couldn't fit in the cab of the U-haul. We left them in the car, with it idling and the A/C on. The cats were very comfortable, and over 2,700 miles we only used about 4 gallons of gas. 675 mpg is very good mileage for a performance car. :) The truck on the other hand averaged 4mpg, but that was primarily because of the weight inside it.
Most traffic signals that I know of are either timer based, or combine timers with inductive loops. If there's a vehicle (except motorcycles and bicycles, apparently), it should trigger the light sooner. When I rode motorcycles, I never had an inductive loop pick it up. Even in my car, I usually have to rev the engine slightly (like to 2,000 rpm for about 5 seconds) for it to see me. (larger magnetic field, better impression for the loop to see). Here's some info for bikers on tripping the sensor.
They are usually set with min/max cycle times, so the light can't stay red in one direction forever.
Now, if places properly set up their lights, I'd *really* appreciate it. Constant speed is so much easier on your car (and it's fuel efficiency), than constant starts and stops.
There's one stretch of road I drive a lot, with about 30 lights on it. I have to be doing 60mph (in a 45mph zone) under the first light when it's yellow to make it through the following 10 lights. They'll each turn red behind me just about 5 seconds after I go under it. I've never made it under all 30 without hitting traffic. The nighttime pattern isn't too bad, I usually stop at 5 or 6. The rush hour pattern is terrible, where you're pretty much guaranteed to stop at 20 of the 30 lights. I had the GPS in my phone tracking my speed when I was going to meet someone. It showed 60mph for several minutes, and suddenly large gaps of 0 with intermittent 40mph spikes.
There's a particular downtown area, where the lights are almost perfect. You'll wait at the first light, and if you slowly accelerate to 40mph, you can stay one light behind the one cycling green. (i.e., The light ahead is green, the next is red. When you reach the intersection, the next one turns green). There's one light a little out of sync towards the end, where I've seen people get into accidents because they tried to hit the intersection as it turns green, and it didn't quite yet. Once you're out of the downtown area, you're screwed though, and you'll end up stuck at about half the lights.
Don't forget though, it's in the best interest of the state for you to sit idling at traffic lights. It doesn't sound like it makes sense, but.... Sure, they'll get complaints about long lights, but they're also collecting tax money on road-use fuel (i.e., gas from the gas station). If you get 20mpg because you stop at every light, rather than 30mpg because they're timed perfectly and let you through, that's a lot of money for the state over the life of your vehicle. Who cares that you'll spend over an hour during rush hour, to make a 15 minute drive.
Do you know why I pulled you over?
Because today is ticket quota day?
Because the doughnut shop is closed?
Because you're trying to compensate for your small penis by driving a big patrol car and carrying a gun?
Because you think I'm cute? Fuck off, I'm not gay.
Because you realized how much of your life you've wasted writing tickets, and needed someone to talk to?
Because you know I just robbed that bank?
Because I wasn't going fast enough to get away?
I still like your answer better. :) I won't ever use it though.
Your later example is very true. I rarely get pulled over cruising on the Interstates. I don't drive too fast (like 100+), I don't tailgate, and I don't cut in and out of traffic. I'm even one of those lunatics that uses their turn signals for lane changes. :) I've been passed by patrol cars who were chasing down someone stupid in front of me. I'd rather be moving quick and safe, than in a way that'd make me (and probably someone else too) dead. I just posted one of the rare times that I've been pulled over on an Interstate, and that was let go with a verbal warning. I'm very happy to see them ticket someone who thinks the lines are just decorations, and my bumpers are a guide to exactly how close they can get.
Once in a while, you'll get a cop who knows the fine line between protecting and serving, and trying to find any any reason to write a ticket.
Several years, I got pulled over on I-10 between Ozona, Tx and Ft. Stockton, Tx. Literally in the middle of nowhere. I'd had the cruise control set to 85mph for a few hours, and thinking about how much sooner I could get there at over 150mph. There was very little traffic. Just the occasional large truck or RV. The roads were straight, and visibility was very clear. As I was cruising along, I saw a patrol car come up the top of the next hill, and then turn around. I slowed down, and when he hit the lights, I stopped.
When he stopped me, I told him what I always say. "no sir, I don't know why you pulled me over." He told me I was doing 85mph. Hmm, good guess. :)
He checked my plates and drivers license, saw that I was just driving through, and told me to be careful.
I got pulled over in El Paso later the same day. That time, I was driving just under the speed limit in traffic. He was stopping me to make sure it wasn't a stolen car. He actually looked really surprised when he saw white guy, rather than a hispanic person. He wasn't quite sure what to say, so he just asked if I had insurance. He didn't ask to see the insurance card, nor registration, and told me to go and have a nice day. :) I'm pretty sure if I had been hispanic, this story would be ending with what the inside of an El Paso jail looks.
My friend there made provisions for me. It's not nice though. There's no room in the driveway, so I have to park in their yard. I'd prefer the hovering at 200', rather than getting dirt on my car. :)
Apparently parking on the sidewalk *is* accepted, even though it too is against the law. Since the sidewalks there don't appear to have been maintained on 50 years, I'd really run the risk of damaging my tires on the severely cracked up sidewalk. To get into their yard, I have to drive across one of the very few unbroken spots in the sidewalk.
Most of what I've seen in traffic court is always "he said" vs "she said". Except your side is the defense, and their side is an arm of the court, upholding their sworn duty to enforce the law.
I've sat in on a few, just to hear the nonsense. It ranges from pathetic to humorous.
One guy was trying to negotiate the speed on the ticket down by 1mph, because tickets given at that speed are a conspiracy between the state and the insurance companies. The guy had a whole rant about it, which almost kinda made sense. He lost.
In the same day, a lady was fighting a ticket for running a red light. The cop had a clear view of the traffic light and her vehicle. She swore the light was green. Then she had the 7 passengers in her van, all kids she was driving to school, all also swear that it was green. It was plainly obvious that she coached them to say it was green. 8 witnesses for her side, vs 1 witness for the state. She won. The judge cracked a joke about it, clearly indicating that he knew they were all lying.
My case was for a "careless driving" ticket. I was driving by myself on a 4 lane highway at like 2am. I was wide awake, and doing 5mph under the speed limit, since I knew there were always police patrolling it. I didn't know it was a cop that came speeding up behind me (in excess of 80mph). But, since he failed to appear, when I tried to say anything the judge told me to shut up. Well, it was more like "He didn't show, you've already won. You don't have to say anything." So I said "thank you, your honor", and walked out. :)
It's not the pot that makes them stupid. It's just the fact that people are stupid.
Did you ever notice that just about every stop on Cops results in an arrest? They cut out all the rest of them. It wouldn't make good TV to show a bunch of traffic stops where the people say "no, I don't have anything illegal" and "no, you may not search my vehicle without a warrant.", where the suspects were all let go.
That was pretty much the way it went with a traffic stop with me several years ago. I was scooting down a large road in a convertible with the top down. I saw him on his motorcycle going the other way, and didn't think anything of it. I ended up stuck in the middle of a large clusterfuck of cars, where a few roads merged. I heard the siren behind me, so I pulled over.
The conversation went pretty much the same. After asking me twice, he told me, "you're really making me mad. I'm going to walk away and come back, and you'd better tell me what I expect to hear." When he came back, I said the same thing, "No sir, I don't know why you stopped me.".
He had me get out of the car, patted me down, and told me I was going to jail. That's odd, since I still didn't know why he stopped me.
He believed I was speeding when he saw me a few minutes earlier. Well, his words were "you were passing the other cars like they were standing still." Since I wouldn't confess to anything, and he had nothing to prove his statement, he gave up. We ended up having a nice polite chat after that.
It's a lot easier for them if you just confess to whatever. "Oh ya, I must have been speeding, and I was following that car too closely." Great, 2 tickets with no proof.
Part of a traffic stop is high visibility. When the police have someone on the side of the road, it makes everyone slow down to the speed limit. By spending an extra 5 minutes with me stopped, even without a ticket, it brought the flow of traffic down to the legal limits.
Oh, it was humor and truth, rolled into one. :) There are plenty of instances where particular funds or donations to associations are used as a cover for bribes. The "Widows and Orphans fund" doesn't happen to be one where I am though. The PBA (Police Benevolent Association) is another common one. That's not to say both don't exist or aren't worthwhile charities, it's just the difference between giving to the official charity, and handing over a "donation" that will never end up with them.
I'd try to be distinct about it, but it's happened from Florida to California. Pick a state, any state. Some areas are worse than others.
I don't lie. The truth is fucked up enough.
some info on the local statute.
In talking to locals, there are signs scattered around the county which state "no parking on any roads at any time".
Even though it was late, I had time to burn, so it was worth my time to be friendly. :)
The leading question was exactly that, a leading question. If the car was stolen, or I had an outstanding warrant, I would have likely hauled ass. If I was doing something illegal, I would have run. Instead, I shut off the car, put my keys on the roof, and handed him my license. Well, and told him it appeared he was looking at the house across the street (where his spot light was pointed).
In talking to him, I found it would be less than desirable to work for a neighboring county's sheriffs department, even if it were in IT (like, what I do). Even for his department, it would be less than desirable. Well, his answer was more of a laugh and "oh, you wouldn't want to work there."
Maybe we can work something out. I'd like to make this cash donation to the "Widows and Orphans Fund". Would you be kind enough to deliver it for me? I don't need a receipt.
Ya, some folks can't recognize a good movie reference when it's brains are splattered across the back seat of the car. :)
You're right. Next time I'm stopped, I'll confess to speeding, running a stop sign last week, and the fact that there are 5 kilos of heroin in the trunk next to the dead hooker.
No, hold on. How about I let him tell me why he's pulling me over, and I'll graciously accept the ticket for the burned out taillight.
(Just kidding about the contents of my trunk. I promise.)
I've been stopped for suspicion of DUI before. Well, not stopped. I was standing outside my car talking to friends when the police showed up. The officer driving down the road, seeing us stopped and talking, could estimate my blood alcohol content. I've also been told I looked like I was going to buy drugs; speeding (without actually driving); and thinking about robbing a closed store (with my car parked in front, under a street light, on a busy street).
Just a couple nights ago, I was (to the best of my knowledge) parked legally. I came out of where I was visiting, and saw a patrol car stopped in the road with his spot light aimed at a house across the street. I got in my car, and started the engine. The patrol car pulled up and he rolled down the window. "You weren't going to drive off while I'm running your plates, were you?" My plates?
I played along nicely. I told him I'd wait while he did, and provided my license. In talking to him, it's illegal to park along any road in the county, even though it's not posted anywhere, and it's done all the time.
Then we started having a nice conversation.
We talked some more, and he said a lot of times when they spot a car parked on the side of the road in that area, it means someone's robbing a house, and they left the car in the road for a quick getaway. He was feeling me out to see if I had intended to rob someone, or if I was just leaving a friends place.
He then warned me that besides being against the law, about half the time when they try to do a traffic stop in that area, the person will run, and that doesn't usually end nicely. Cars parked on the side of the road frequently get hit. He liked my car, and didn't want to see it damaged.
Now he knows what I look like, and what my car is. If someone else is messing with my car, they'll get stopped. He knows I'm one of the "good guys", so it's less likely I'll be messed with.
It's doubtful that you could show an appropriate chain of evidence with the GPS. It's easily argued that you tampered with any such evidence.
Ticketing for illegal speeds is pretty easy, most people confess to it.
"Do you know why I pulled you over?"
"I was speeding."
"I saw you doing 80mph"
"Yes sir, that's about right. I'm sorry."
Voila, instant ticket for 80mph, and a confession to back it up.
I did the opposite. You never *KNOW* why the officer stops you. You may have been speeding. He may be pulling you over for a burned out taillight, or your vehicle may match a description of one seen at a crime scene, or it may even match the description of a vehicle from a missing persons case. Don't guess.
I tell people, if I ever end up in the hospital and the nurses tell me "He's exactly like Dr. House on TV", I'm going to demand a different doctor. The fucker almost kills every patient he has, and usually saves them at the last minute. They never come out of it well. Invasive brain surgery. Mistreatment with serious chemicals and/or radiation therapy. Etc, etc, etc.
I want a doctor who will get it right the first time, without a huge ego and an irresponsibility streak a mile wide.
Really, I know. The analytical part of me understands complete. The comfort food pleasure centers disagree.
I know I have a few vitamin deficiencies. The most obvious condition is "Angular Cheilitis" (cracking in the corners of the mouth, due to B2, Iron and Zinc deficiencies. It comes and goes depending on what I'm eating. Well, more like it's never present when I'm working, since I eat a regular lunch and dinner daily. Since I haven't been working, I've been eating poorly lately. The Angular Cheilitis became a fungal infection, which unfortunately made it very hard to eat. Well, that and smile, talk with lots of mouth motion, etc. It's very unpleasant.
I do intend to quit again soon. I just started seeing someone new, who doesn't drink sodas, which will be a big help for me. It's hard to quit something, when your significant other, and/or people that live with you all do your bad habit too. The bad influences are gone, now it's up to me to finish the job.
I drink Dr. Pepper.
Directly from their site.
Regular Dr Pepper = 28 mg of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces
So 3.5mg/oz
I drink two pints first thing in the morning. 32oz * 3.5mg = 112mg. Then about 12oz/hr after that throughout the work day, and back to pint glasses when I get home.
32 + 108 + 64 = 204oz Dr Pepper = 714mg caffeine. Or on the generic coffee scale that you provided, about 8 cups a day. To scale this in medical levels, I drink a lot, but well under the toxic level. :)