I love the police. No seriously, they do a great community service for us here and I love them with all my heart and are truly heroes. It just seems that I always run into the bad apples, I guess. Just a few minutes ago, as I was returning home from the AM/PM on First & Tulare, I was traveling to my home on northbound First St. near Olive when a Fresno PD cruiser veered right into my lane, sans turn signal no less, and almost caused a collision with me. I honked as he came really close to hitting me. I then decided to get his number off the back of the car as I felt that his actions were not proper and felt that I needed to report this to someone. Now this isn’t the first time this has happened to me where PD cars almost run into me or others cars around me while not having their sirens or lights on so I felt the need to report this guy driving dumb in a Fresno PD car. So I followed behind him as he made a right turn onto eastbound Olive Ave. He noticed me following him as I was trying to get a good look at the reflective numbers that marked the back of the car and he proceeded to slow down. And as did I and we both did so to the point where we were traveling less than 5 mph in the road. Luckily, there was no traffic around us whatsoever. At that point, the officer made an illegal* U-turn from the eastbound lane followed by another U-turn and got behind me at which point I had already memorized the number. I kept driving and eventually pulled over a bit to the side and he pulled up next to me on the left lane and rolled his window down. Here’s the conversation as I remember it:
Officer: Why are you following me?
Me: Well you cut me off pretty bad back there and I would like to report your actions to whomever needs to know about this because I feel like you were putting the public at risk with your driving. Do you have a business card with your information?
Office: No, actually I’m all out.
Me: So can I get your name because I think what you did was wrong.
Officer: (angrily) Okay, how about you pull over and I give you my name on a ticket for that modified exhaust.
Me: Aight.
So we pull over completely to the side (that whole conversation took place in the traffic lanes which now that I think about it, was probably not too safe) and he puts his spotlight on me. His partner stayed in the car and the driver came up to my window and asked me for me license to which I gladly obliged.
Officer: So this is your name? Roque?
Me: Yep. Awesome you pronounced it right.
He gave me the meanest look as if I were mocking him. Sorry but I express glee whenever I meet someone who knows how to properly pronounce my name, even if he’s trying to give me a ticket.
Officer: I have a cousin named Roque.
Me: Cool. Oh and just to let you know, I’ve received a few tickets for my exhaust in the past and it’s not modified as the judge has ruled in my favor and is perfectly okay the way it is now.
Officer: So you don’t have any mods to the manifold or anything?
Me: Nope. It’s all good, you’re welcome to check under the hood.
Officer: It’s okay.
Me: So yeah, I just feel like I’ve encountered a few close calls with PD driving erratically around here and I never did anything and I felt what you did back there was wrong. You didn’t use your turn signal, you didn’t have your lights & siren on so I wanted to get your info to report it.
Officer: Well you know it’s perfectly legal to not use your turn signal if there are no cars around you.
Me: Really? I didn’t know that.
Officer: It’s true. I just didn’t see you. You think if I had seen you I wouldn’t have used my signals?
Me: I don’t know. I just thought it was wrong what you did and felt that something needed to be done so yeah, can I have your name?
The officer gave me his name and I wrote it down along with the number of his car. He then gave me back my license, and walked back to his car and that was that: he went on fighting crime & I went home and wrote this blog post. Now I don’t usually hound police when I see stuff like this happen and I probably wouldn’t have felt the need to blog about it if it weren’t for the fact that he tried to flip it on me with the exhaust angle and give me a ticket. I was literally in shock when he said that line about giving me his name on a ticket. *sigh* I guess I should be used to this kind of stuff but it still shocks me that this kind of stuff goes down from time to time. Lame. Am I in the wrong here? Should I not report him? Am I just being uptight? Please chime in on this & let me know what you guys think.
*Actually, I may be wrong here on the legality of that maneuver but I do know that in 1998, as I was traveling to turn in my final project in college, I did the exact maneuver when I got a flat tire and was driving to the gas station I had just passed when a police officer puled me over and gave me a ticket, flat tire and all. I was late to class and my final project was marked down significantly because of it.
report that ass in!
@brodiemash I think you are right. I think more people should be more willing to to report these cops. It is cops like these that creates untrust in the community.
That’s what the underlying issue is here: trust. It's actions like this that create an environment of fear within the citizens of this fine city. I don't think that all the local police are acting in this way but it casts a bad light on everyone and this kinda of stuff needs to be addressed for the sake of the entire organization.
A SNITCH TELLING ON A SNITCH….ITS A DAMN SHAME!!
Haven't snitched yet, merely thinking about it. But wouldn't that be poetic justice?
ROQUE YOU SOUND LIKE A WHITE WASHED MEXICAN! YOU SAID YOU GLEE? LMAO YOU ARE A PANSY AND A DISGRACE!
LULZ
Man, the heck is your problem?
I'm thinking that you got the better of him there on the side of the road. You never know, this could have been a wake up call for him and he will be more conscientious about his lane changes from now on. It sounded like a pissing contest that you won.
I am definitely not defending the cop. It's a tough call. You both have each other's info and could dick with each other in the future.
Just remember that I'm white, not that I haven't had my run ins with the PoPo.
Part of me wants to think that maybe he'll be more attentive when he's driving in the future and that's kinda of why I felt the need to do what I did: he was going to notice me getting his information from the back of his car and likely report it in. He took it to another level by engaging me in a conversation and that's where it went and it kinda took a wrong turn for him by threatening me that way.
But like you mentioned, at very least he'll have this in the back of his head and maybe a lesson can be learned from it on his own without me having to report him, which at this point I'm kinda leaning towards not doing.
Yes you are white. And apparently I'm a "white washed Mexican" so we might be closer than you think ;)
When turning, use of a turn signal is required "in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement." So, the officer was right that the signal is not always required. HOWEVER, your vehicle was clearly affected by his turn. Whether the officer saw you or not is IRRELEVANT.
The relevant portion of the encounter was not whether the officer made a traffic mistake. The important thing is that officers ARE NOT authorized to pull people over for retribution purposes. This is highly improper and should be reported. Not only will this officer not have learned, but will most likely feel empowered to do worse to the next person. I can assure you if you had been on parole or probation, YOU WOULD HAVE GONE TO JAIL that night.
Short term or long term, it is likely to the point of certainty that others will benefit from your willingness to report a failure of law enforcement to follow the law.
You bring up some very excellent points, sir! But just wondering in the long run what kind of impact I would really have? I'm afraid that if I do move forward that I will be hassled by PD for the rest of my existence and I'd rather not have that happen. It might be a bit of paranoia but the dude knows my name, my make & model and who's to say I'm already in the system as "Pull this motherfucker over"?
I'm not defending the officer's actions, they were clearly wrong. But – in his defense – I can see him being at least a little concerned about a car tailing him. But I'm also glad you didn't end up the latest shooting victim of the FPD Roque! Then they would have proceeded to tell the media how you were always depressed, and how you had a suicide wish.
and a bulldog gang member.
LULZ! As long as they went all out and tattooed me up all crazy after the fact to corroborate their story.
Roq-
Mistakes happen, and we've all changed lanes without seeing someone. However, the problem is not him changing lanes without signaling. The problem is his response to the situation. The police are here to be public servants and to serve the interest and safety of the people. I would report the whole situation, with an emphasis on HIS reaction to you – the whole, "you can have my name on a ticket for that exhaust" thing. That is not professional. Here's a messaage straight from Dyer on the fresno PD's website :
Our new Vision is to serve our community with honesty, compassion and respect.
Our new Mission of the Fresno Police Department is to enhance safety, service, and trust with our community.
The actions of the officer in question do not live up to what Dyer and the force are trying to accomplish. So like I said, report him not for the lane change, but for his reaction to you. Take care.
Let me begin by saying that not all cops are D-bags, obviously. This guy is. This one decided to abuse his position by trying to intimidate you. A small threat? Question his authority and you will pay. I would totally understand if you don't move forward with this. I also would fear a haslin' from the man. But I bet he is relying on that fear to keep you in line. Intimidate you without ever saying another word. You have the right to remain silent, indeed. "Don't Bullshit me son!" comes to mind… Respect for handling it the way you did. Sounds like you kept cool while making your point. Nice job.
Roque, you should report him and then be prepared to be stopped on a regular basis. There's a popular phrase used by police, "Just another license plate in the computer!"
Exactly my fear of reporting him, too. It shouldn't be that way but unfortunately I've heard the same thing :(
I'm not sure what I would have done/would do in this situation.
But props for having the gall to even confront it by following him in the first place.
In theory, you should report him for sure.
Here's the thing: do we allow the police to behave in ways that would be unacceptable for anyone not wearing a badge?
If things were flipped around in this case, if you had veered into his lane, without putting a blinker on, how would that have worked out for you? If you'd said "I just didn’t see you. You think if I had seen you I wouldn’t have used my signals," how would that have gone over?
You were in the right, sir. But I never would have had the balls to do what you did. It sounds like if he would have been nice and said “Sorry man, I totally didn’t see you there.” at the begining, you might have forgot to report him.
In all honesty, probably would have not even reported him. Just the encounter alone would have hopefully taught him a lesson but he kinda of took it to the next level but threatening me with a ticket as retribution.
You are my hero.
No really. You make me happy.
If that were me it would've gone a lil sumpin like this:
me: what, you dirty copper?
Cop: why are you following me?
me: cause I smell bacon and i'm hoooongry!
cop: dont you know that's disrespectful!?
me: yeah.
cop: well, be nice to me.
me: no you dirty pig, suck on this!
cop: no thank you, I like my ladies thin.
me: eff you, dirty po-po
cop: you're making a fool of yourself, ma'am
me: kiss my fat-a$$ you stinkin filthy pig!
cop: you're hurtin my feelings.
me: good! My job here is done!
I have no doubt that YOU could have gotten away with that. If I had done that, at best a nightstick to the face or at worst a bullet to the fat gut would of been the outcome. NYUP!
Report em. We got to keep our civil servants accountable.
The only way to protect yourself is to report it!
He will get an ass chewing from a supervisor and do everything in his power to never interact with you again….
check out this interaction w/the police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAs4gZY1bro&fe…
Hey 2Fast 2Furious, do you see the irony in YOU telling a cop that his driving is putting the public at risk. LULZ. Why you raging, son? You on the roids again?
Its crazy how pd thinks they can do wat ever i say report him!
Snitches end up in ditches. LULZ… and we all float on again.
WHY DOES IT EVEN MATTER IF YOUR WHITE OR MEXICAN? SO IF YOUR MEXICAN, THEN YOU SHOULD GET HARASS OR WHAT?
YOU GUYS ARE STUPID WITH YOUR COMMENTS. IF THATS WHAT THE COPS DID, THEY SHOULD BE REPORTED. I SEE DUMB COPS EVERYDAY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BEING A COP. LAST TIME I WAS GOING TO SANGER AT NIGHT AND THIS DUMB COP WAS PROBABLY DRUNK OR SOMETHING AND HIT INTO SOME FENCE AND A TOW TURCK CAME BY TO HELP HIM. AND I DIDNT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON SO I SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS A STOP SIGN AND LIGHTS FLASHING, AND I GUESS THE DUMB COP GOT MAD AND THREW HIS PLASTIC BOTTLE AT MY CAR AND I GOT PISSED AND I CALLED MY AUNT ON WHAT I SHOULD DO AND SHE SAID IM A GIRL AND IM BY MYSELF SO TO JUST KEEP ON DRIVING TO THEIR HOUSE.
AND THERE HAS BEEN MANY TIME WHERE IM AT A STOP LIGHT AND COPS WOULD JUST TURN ON THEIR SIRENS TO GET PASS THE RED LIGHT AND THEN TURN IT RIGHT OFF WHEN THEY GET THROUGH. I FEEL THAT COPS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF BEING A COP. IF THATS THE CASE, WE DONT NEED COPS BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES!!!!