To Serve and Protect. . . HA !
By PLETHOS
@Plethos (13560)
United States
August 17, 2017 9:04pm CST
I've been a little miffed at my local law enforcement lately. Earlier this month I was pulled over by a police officer in another town. He asks if I knew why I was pulled over, (Seriously? As if i'm going to know.) I just shook my head no. Then he tells me its because my drivers side brake light is out. I replied thanks for letting me know. Right afterwards he asks for my driver license and registration, im thinking its just to make sure the car is mine and no warrants for me. The usual protocal.
He then goes back to his car and after a couple of minutes hands me my stuff back and a "fix-it" ticket! I looked at him straight in his eyes and said are you serious? A fix-it ticket? You couldn't just say ," I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but I noticed that your brake light is out. Get it fixed as soon as possible and have a nice day, drive carefully."
That's how it used to be a few years ago. Police wouldn't give out tickets for something that is not noticeable to the driver unless he was driving behind his own car or checked it out. I actually checked my lights out earlier that week and all were working.
What ever happened to just giving people a warning and being humble with the community? Why must a ticket be given for every stop you make? It's these little things that help to build a strong relationship with the community you're sworn to serve and protect, not ticket and fine.
It's like asking for $20 from the person you warned that their pants zipper is down.
-smh-
Photograph, Taken/Owned by me, Plethos
10 people like this
9 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
18 Aug 17
I understand that. I have had warnings in the past, this was years ago when I was driving.
I do not remember getting a ticket but twice in the whole time I was driving.
3 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
18 Aug 17
@Plethos Oh yes I agree. It has changed a lot since the days gone by. It is clear that money is at the root of it.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
18 Aug 17
@TiarasOceanView - ive seen tickets handed out for people not parking correctly. having dealer plates instead of valid plates( even though you just bought the car from the dealer and the paper work is on display in the window as by law) just little things that dont really matter.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
24 Aug 17
Hmmm... so, how many people have given you $20 for telling them to put the bull back in the barn? 
I agree, the cop could/should have given you a warning that your light was out. That's what still happens here when a bulb is out and a police car pulls you over for that. 
I agree, the cop could/should have given you a warning that your light was out. That's what still happens here when a bulb is out and a police car pulls you over for that. 1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (137142)
• United States
27 Aug 17
@Plethos I can't say I've ever driven behind myself while I am driving my own car... Usually, around here at least, I pull up to a stoplight and the people in a car beside me yell that one of my bulbs is burned out. I do the same when I notice a bulb burned out on someone else's car.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
31 Aug 17
@DaddyEvil - over here, if i were to yell at someone that a light was out on their vehicle, theyd get mad that i yelled at them and accuse me of stalking them. -SMH- 
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
4 Jan 18
plate light is the absolute favorite of our local cops.gives them an excuse to pull you over and give you crap,and in some cases sniff your car in case you've been toking up while driving.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
4 Jan 18
@Plethos that one year arizona's plates were horrific..bright and gaudy..the plate cover probably would have helped
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
4 Jan 18
lol, around here its against the law to put a clear protective plate over the license plate. because it yellows over time and blurs the numbers for the traffic cams.
i was pulled over for that once, cop said i could go free without a ticket if i just took it off in front of him.
i did, and told him my plate cover would actually help police, it was a circular polarizer type of plate, it lessens glare and clarifies the numbers and letters on the plate. i let him have it so he can do his own homework. i cant believe he actually took it.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
4 Jan 18
@scarlet_woman - yeah, you couldve seen the gaudiness very clearly 
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
19 Aug 17
@Plethos Not bad too, but quite better than here : in France they put some aerosol paint on a tire and on the street, and the car is sent to the pond when the max parking time has been reached (it is 7 days in France, except if a sign tells something else) if it has not moved before.
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
18 Aug 17
a cop once tried to give a friend of mine a fix it ticket to move his car, he thought that it was abandoned or just taking up space on the street. his sister caught the officer writing the ticket, he didnt believe her that the car works and that he parks there everyday, on the the street curb in front of his house. my friend and I were walking out to the car when this was going on. i laughed hysterically when his sister said," just because he doesnt wash his that doesnt mean its broken down and abandoned on the street." he had to take the ticket back after my buddy started the car with no problem.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
21 Aug 17
@Plethos it opens up the risk of police corruption too as if they have to hit targets they'll give out tickets for anything and even make stuff up
1 person likes this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
22 Aug 17
@arthurchappell - but isnt that the goal of police work, to one day not have to hand out tickets for miniscule things?
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
18 Aug 17
I am *SMH* too. It does seem that the police have no understanding that to encourage compliance and good relationships they do need to at least try a bit of friendliness now and again!
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Aug 17
Once I had an Alabama state Trooper pull me over and tell me my tail light had a hole in it and that I better get to the nearest walmart and get red tape because when I cross over the Florida state line they would give me a ticket. I did as was told.
1 person likes this
