Posted: 11/21/2010 5:09:02 PM EDT
| What happens if someone reports your license plate to the police saying we cut them off or something of the sort. I just had this happen to me even though nothing I did was illegal. It was a double left turn and I took my correct lane. I have reason to believe they called the cops because they stayed behind me no matter how far i was or how fast I was going. They then got directly behind me. Similar actions a cop would do when they are running your plates and pulling you over. |
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What happens if someone reports your license plate to the police saying we cut them off or something of the sort. I just had this happen to me even though nothing I did was illegal. It was a double left turn and I took my correct lane. I have reason to believe they called the cops because they stayed behind me no matter how far i was or how fast I was going. They then got directly behind me. Similar actions a cop would do when they are running your plates and pulling you over. They can't do much. Here in NJ, people can call a special # to report a MV violation. If the police officer shows up and sees the violation in progress, no problem. However, if he didn't.. the only recourse is that he can file a complaint against you. |
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In my jurisdiction, if somebody calls in, we'll try to find the alleged violator for a few minutes, but won't go too far out of our way. There's just way too much more important stuff going on to deal with a violation we didn't witness. If the caller is following, we'll make the stop, but it's up to the caller to do a "citizen's arrest" for the violation. Like previously said, it's up to them, not the Officer, to prove the violation to the court.
*ETA- by "citizen's arrest," I mean sign the citation as being the person who is making the complaint, not a true in custody arrest* |
| Heres the thing, most LEA are downsizing. I highly doubt they are going to do anything for a simple traffic violation that may or may not have occured. For example, if I am almost hit setting out cones around an accident scene by a seemingly drunk driver I get the description and the police don't have units in route they are not going to route units that way. In the case of Oregon's State Police, if they get a report for a traffic hazard/bad driver they will try and intercept to see how egregious the driver is. If they witness the same behavior they pulll over and ticket, if not then they don't do anything. For example the steering in my pickup is a bit loose. I noticed a LEO was following me, I knew the guy so I figured he was fucking with me. But sure enough to pulled my over because they had a report that my rig was making lane changes etc. He came up saw it was me and realized I don't drink. I told him my steering is a bit worn. He just said oh sorry to pull you over. I said I thought you were joking. In the end most cops hate the fucking people who call in because they overexaggerate the situation. |
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I had someone doing that "I'm gonna ride your ass for a few miles and act intimidating" hissy fit before, he got pulled over after few more miles down Highway 99. Bet he liked his tail gating/reckless driving ticket.  They were scared shitless of their own shadow.. Believe me. I went into the right hand turn lane and the look on their faces when they passed me was complete horror. |
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Typically we'll hear complaints called into the State Police by non-LE with a description of the vehicle, time and location of the reported offense and the statement "make your own case"... speeding, illegal lane useage, possible DUI - the whole gamut.
The only time a call goes out as an actual "pull them over" is if the charge is filed by/with LE and a case # is assigned by the originating agency. |
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God, I must attract the loonies out driving. I swear to god. Its a mile from my house to my work. Yet, I have had some weird stuff go down between that mile.  I hope you don't then drive straight to your destination... I learned my lesson that single time that something serious like that happened. Individuals impersonating a police vehicle. Telling me to pull over. Yea. I accidently drove into my neighborhood but I kept driving. |
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What happens if someone reports your license plate to the police saying we cut them off or something of the sort. I just had this happen to me even though nothing I did was illegal. It was a double left turn and I took my correct lane. I have reason to believe they called the cops because they stayed behind me no matter how far i was or how fast I was going. They then got directly behind me. Similar actions a cop would do when they are running your plates and pulling you over. Here, nothing would happen. Every pissed-off road-raging SOB with a cell phone wants the SWAT team to swoop in and arrest the driver who cut them off, etc. 10-8, UTL. |
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In my jurisdiction, if somebody calls in, we'll try to find the alleged violator for a few minutes, but won't go too far out of our way. There's just way too much more important stuff going on to deal with a violation we didn't witness. If the caller is following, we'll make the stop, but it's up to the caller to do a "citizen's arrest" for the violation. Like previously said, it's up to them, not the Officer, to prove the violation to the court. *ETA- by "citizen's arrest," I mean sign the citation as being the person who is making the complaint, not a true in custody arrest* I would think that involving yourself by pulling over the alleged violator for an act you did not witness so that a non leo can charge for a violation would tend to piss off the average person. |
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I would think that involving yourself by pulling over the alleged violator for an act you did not witness so that a non leo can charge for a violation would tend to piss off the average person. As he said, its done if the complainant is still behind them and willing to sign paperwork, or if the officer independently witnesses something upon locating the car. |
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around here the cop would laugh, curse the invention of the cell phone and be enroute to a real crime occuring. Yes.... They: I just passed someone smoking a marijuana cigarrette in there car!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Me: How did you know it was marijuana? They: I KNOW WHAT POT LOOKS LIKE!!! Me: What did the car look like? They:It was blue and had either 2 doors or four doors... Me: Yeah ok. |
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I used to drive like a ass. I had people call in my tags 8-12 times. I never heard anything about it.
Edit: Except one time I decided to make good time coming home from WV during heavy traffic. I was weaving in and out pretty good. I hit the MD line and 4 cop cars made a U turn and started following me. I suddenly became a perfect driver.
I don't drive like that anymore. |