THSCC Forums

Donnie - I've got the same book at home, and would be happy to lend it out...

My brother-in-law is a city cop in a suburb of Dallas, and this is exactly what he told me to do. From his perspective, he's putting his well-being in jeopardy with each stop, as he doesn't know what the speeder will do. He said he had let several people go with warnings during a night stop because of the "lights on, hands in plain sight" behavior. They appreciate it, as it removes doubt and risk for them.

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Tom Freeman
'98 M3/4/5 | '93 Spec3 325i | '12 TSX sport wagon | '03 Tahoe
Team Silver Bullets '91 240SX

If the book being referred to is "A Speeders Guide to Avoiding Tickets", I agree it's an excellent book, and I try to heed his advice as well.

One thing, though, is I thought he advised against calling the guy "sir" left and right (don't recall the reasoning ATM). I'll have to double-check that. I do recall he recommended calling the guy by his rank (if you can read or decode it from his uniform), as it will increase the odds he'll think of you as "one of their own". In practice, I've not been able to discern the officer's rank easily from where I've sat relative to where he's been standing...

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Carl Fisher

Be Cool to the Pizza Dude:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/stor ... Id=4651531

I believe that that book says something to the effect that "sir" is bootlicking, but "officer" or whatever rank is more effective.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

Honestly, I don't know what book you're talking about. I've never read a book on speeding, and as an NCSU graduate, few would even consider me as being *able* to read a book.

I formed that strategy independently based on a *lot* of practice doing the *wrong* things (and have had two officers put their hands on their guns and take a step back in different situations just because they were unsure of what I was doing). That was back when I was young and stupider, though. And yeah, I've been stopped and written tickets a lot of times for a variety of offenses in my younger and stupider days. I even have a license suspension to my discredit.

As for the "sir", I certainly wouldn't waste it, but use it where appropriate. To me a simple "yes, sir" to answer a direct question is better than "yes, officer" or just "yes." But to each his own. I certainly wouldn't emphasize it or anything, just say it appropriately.


--Donnie, not likely to be packing heat at an autocross, Barnes

PS: Maybe it's better that Eargle think I *am* packing heat at autocrosses, though. Hmmm...

Donald, a CCW actually makes me feel safer to be around. Now a Louisville slugger engraved with the words from Jules Winfield's wallet would make me think twice.

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Has no responsibility whatsoever.

When my brother and I were 17 John was stopped by Highway Patrol. I went into the glove box for the registration and heard the word "FREEZE". The gun was pointed at me and I froze. He asked me what I was doing in the glove box and I said "getting this." I had the registration in my hand. And no I did not fowl my shorts. My brother did get a ticket.

I believe I heard all the things Donnie mentioned being told to us at a club meeting when we had Brother Dave the lawyer from Wilson as a guest speaker. I doo all the things Donnie mentioned but I am lucky that I have not had to practice it much in the last 10 years. BTW a Class A CDL does not seem to help much. I have only gotten one warning in all the times I have had a roadside chat.

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George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

Wes, how about if my wallet said "Bad Mofo" on it? Or what if I once killed a man in a boxing match? What if I give great foot massages? Wait, skip that last one.

George, yeah, I doubt the license helps. I just have a Class A without a CDL, but I really doubt that part matters. In fact, one ticket I got since I had that he apparently didn't even notice because he put C on the ticket in that box (which I'm sure is completely irrelevant anyway, so why that have that crap I don't know).


--Donnie