Got pulled over because I was driving a hybrid

Did he mention how fast he thought you were going?

 

DPS Troopers in TX are usually always a hassle, I know because I travel thru TX alot going north when going home from a visit. When I usually travel up US-59 out of Houston going back home to MI, somewhere, somehow I get stopped by DPS somewhere along the stretch, and I know I wasnt violating anything. I know once I got stopped because the trooper thought my rear license plate light wasnt bright enough (???). Couldn't write me a ticket because the light was working.

I got stopped another time too by a local because I didnt have any stickers in the windshield or a front plate (which TX law requires). Cop couldn't do nothing to me either since I was out of state and he simply asked where was I going and how long was I going to be there.

I think in your case dbotello, they were probably curious about the car, and sometimes, those guys don't have nothing else to do either. They try to make up something just to stop you. They probably liked the car no doubt, so as long as you were going the limit then you shouldnt have anything to worry about. Seems like big trucks and SUV's are still standard in TX.

I hope I wont get that hassle when I drive to TX for the Thanksgiving holidays....course I am always mindful of the speed limits (especially in the towns) so if not that, they'll find some excuse to pull you over.

 

Over here in uk if you have an 'interesting' car it's commonplace to get pulled over...
'just a routine safety check sir' while they look all around the vehicle - what mpg do you get, how fast does it go (say nothing B) ) or it's late at night for you to be doing that speed - have you been drinking? would you mind if I sit inside while we run through a breath test :blink: The leather works well doesnt it....

 

Nice story. Do you write fiction? B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius2go @ Sep 4 2006, 04:12 AM) [snapback]313885[/snapback]</div>

I don't know how it is in the UK, but here in the US you have to have probable cause to stop someone. And I'm not afraid to stir up trouble about it either. I have had friends who have had their cars illegally searched, and searches took unreasonable amounts of time (>45 mins on a Celica on the side of a busy interstate). It is your right to ask them why they stopped you. It is also your right to tell them no when they ask to search the car, or ask why they want to look. The key is to be respectful about it. Hand over your license and registration, and if they aren't saying...ask "why did you pull me over, sir?"

Then again cops don't scare me...a) I don't do illegal stuff other than speed and b ) I grew up with them around all the time b/c my dad was a fireman.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HokieHybrid @ Sep 4 2006, 05:37 AM) [snapback]313914[/snapback]</div>

I think we wrote a letter of complaint to England about 230 years ago about that sort of thing and how we didn't really like it. Started a bit of a squirmish, as I recall. B)

 

ionbeck, that was a good one!

 

I've been pulled over several times for "inspections" driving around in a 230SL roadster, which is an almost 40 year old car. This is a bit annoying in the summer as this old Mercedes has no A/C and a friendly chat on the roadside at 0 mph can get sweaty, especially with the top down in the sun. Have never yet been stopped for "inspection" while in the Prius during the first 1000 miles, but looking forward to it now, with the auto climate controls!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jonbeck @ Sep 4 2006, 12:50 PM) [snapback]314021[/snapback]</div>

I was thinking perhaps they had modernized I don't keep tabs on their rules...I have enough trouble figuring out ours.

 

In some parts of Tx there're two speed limits; one for daytime, another lower one for nighttime. Was it after dusk?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbotello @ Sep 4 2006, 12:34 AM) [snapback]313805[/snapback]</div>

Well My experience was a little different....I was working on the computer network at the Sheriff's department, As I pulled into the parking lot I engaged EV mode, I passed two deputies who imediatly comented about the car, the deputies followed me up to the Sally Port (secure area where they unload people to put them in jail) As I entered the Sally Por the Deputies were waiting for me to exit my car and immediatly started asking all kinds of questions. They checked the Prius over inside and out and even called several of their buddies on the radio to have them come check it out...within 15 minutes my car was surrounded by Deputies and local PD Officiers, I even let them drive it around the complex, after all they had guns, what was I gonna do say no :lol: . Now when I drive around town I often have deputies flash their lights at me or beep their siren but I have never had them pull me over, just saying hi...Always good to make friends with local law enforcement

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HokieHybrid @ Sep 4 2006, 08:37 AM) [snapback]313914[/snapback]</div>

A minor point...but why allow mis-information to go on. You do NOT need probable cause to stop a car, only reasonable suspicion (less than what is needed to arrest you).

You are correct, you can say "no" when a search is requested. Police can "search" a car for weapons or drugs on reasonable suspicion only as opposed to a house, where PC is required.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbotello @ Sep 4 2006, 10:22 PM) [snapback]314311[/snapback]</div>

That absolutely makes no sense with that warning David.....a doing 70 in a 70?? :huh: I know US-59 very well and in the daytime the speed limit is 70 and at night its 65 when outside of any towns. Those troopers didnt have anything else to do obviously.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Schmika @ Sep 4 2006, 11:13 PM) [snapback]314339[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for correcting me....I chose the wrong term. I meant that there has to be a reason to pull you over, not just I'm gonna pull you over to see if you have something you shouldn't b/c I don't like your hair.

 

I got pulled over the very first week I had mine. The officer said it was because the temporary tag was not displayed visibly enough! I think he just wanted to get a closer look at the car. He let me go with a warning to tape the tag up higher in the hatch window.

 

I got pulled-over because the officer wanted a look at my sports car. He ask me how long I had owned it, and when I said just over a year, he proceeded to tell me the common problems with the car. Not at all what I was expecting as I was going 10mph over the limit.

 

Despite the fact that I'm a lawyer, and the bulk of my work consists of criminal defense cases (when the Marine Corps doesn't own me, which they do at the moment...), allow me to offer this distinctly succinct, neither academic nor legal explanation of this phenomenon: power trip!!! I'm not, of course, referring to electrical power. . .

 

Yeah, we did some modernising. On most of the world actually

Don't get me started...