ATV Florida Forum

I think everyone on here understands my respect and appreciation to law enforcement and the laws.  Now with that said heres my story.

Saturday I was driving out to Charlotte Motorspeedway (to watch a car we painted) because it is so far I decided drive out to a place I might ride on Sunday to see if it would be ok to take my 16 month old son for a ride.  I drove down a dirt road saw no one except 3 cop cars on the side of the road (about 40 feet off) I turned around (on the road) and headed back and decided to stop and ask the cops if its ok to ride or not. (I didn't want to waste a trip, or get a ticket) Well I drove off the road (about 20 feet) I didn't want to crowd the cops.  So I went about half way between them and the road.  One officer almost ran up to me and said I quote "Since you drove off the road I am going to have to give you a tresspassing ticket!"  All I was trying to do was talk to them.  He went on and on how I can't be riding around here.  Now I am dressed in a collared shirt, dress pants, and dress shoes. (we were also going to dinner) I told him I have never been here thats why I wanted to ask.  I told him I was trying to do the right thing by asking him and now I am getting cited.  I tried to explain I just wanted to go somewere that me and my son could ride that no drunk a$$ is going to kill my son. 

Now with all that said I can COMPLETELY understand people (children, atv riders, ect.) being so apprehensive to approach cops!  That was ridiculous!  Oh... also there were NO "no trespassing" signs anywhere.  I do believe people have a predetermined mind set about anyone wanting to ride.  What a shame  >:(

When Homestead Speedway was originally nearly completed me and my girl were in the area on a Sunday, so I rode over to check it out. Not a soul was around and I got on the track and ran my little 4.3 S-10 Blazer wide open around it for about six laps.

It would have been worth the ticket. ;)

Obviously, there were no donut shops around to keep him busy. And, that same pig can't understand how Timothy McVeighs get born. This is just one example of why we need lawyers. I'd waste his time and the taxpayers' money by going to court over that matter.

so did he give you a ticket or was he just flappin his gums ??

With all the dirt running around Florida these days, if I was an LEO I would approach everyone with my firearm drawn.

Unfortunately, it is a sign of the times down here in 'Almost' America..

.

No... I had to talk to him for about 30 min to get out of it.  Why this guy had to be a jerk I don't know.   

Obviously, we don't know all of the facts/reasons for his unprofessional behavior. But, if he's going to treat the public like we're all lawbreakers, he can expect to be shown a lack of respect/appreciation, too.

I agree 100%

I had a similar experience with a Daytona Beach cop about eight years ago.  I was trying to find the proper entrance for my motorhome and stopped to ask two officers standing on the side of the road where Gate H was.  Keep in mind, I'm on the backside of the speedway and I'm the ONLY vehicle on the road.  You would have thought I had just committed mass murder by the reaction I got from the one officer.  He was screaming at the top of his lungs threatening to throw me in jail if I didn't get back in my vehicle.  It was unbelievable.  The other just stood there and laughed about what an ass this guy was being and actually told him to chill out before he gave me directions.  Pin a badge on some people and they become complete idiots.

If you got the officers name report him, It will go on his record and make it harder for him to get promotions and pay raises.

A few bad cops give the rest a bad rep, just like a few bad ATVers give the rest of us a bad rep. Was he black? Might have been profiling you. ;D

cops suck

my son (klutchbuster) called me and asked wheres the registration. sure enough he had been puled over(failure to yield at a stop sign). well i got on the phone with the police officer and BEGGED him not to give him a ticket. told him i couldnt afford the additional insurance(which i cant).so he just gave him a ticket for no proof of registration/insurance.

heres where it gets interesting. my son tells me he gets to the stop sign, stops, and is waiting and no one goes. one of them being the police office. so hes like alright if no ones going i'm gonna go. well lo and behold the officer stops him. he tells him he acknowledged the fact that he stopped but he had to continue to wait for him to go. he said he was ABOUT to go. thats ridiculous. ive gottn to stop signs and if no one goes then heck i'm going. i'm sure the law reads you must stop but i wonder what it says about the correct waitning time before you can proceed. all in all lesson learned.

I would but I didn't get his name... I was too busy kissing a$$ trying to get out of the dumb ticket.

It was a white guy, I do agree he is just giving the rest of them bad names!

Reminds me of Cartman on Southpark!
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2826443

I'm betting everyone here with issues with police have short hair. It is amusing that they are always completely professional with me, even when I crash into them, and I look like a freakin hippy.

It is either the hair cut or the attitude guys, IMO. Seriously, is your pride worth a fat ticket or a trip to jail so you can spend even more money over five or ten minutes of feigned respect?

These guys have a real crap job dealing with folks everyday that each and every one of you would want to beat to a pulp if you had to deal with them to get paid.

My guess is you drove up on a drug deal or some hooker pulling the train with them I was a LEO years ago there is a lot that has changed  :(

I agree but when I am COMPLETLEY respectful, courteous, and polite I expect to be treated the same. (call me old fashioned) I have the up most respect for the gentlemen that have or may risk their lives to protect us.  But that doesn't give them right to talk down to people who are being respectful, courteous, and polite to them.  I have to wonder about someones character (a character that has been "oked" to walk around with a gun) when they can't distinguish between a disrespectful jerk and someone just asking a question.  Odiously my pride isn't worth it I didn't get the ticket.  I bet you he got his rocks off later that night knowing I had to kiss his a$$ to get out of a ticket.  What comes around goes around.

I hear you. You did the right thing IMO. Many of my friends would have ended up in handcuffs, over something that might take a few minutes of ass kissing to avoid.

You are right about what comes around goes around, that officer very well may take a bullet in the chest protecting someone you or I love in the future...
It is best to keep that in mind when ever you want to tell an obnoxious cop to pissoff.

I realize your situation is a bit different than the normal things that bring out 'pig bashers', but it is a subject I will always comment on. I know what these men have to do to earn a check, and frankly I would not want to work it for double the pay.

 :ThumbsUp.gif

Here's a good one for you guys. My wife was hosting a fundraiser for the MDA. There was a bake sale,carwash,car bash, and some other stuff. Me and my step daughter went to help and decided get involved in the car bash. You had to donate $1.00 per hit with a sledge hammer. So I gave up $20.00 we started beating the crap out of this car. Next thing you know we were both put to the ground at gunpoint by Sebring's PD's finest. There was flourescent signs everywhere and a crowd of people. After it was over all I asked for was an apology to my stepdaughter. They said whatever and left. She was eight years old then. Now she is sixteen and is still afraid of police.

Wow, crazy story.

My ex-wife has some bigtime anti law enforcement attitude and had my little girl pretty scared of them for years. Recently she saw a police car simply flowing along with the traffic and got visibly upset that they were going to 'take her to jail'.

Needless to say I have now taken her up to every officer I run into  with excellent results, and have drilled it into her head that they are there to PROTECT and serve you. Not put you in jail for no reason.

Hell, if something were ever to happen and I was not around I would much prefer her to seek out a cop instead of the guy who needs help looking for his 'lost puppy'...

Thats horrible for your daughter!