You know if never seizes to amaze me how assholish people are sometimes. No matter how nice you are or try to be they just can’t get over the fact that you’re a cop and you stand for everything that they think they hate. The other night, I was working my normal patrol. I pulled up and parked at a stop sign posted right in front of a fairly busy roadway. This area usually yields quite a bid of douche bags driving by and I can usually dig up something.
So while I was sitting there a newer looking Ford Explorer pulled up to the stop signs next to me. Nothing really stood out in my mind that would normally make me think that there was anyone suspicious driving it. Just out of sheer habit I ran the plate as he pulled away. The registered owner came back listed as suspended for “fail to comply/appear”. This usually happens when you fail to appear on a mandatory court summons.
The Explorer pulled into a nearby gas station, and the driver went inside. Sometimes, people know when they are suspended or when they have a warrant. So when they see a cop, the immediately take the nearest turn in an effort to avoid the cops. One day at this vary gas station, my buddy noticed a guy with a warrant drive by. Seeing my buddy, he quickly pulled into the gas station, and went inside. My buddy parked and followed him in. He found the wanted guy just standing in the back corner staring at the wall. I guess it was like a “hear no evil, see no evil” type of thing. “If I close my eyes the cops won’t see me”.
Anyway, I didn’t really think that was what this guy was doing. He wasn’t looking around and didn’t appear to be nervous. I was pretty sure that he didn’t know he was suspended. I just sat there at the stop sign (which was still within view of the gas station). My buddy would say, “Yeah.You’re just sitting therelike a snake all coiled up, ready to strike your prey.” A few minutes later the guy returned, started up the Explorer, and pulled out of the gas station. Amazingly, he didn’t turn the other way. Because the gas station is so close to the local highway, they usually turn and get on the hwy. Then I have to spend a bunch of time, running them down. Instead, he turned toward me and then turned again at the very stop sign I was sitting at.
I watched as he just drove right by me. Then turned around and got him stopped. I checked the name listed on my MDT and approached the driver. I introduced myself politely and advised him that I had stopped him because his license plate light was out (Yes, it was really outLOL). I said, “It’s something I usually don’t cite for, but as a courtesy I like to let people know when their equipment isn’t working property.” The driver said, “Oh, thanks!” Then started to roll is window up. I said, “Just a minute sir, I still need to see your driver’s license.”
Once I had the license in my hand, I looked down at the name. The name, date of birth, and license number matched the one listed on the MDT as being suspended. Now comes the tough part. Judging from the driver’s demeanor, it was clear to me that he had no idea he was suspended. I said, “Well, I am sorry to be the one to tell you this sir, but your driver’s license is suspended.” The driver said, “Nope! You’re wrong. I took care of all that stuff.” I remember thinking, “shit, maybe I am wrong.” I said, “Are you sure, because the DMV has you listed as suspended still?” Irritated, the driver placed both hands on the door, leaned his head out the window, and yelled, “Yeah! I’m sure!” I said, “Well, let me go back and double check my information. He said, “Yeah, you do that!” As I walked away, I thought I heard him mutter something along the lines of, “Fuckin stupid cops!” I turned around and said, “Was there something else you wanted to tell me sir?” The driver just stared at me in the rearview mirror. He was doing his best to give me the “million mile” stare. I love when people think they are intimidating me.
I went back to the car and ran the information again. It returned with the same results. Since he wanted to be Mr. Nice Guy, I decided to just sit in the patrol car for a while and complete all of the paperwork (this usually takes about 5 to 10 min.). I ordered up a tow truck and just took my time. When guys are ass holes, I usually like to surprise them with the tow truck. What I mean by this, is they are sitting there thinking that at most they are just going to get a ticket and I am going to just send them on their way. Wrong! While they’re sitting there I just wait at my patrol car until the tow truck pulls up in front of their car. The part that makes it funny is when the tow truck driver, who is usually in a big hurry, puts the tow bar on the back of the truck down and then backs up and bumps the front of the violator’s tires..LOLwhile they are still sitting inside.
I imagine the violator inside their car going, “I wonder if he’s gonna tow me or what?” Then the tow truck arrives and there is no question. So, once the tow truck arrives, I walked back up to the driver’s window. I started to say, “Okay, you’re suspended and I am going to tow your vehicle.” Before I could get a word out, Mr. Nice Guy yelled, “You’re towing my fucking car!” Then, in a very aggressive manner, unlatched his door and attempted to kick it open. I stuck my foot up and kicked the door shut. “Sit down!” I yelled. “If you don’t calm down, getting you car towed is going to be the least of your problems” I snarled.
Mr. Nice Guy was very bent on trying to talk me out of towing his car. Let this be a lesson to anyone. For starters, if you don’t want your car towed, you probably shouldn’t act like a total ass hole. Second, once the tow truck is already there the cop’s not changing his mind so you wasting your time. And finally, most police agencies have policies that require them to tow every suspended driver’s vehicle (Yes my agency has that policy).
Mr. Nice Guy gathered up all of his stuff and got out of the car. He handed me the ignition key and said, “Fine we’ll see how far this car goes.” He then started dialing the phone. I was standing there thinking, “who the fuck does this kid (he was like 21) think he is?” I said, “Okay, we’ll see ya later then.” I smiled and walked back to my patrol car. Mr. Nice Guy said, “Wait! You have to give me a ride! You can’t just leave me here!”
Normally, I do offer a ride to the nearest gas station or safe place with a phone when I tow people’s cars. That’s just me being a nice guy, but there is no policy, rule, or law that says I have to do it. I turned to Mr. Nice Guy and said, “Let me get this straight. You sat there; called me a fucking stupid cop, mistreated, and cussed at me and now you want me to help you out? You gotta be out of your fucking mind!” With that I slammed the door of my patrol car turned around and left as soon as the tow truck cleared.
Later that night, his mom called. She was extremely angry that we would treat her son that way. She told my chief that I cussed at her son and then kicked his car. She also faxed over a bunch of information in an attempt to prove that his driving privileges had been reinstated. What she didn’t know is that yes he was reinstated, but then suspended again for failing to respond to another traffic summons. Talk about a momma’s boy. I could already tell that this kid was probably an only child. He probably thinks that he can do anything he wants because mommy will always make it better. Well, he learned this night that in the real world you have to answer for you actions.
Sorry that it wasn’t as exhilarating as others. I’m doing the best I can. This summer is already ramping up to be really busy. I am sure that by then they will get better.
