4 ms·

I love speeding ticket anecdotes! I’m white, and live in CO. I was traveling the day before Thanksgiving and traveled through South Fork, CO (which is at the b

I love speeding ticket anecdotes! I’m white, and live in CO. I was traveling the day before Thanksgiving and traveled through South Fork, CO (which is at the bottom of a mtn. pass). I was just following the car in front of me (at a 200m distance), doing ~40mph. Apparently, the speed limit drops to 35mph for a short stretch in the ‘business district.' I saw him in my rear-view, pulled over, and he pulled-up beside me. He rolled down his window and told me to follow him because he had someone else to ticket (I was clocked at 43mph he said). He gave us both tickets that were $100/ no points if paid quickly, it’s a total racket. Also, I’ve been pulled over ~15 times in the last 20 years (mostly in Boulder), and I’ve never left my hands on the wheel. I immediately go to my glove box and get my registration/insurance, then grab my license. By the time the cop gets to my window, I just hand over all 3 documents at once. One time, I was doing 90mph through Denver at 4am for a Crispy Creme run as the designated driver. On I-25, I think the speed limit there was 55-60mph. He gave me a warning.

bduerst 10y ago
Those are some super cool stories that you just enthusiastically listed. Thanks. Do any of these involve anyone other than just you? You know, that offer a comparison and are relevant to the discussion?
- narrowrail 10y ago
  It seems that you are questioning the relevance of my contribution. I believe the relevance is that in mostly-white CO these 'rules' that everybody seems to parrot about dealing with cops don't apply. I don't have to leave my hands on the steering wheel. So, my (perhaps erroneous) conclusion has been that when there is little racial diversity, these problems don't seem as prevalent. Edit: Just to be clear, I do not appreciate the antagonistic tone in your comment.
  - bduerst 10y ago
    >my (perhaps erroneous) conclusion has been that when there is little racial diversity, these problems don't seem as prevalent. Even then you would need to have a cop-experience involving other races, in areas of "little racial diversity" to make this conclusion -i.e. Your black friend and you (white) were treated no differently than the other times you were pulled over alone. Your stories really only involve you, which is weird that you think they're relevant.
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    The "rules" often cited aren't because there will be a problem in most cases if you don't follow them. Instead, its because they will be problem in a very small (much <1%) of cases if you don't follow them, and the potential cost is very high. (I'm not -- at least, not exclusively, or in general perception -- white, have lived in parts of CA with lots of diversity, and have often failed to follow the "rules" without problem -- and don't think any of that is unexpected even with the "rules" being valid.)

bduerst 10y ago

Those are some super cool stories that you just enthusiastically listed. Thanks. Do any of these involve anyone other than just you? You know, that offer a comparison and are relevant to the discussion?

narrowrail 10y ago
It seems that you are questioning the relevance of my contribution. I believe the relevance is that in mostly-white CO these 'rules' that everybody seems to parrot about dealing with cops don't apply. I don't have to leave my hands on the steering wheel. So, my (perhaps erroneous) conclusion has been that when there is little racial diversity, these problems don't seem as prevalent. Edit: Just to be clear, I do not appreciate the antagonistic tone in your comment.
- bduerst 10y ago
  >my (perhaps erroneous) conclusion has been that when there is little racial diversity, these problems don't seem as prevalent. Even then you would need to have a cop-experience involving other races, in areas of "little racial diversity" to make this conclusion -i.e. Your black friend and you (white) were treated no differently than the other times you were pulled over alone. Your stories really only involve you, which is weird that you think they're relevant.
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  The "rules" often cited aren't because there will be a problem in most cases if you don't follow them. Instead, its because they will be problem in a very small (much <1%) of cases if you don't follow them, and the potential cost is very high. (I'm not -- at least, not exclusively, or in general perception -- white, have lived in parts of CA with lots of diversity, and have often failed to follow the "rules" without problem -- and don't think any of that is unexpected even with the "rules" being valid.)