5 ms·

I've also noticed in a lot of states that cars have the "fraternal order of police" sticker, and it is affixed right on their licence plate. I suspect its for

by kop316 6y ago

I've also noticed in a lot of states that cars have the "fraternal order of police" sticker, and it is affixed right on their licence plate. I suspect its for a similar reason, that either if you get your plate's picture taken or local police can see that right away.

nickthegreek 6y ago
yep, its a signal to officers that you went out of your way to donate extra money to the police force so that they are more forgiving as they approach your car or just don't pull you over to begin with.
- eplanit 6y ago
  I think that today a Trump 2020 bumper sticker would have the same effect.
  - nickthegreek 6y ago
    I think the american thin blue line flag is more direct. https://www.amazon.com/Matter-Sticker-Support-Enforcement-Officers/dp/B07CCLSPB5 https://www.amazon.com/Matter-Sticker-Support-Enforcement-Of...
  - joshstrange 6y ago
    There is a chilling effect in the other direction as well. I'm not too keen on decorating my car to support various things I do support (candidate/BLM/etc) because I know the cops might treat me worse with that on my car... fun times.
    - illirik 6y ago
      I just have two Seattle Mariners bumper stickers on my truck; haven't been pulled over since putting em on, so they must think I have enough misery as it is! /s I think the real issue is that it has been decided somehow that it is our fault for being policed and experiencing the frequent resulting injustices. A police officer can pull you over, stop you walking down the street, etc. etc. and fine you, jail you, or brutalize you at will, and in all but the most egregious cases (that also must become a cause celebre), they can just do it again tomorrow. There's always some justification, no matter how flimsy! That's not to say this violence is evenly distributed among the population. POC, the poor and working class, those who work odd hours and have to drive at 3 AM etc. certainly have a much, much, much harder time than e.g. the median HN commenter. But the answer to the question "What's stopping a given police officer from e.g. breaking my arm while pulling me out of my vehicle?" is much less "they will suffer consequences if they do" and much more "they haven't decided it's what they want to do today"
- Jaruzel 6y ago
  > to donate extra money to the police force so that they are more forgiving So a bribe then. Wow. As citizens of the country we live in, we should all be subject to the same laws and restrictions. Anything less than that is a form of corruption and undermines the whole concept of democracy and a fair society.
joezydeco 6y ago
In Illinois, land of the drivers license / license plate cash grab, you can order a custom plate that "shows your support" for the police. https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/license_plate_guide/ilpolice.html https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/lice... https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/license_plate_guide/chicagopolicememorial.html https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/lice... Stack that up with a bunch of bumper stickers and, if you're brave, hang a checkered headband on your rearview mirror and you'll have a cop thinking you're a cousin of someone on his squad. (Just make sure you're white)

by kop316 6y ago

nickthegreek 6y ago

yep, its a signal to officers that you went out of your way to donate extra money to the police force so that they are more forgiving as they approach your car or just don't pull you over to begin with.

eplanit 6y ago
I think that today a Trump 2020 bumper sticker would have the same effect.
- nickthegreek 6y ago
  I think the american thin blue line flag is more direct. https://www.amazon.com/Matter-Sticker-Support-Enforcement-Officers/dp/B07CCLSPB5 https://www.amazon.com/Matter-Sticker-Support-Enforcement-Of...
- joshstrange 6y ago
  There is a chilling effect in the other direction as well. I'm not too keen on decorating my car to support various things I do support (candidate/BLM/etc) because I know the cops might treat me worse with that on my car... fun times.
  - illirik 6y ago
    I just have two Seattle Mariners bumper stickers on my truck; haven't been pulled over since putting em on, so they must think I have enough misery as it is! /s I think the real issue is that it has been decided somehow that it is our fault for being policed and experiencing the frequent resulting injustices. A police officer can pull you over, stop you walking down the street, etc. etc. and fine you, jail you, or brutalize you at will, and in all but the most egregious cases (that also must become a cause celebre), they can just do it again tomorrow. There's always some justification, no matter how flimsy! That's not to say this violence is evenly distributed among the population. POC, the poor and working class, those who work odd hours and have to drive at 3 AM etc. certainly have a much, much, much harder time than e.g. the median HN commenter. But the answer to the question "What's stopping a given police officer from e.g. breaking my arm while pulling me out of my vehicle?" is much less "they will suffer consequences if they do" and much more "they haven't decided it's what they want to do today"
Jaruzel 6y ago
> to donate extra money to the police force so that they are more forgiving So a bribe then. Wow. As citizens of the country we live in, we should all be subject to the same laws and restrictions. Anything less than that is a form of corruption and undermines the whole concept of democracy and a fair society.

joezydeco 6y ago

In Illinois, land of the drivers license / license plate cash grab, you can order a custom plate that "shows your support" for the police. https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/license_plate_guide/ilpolice.html https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/lice... https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/license_plate_guide/chicagopolicememorial.html https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/lice... Stack that up with a bunch of bumper stickers and, if you're brave, hang a checkered headband on your rearview mirror and you'll have a cop thinking you're a cousin of someone on his squad. (Just make sure you're white)