Boxster Cop Stories - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

thstone · 05-24-2013, 09:28 AM

Ok, by now almost all of us have encountered a policeman while driving our Boxster's. Post up any good stories, here is mine...

The onramps to the freeways here in LA are metered, meaning that they have a light at the entrance to the freeway that operates during high traffic periods to "meter" the number of cars entering the freeway. This is supposed to help prevent traffic jams from a lot of cars all merging onto the freeway at once.

The onramp near my work is metered and has a good 1/4 mile straight before the light. One day there isn't anyone between me and the light, so I time it as I'm going up the onramp and hit the light just as it turns green. At about 70mph.

Just as I merge onto the freeway, a CHP officer hits his lights and pulls me over. The conversation goes like this;

C: Can I see your drivers license, registration, and proof of insurance?
Me: Yes, officer. Here you go...
C: Do you know why I stopped you?
Me: No sir.....speeding maybe?
C: No, you ran the light at the freeway entrance.
Me: Could you repeat that again? What happened?
C: You failed to stop at the metering light at the freeway entrance.
Me: It was green.
C: No, you failed to stop at the light.
Me: I understand what you're saying, but it was green.
C: No, you don't understand, you failed to stop at the light.
Me. Ok, let's make sure that we're communicating. Can you explain step by step what I did wrong?
C: As you came up the on-ramp, you failed to stop at the light before entering the freeway.
Me: Is that it?
C: Yes.
Me: Ok, here is how I saw it - I drove up the onramp and could see the light and timed it so it was green when I drove though.
C: That is still illegal.
Me: How is that illegal? I never stop at a green light when I'm driving down the street! If its green, you just drive through!
C: No, you have to stop.... (he's thinking now...), well, WHAT if the light had turned red? There is no way that you could have stopped in time. You need to slow to a safe speed so you could stop IF the light changed.
Me: That's not a law! And you might be surprised, this car can stop pretty damn fast.
C: No, you would have ran the red light.
Me: Ok, let's say that I would have ran the red light - THEN you could give me a ticket. But I didn't. I hit the light when it was green. You can't give me a ticket for something that MIGHT have happened.
C: Give me a minute...(walks back to his car for a few minutes)
C: Ok, you are free to go....

Johnny Danger · 05-24-2013, 10:57 AM

You could have eliminated all of that back and forth dialogue if you had simply told him that you knew Johnny Danger ! In fact, you probably would have received a police escort ! Not saying to where though.

Perfectlap · 05-24-2013, 11:06 AM

I was driving along this small town road when my Valentine One goes off. This small town cop ducked out of his perch to get on my tail. He followed me the whole length of the road until I reached the NJ Parkway. I had the top down, just before I merge onto the highway he gets on the loudspeaker and says "Hey Porsche guy.... Radar detectors make you look guilty".
I wanted to yell back "drivers in Porsches look guilty to cops, that's why I use a V1."

BruceH · 05-24-2013, 12:49 PM

Thanks for the chuckles guys, those are priceless! No encounters in the Boxster - Yet

I just keep my JD CD playing, it's cop repellant, thanks JD!

shadrach74 · 05-24-2013, 01:25 PM

Disclosure: Please do not judge me based on this true story, I realize that reading the events may give some the impression that I'm a complete Jackass, which at times I am. My only defense is that I've not had an at fault in nearly 700,000 miles and 20 years (since I was teen)...

It's a long story but bare with me.

The first day I got my 02 S was a bad day. Front tire flat (middle of nowhere) in the first 40 miles of my 150 mile trek home. had to limp back 20 miles into PA to find a matching Conti DWS'.

I was on my way back to work after taking the morning off to buy the car and at this point running late...

Finally after huffing it a bit, I find myself safely on I70 westbound from Baltimore. I'm about 2 hrs behind schedule and making between 75 and 80mph.

I'm in the left hand lane with open road when a gold colored cross over (I think it was a Chevy Equinox) with dark tint pulls out in front of me and hits the brakes slowing to 50MPH...

I flash him the high beams and he speeds up to about 85 and gets back int the right hand lane. Just as I'm about to pass him, he pulls infront of me again and were down to 55mph.

I flash the highs again and speeds up to 70ish as I stay behind him.

I flash again (I wanted to be closer to 80ish and hate passing on the right) and he hits the brakes down to almost 50mph.

Frustrated as he decelerates to the high 40mph range, I decide to make a right lane pass.

Big throttle blip all the way down to second (for drama)... red line...3rd gear... red line as I change back to left lane (both lanes wide open, no traffic)... 4th gear... I glance at the speedo! Holy $hit, I'm acceleration through 127mph on the digital.

I look back to see how far back the poor joker is that I just dusted off (never made eye contact)... He's quite a ways back! It's then that I notice the blue and red lights flashing in his grill and on his folded down sun visor (portable LED)

I throw my hands up and pull over to a complete stop by the time he's within 100yds of me and keep my hands where he can see them.

He gets out of his truck (40ish yrs of age), badge on a chain around his neck and briskly walks to the car.

Me (sheepishly): "Good afternoon officer."

Cop (aggressively): "So how many tickets would you like sir?"

Me: "None?"

Cop: "License and Registration."

Me: "I just bought the car sir, that's a dealer tag but the car is insured and I have my license right here."

Cop: "For now, but maybe not for long... WHAT is your problem? You're driving like a teenager in heat. I was doing 105mph and you were pulling away hard..."

Me: "I don't think I was going that fast sir. I admit that there is no excuse for what I was doing. I had the top down, I'm behind schedule and was just driving at what felt comfortable. I know that I was driving like an ass"

Cop: "Wait right here. You can put your top up if you want...you look a little burnt."

Me: "Thanks..." (I look in the rear view and realize my face is lobster red and I had no idea until just then)...

15 mins passes, during which I call my Fiance to tell her that I may need her to pick me up from jail.

Cop gets out of his truck with my licence and some paper work and starts walking towards my car with a very mean look on his face. I'm preparing for the worst, but just as he gets to my rear fender his face softens into a smirk as he reaches my window he breaks into a full smile and says...

Cop: "it's always nice to surprise someone like you with a warning Mr. Vixxxx. Have a good day and stay out of the sun for the next week. If I every catch you out here driving like this again, I WILL TAKE YOU TO JAIL! Have a nice day and SLOW DOWN..."

Me (in utter stunned disbelief): "Thank you...I mean thank you for your under..." He nods and walks away as I continue babbling about my appreciation...

He was in fact the coolest Policeman I've ever encountered...even if he did egg me on a bit (something neither of us mentioned).

Perfectlap · 05-24-2013, 02:09 PM

^ you can always tell what you're going to get as they walk back to your car.

If he has his tough face on (and you weren't a jerk) he's going to let you slide with warning or no points ticket but wants you to know he's not a softee.

If he has the blank face or guilty face (usually with rookies) he's giving you a ticket.

If you were being a jerk ....he has a smile on his face and you're wallet is going to be lighter soon.

p.s.
One time I was passing on the shoulder lane in heavy taffic jam, it was raining hard. I Got caught.
The trooper pulls me over and says "fix that lady's flat tire over there".
I get out and change her tire and get soaked in the process. He lets me go with warning. I thought that was a fitting punishment being the disabled lane and all.

Overdrive · 05-24-2013, 02:22 PM

Can't say I've had the pleasure of encountering the police while piloting the Boxster, but since I just jinxed myself...

Honestly, I seem to get more attention from them in my econobox commuter car than my low-slung sports car...go figure.

thstone, that is one of the best exchanges I've read. It's great when you actually can make your point on the spot instead of having to bother with a contesting a ticket and all that.

Johnny Danger · 05-24-2013, 02:56 PM

Here are a few of my encounters.

SEXY FEMALE COPS AROUND THE WORLD - YouTube

shadrach74 · 05-24-2013, 03:23 PM

Those last 2 were more woman than I would ever want. You're very charitable Johnny...

thstone · 05-24-2013, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

You could have eliminated all of that back and forth dialogue if you had simply told him that you knew Johnny Danger ! In fact, you probably would have received a police escort ! Not saying to where though.

I'm going to keep this playing in my car from now on...

JOHNNY RIVERS - Secret Agent Man 1966 - YouTube

Crono0001 · 05-24-2013, 04:50 PM

I've been pulled over by a female cop once. Did a 4 wheel slide off of a freeway on an empty left handed green light. Saw lights flashing from FAAAAR away behind me, but they caught up in a real hurry.

I was surprised it was a female cop in her mid 40s. She asked what was with the corner, and I told her I had to go to the bathroom (which wasn't all entirely untrue). She laughed and told me not to do it again or she'd give me a ticket for reckless driving.

Chuck W. · 05-24-2013, 05:40 PM

Cool stories. I have never had a ticket in 43 years of driving. Not that I haven't deserved a few. The Valentine One has saved my ass on road trips countless times. I just pick the right time and place to push the limits. The times I have been stopped it was usually on my way home from work at 4 AM and they were looking for drunk drivers. The odds were on their side. They were always professional and pretty cool. Most officers are good people doing an extremely hard job.

Johnny Danger · 05-24-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thstone

I'm going to keep this playing in my car from now on...

JOHNNY RIVERS - Secret Agent Man 1966 - YouTube

This is more like it !
Secret Agent Super Dragon (1966) Trailer - YouTube

pothole · 05-25-2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crono0001

I've been pulled over by a female cop once. Did a 4 wheel slide off of a freeway on an empty left handed green light. Saw lights flashing from FAAAAR away behind me, but they caught up in a real hurry.

I was surprised it was a female cop in her mid 40s. She asked what was with the corner, and I told her I had to go to the bathroom (which wasn't all entirely untrue). She laughed and told me not to do it again or she'd give me a ticket for reckless driving.

Heh. What's kind of interesting about this example is that it goes to show that cops will be more inclined to let you off driving like that when you give them an impression it's a one off (need to go to the bathroom) and accidental and thus you probably didn't know what you're doing.

If you say, "yeah, I like to kick the back end out sometimes, it's fun and and I'm practiced and consistent at it," (and thus actually safer than the notional guy who did it by accident) they'll throw the book at you.

I tend to hold my hands up and feign apology in a straight forward manner (ie don't over egg it) say as little as possible, give them zero attitude. 9/10 it gets the job done, assuming you weren't actually driving dangerously.

cardiffgiant · 05-25-2013, 07:32 PM

I've only gotten out of a ticket on the roadside once. I was 16 and driving an oldsmobile delta 88. I did a roll stop and an unmarked put his lights on. He asked if I knew why I was pulled over, I said roll stop, and he siad "yeah... roll stop".

Then he asked if I'd been drinking (it's the middle of hte day). keeping in mind that while I'm 16, I probably look more like I'm 14, I answer "no officer, I'm not 21... I'm only 16." I'm dead serious, because I was straight edge in high school. He gives me a long look like he's trying to figure out if I'm a nerd or a smart ass... then decides that I'm a nerd and let's me go with a warning.

For a more current story; I recently got a ticket with the box a couple of weeks back. I see the lights in a distance and wonder what's going on. Then I realize that they're after me. I'm getting the siren and everything.

Officer "Do you know why I pulled you over?"
Me "I'm going to assume that I was speeding."
Officer "You were going 45 in a 30."
Me, "I thought the speed limit was 45 on this street?"
Officer "It is... but you were going 45 on Colvin (a street a 3-4 miles and several lights away from where I was being pulled over, which is a 30)..... And it took me this long to catch up to you."

I got it reduced to a parking ticket in court, but I have to burn a Saturday morning in driving school

Kenny Boxster · 05-25-2013, 09:40 PM

Speeding ticket resulted in buying an escort 9500 and a Lawyer for me. Unfortunately I've never been left off with a warning every time I've been pulled over by police.

shadrach74 · 05-26-2013, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny Boxster

Speeding ticket resulted in buying an escort 9500 and a Lawyer for me. Unfortunately I've never been left off with a warning every time I've been pulled over by police.

I've had V1s for years and the box is hard wired. Of course I've been pulled ove twice in VA (radar detectors illegal) just for having it, even though it was turned off.

My V1 has truly paid for itself many times over...