Oklahoma City Police Officers

[jeffery581]

I was pulled over for suposedly failing to come to a complete stop on an icey patch. I signed the ticket and complained that perhaps they should worry about the prostitutes and hustlers on 39th and Youngs (1 block away). The officer told me they do (YEA RIGHT). Well I am tired of driving by and getting flaged down by this trash. I asked to speak to a supervisor. While waiting on a supervisor another officer came to my car window and said he just wanted to see what I looked like that he did not have anything better to do! The supervisor shows up and appoligizes for him. Let me say 3 things.

1)The Oklahoma City police force is NOT overworked or understaffed.

2)I should not feel threatened by an officer.

3) The Oklahoma City police force has to many bad apples for ANY of my support.

[jeffery581]

Does filing a complaint really do any good. I bet NOT.

[Kerry]

I was pulled over for suposedly failing to come to a complete stop on an icey patch.

Did you come to a complete stop?

[jeffery581]

I certainly did not blaze through it as I am in a little car. Could I have added 1more second to the stop, maybe. I would think a warning would work. The point is there are much more pressing matters than this. I see people blaze through stop LIGHTS at busy intersections. How about a little common sense? I NEVER see cops sitting at these places. The area I got the ticket has far more pressing matters than this. Lets say I deserve the ticket. That does not excuse another officer for coming up to my car and saying I just wanted to see what you look like because I have nothing better to do... Besides we all see the downfalls of "zero tolerance"... it does not always work

[Kerry]

Maybe the area you are in is using traffic stops as a means to catch the very criminals you say they need to be checking for. You just happened to give the police a chance to pull you over so they could see who you were and why you were there. Since you didn't raise any red flags (as you weren't arrested on an outstanding warrant) they gave you a ticket and let you go about your business. The next guy that does a California stop might actually be wanted or has history of prostitution purchases.

As for the second officer coming over - maybe he just gets tired of moving violators saying "Don't you have better things to do?" Maybe he doesn't. It is possible that his sole position on the police force is to pull over people that don't come to a complete stop at Stop signs.

[jeffery581]

Then why don't they park were the problem is instead of taking a back-alley backdoor approach? Face the problem head on. I do not care what he is tired of hearing, he has never met me. If a "California stop" is the most pressing matter than we are not as bad off as the news indicates every night...

[Kerry]

I am not well versed in police tactics but it is possible you were in the wrong place at the wrong time and committed a violation that got the attention of police. It is also possible that your vehicle matched the description of vehicle they have been asked to watch for. That actually happened to me one time. In retrospect, the best thing to do is be polite to the officer, accept your ticket, and if you fell you didn't deserve the ticket take it up with the Judge or the District Attorney.

When I lived in Norman I received several moving violations in a short time span. I spoke with the D.A. and got one charge dismissed (running a read light), and one speeding ticket reduced from 13 mph over to just 10 mph over. The 3 mph drop made a big difference in the fine and the fact it didn't count as points on my license. Maybe they can change your ticket from running a stop sign to failure to yield or something.

Work with the system - don't try to fight it. You will only get pissed off and you will still lose. Not the way to go.

Oh - and we are not as bad off as the news makes us out to be every night.

[Midtowner]

You're definitely not doing yourself any favors by asking to speak with a supervisor when they pretty much have you dead to rights on the violation. It's not your place to question whether giving you a ticket was the best use of the officer's time. That has already been decided.

As far as the other officer, he might have been looking for probable cause to arrest you or search your car. They don't have to tell you the truth about what they're doing.

[ssandedoc]

The ticket is around $160, just go to traffic school (offered online) and call it good.

If you got your ticket in Oklahoma County, don't even think about fighting it because the judges have zero tolerance for bs. I thought I would be smart and fight my ticket, but after watching people in the courtroom request a trial pretty much along your same lines, the law wins everytime.

If you failed to come to a complete stop then your guilty.

[OKCTalker]

Did you come to a complete stop?

Obviously not.

[Kerry]

Well, I knew he didn't come to a complete stop. He just needed to admit that to himself - which he intially seemed in doubt about because he used the word 'suposedly'. Part of the healing process is knowing that you in fact did what you have been charged with. While getting a ticket sucks, it at least helps the sting knowing that you were guilty.

[mugofbeer]

On the other hand, if it was icy, many of us avoid coming to a complete stop else we may not get going again. Judging from the tone of the post, it may have been his attitude right from the start that got him the ticket - otherwise, the police should be a tad understanding of stop signs during icy road conditions.

[oneforone]

Regardless of conditions, you are required to follow all traffic laws. Throw out the traffic laws because of blizzard conditions makes as much sense as throwing out the criminal laws because of a Tornado is barreling through the city.

If you feel you were wronged, go to traffic court and fight it. That is why the court exist in this country.

I found things go your way in court when you just simply be respectful with the officer. If he screws up, take the evidence to the judge. If you judge does not rule in your favor and you still think the officer was in the wrong appeal it.

I think it's funny how police can never do anything right in the eyes of some people. If they are not writing everyone else a ticket they are not doing their job. When you make the mistake and get the ticket they are still not doing their job.

Personally, I would just pay it and do the online traffic school. If you have not had a ticket in three years Oklahoma City will dismiss the ticket in 6 months.

It should be noted that most city traffic tickets never make it to your driving record unless you are a repeat offender. I have been issued two tickets from Oklahoma City Police over the last 2-3 years, neither are on my record.

[so1rfan]

I find it hard to believe a supervisor apologized. Every dealing I have had with a supervisor was ten times worse.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

If it was really icy, you were either targeted due to reasons already mentioned in this thread, or once you were pulled over, you were a jerk to him. They drive for most of their working day...They know and understand why people do a lot of things.

I had a cop right behind me the day after Christmas, and I pulled up to a stop sign in a neighborhood and just rolled through it at 10mph, only slowing down long enough to make sure the intersection was clear. Watching in my mirror, the cop did the same thing.

If I'm going to get stuck, it's going to be because the cop pulled me over on a sheet of ice, not because I was a dumbass and stopped on it myself.

[jeffery581]

OKC Police Officer Arrested
Investigators: Drunken Suspect Kicked Out Window

OKC Police Officer Arrested - Oklahoma City News Story - KOCO Oklahoma City

[jeffery581]

Were is the story about the illegal steroid use?

[jeffery581]

On the other hand, if it was icy, many of us avoid coming to a complete stop else we may not get going again. Judging from the tone of the post, it may have been his attitude right from the start that got him the ticket - otherwise, the police should be a tad understanding of stop signs during icy road conditions.

What tone? I am a very reasonable person. I said nothing till after the ticket was signed...

[jeffery581]

Obviously not.

Thats like giving a ticket to someone for going 41 instead of 40... STUPID

[jeffery581]

I am not well versed in police tactics but it is possible you were in the wrong place at the wrong time and committed a violation that got the attention of police. It is also possible that your vehicle matched the description of vehicle they have been asked to watch for. That actually happened to me one time. In retrospect, the best thing to do is be polite to the officer, accept your ticket, and if you fell you didn't deserve the ticket take it up with the Judge or the District Attorney.

When I lived in Norman I received several moving violations in a short time span. I spoke with the D.A. and got one charge dismissed (running a read light), and one speeding ticket reduced from 13 mph over to just 10 mph over. The 3 mph drop made a big difference in the fine and the fact it didn't count as points on my license. Maybe they can change your ticket from running a stop sign to failure to yield or something.

Work with the system - don't try to fight it. You will only get pissed off and you will still lose. Not the way to go.

Oh - and we are not as bad off as the news makes us out to be every night.

When will I be at the right place at the right time? lol

[jeffery581]

You're definitely not doing yourself any favors by asking to speak with a supervisor when they pretty much have you dead to rights on the violation. It's not your place to question whether giving you a ticket was the best use of the officer's time. That has already been decided.

As far as the other officer, he might have been looking for probable cause to arrest you or search your car. They don't have to tell you the truth about what they're doing.

Your right. They can do what ever they want to do. They cover up for each other.

[kevinpate]

Awful lot of energy being expended.

Do the school, take the deferred, have a slightly lighter wallet. if you need more time and don't have other city ticket issues, pay 15 to defer it once, and then do the school, take the deferred and have a slightly more lighter wallet.

Or, stand your ground, demand your day before a muni judge, show up and rail on about just how unfair it is, and Then you can be told by the person in the long black robe that you can do the school, and have a deferred, or be found guilty. options may be somewhat limited if there is disrespect sensed by the bench due to any venting or railing.

It's your couple of hours to hang out and exercise your rights as a citizen, and you have the absolute right to go do so. I'm simply suggesting to you that having the right to do something is not the same as using one's time wisely.

Luck whatever route you pursue.

[mrbob]

Hey Jeffery581 I you broke the law you are guilty, plain and simple. I you don't like police officers next time you need help, just call your friends to see if they will come help you. Don't call my police buddies, we are busy with real stuff.

[kmf563]

Ok so you don't like cops. That's evident. Sorry you got a ticket.

I just can't stand when people take a group and slap them into one big "cops suck" pile. That is just as morally wrong as saying all black people smoke crack. Sorry. All cops are not bad. They are people, people have flaws, therefore at times cops will fail. I promise they love pulling people over like you though. And there was guaranteed more of a reason for a second cop to come over. They have many ways of doing their job. As said above, one way is to pull people over for whatever they can to check legality, citizenship, warrants, etc. But you will never care or listen because it's already been implanted in you to hate cops.

[SoonerBent]

A couple of months ago I got a ticket for not coming to a complete stop. I probably came to a 98% stop but the law says complete. I broke the law and got caught. So did you. I quietly paid the ticket and went on with life, except now I make sure I stop completely. Ticks some drivers behind me off once in a while but so be it.