Police Behavior (Phoenix, Chandler, Gilbert: home, neighborhood, law)

[PhoenixSomeday]

First time getting pulled over in AZ last night (Chandler PD). I'm on my way home from the store, it's 10;15PM in Chandler at Gilbert Rd and Germann Rd and as I'm waiting in the turn lane where I'm first in line to go from westbound Germann to southbound Gilbert, I see there is an SUV cop (are there any other kinds, seriously, besides bikes?) across from me in a forward lane going eastbound on Germann. I make my left turn, watching the cop the whole time. As I figured, he turned when I did (looks like he was intending to go straight originally). At this point I'm 60% sure he's coming for me. It becomes certain by the obligatory balls-to-the-wall charge to 6 inches from my bumper every other cop has done in the 17 years I've been driving both back home in CA and here (pulled over about 5 times, only two tickets, last one 15 years ago).

Very first thing he asks is do I have any weapons (he was Australian!! that was awesome). I'm thinking what the hell? I've never been asked that before. Then I remember oh yeah, we're in Yosemite Sam land, this is a thing here. Nope, no weapons. He says he pulled me over for my left headlight being out. I explain (and show) that when on the automatic setting, the left headlight has taken to not turning on lately. But if I cycle the light control from auto, to interior lights, then back to auto, it'll turn on (cycling from auto, to off, then back to auto won't turn it on). So the bulb isn't actually out, there's just something quirky with the auto setting and that left side. So he asks for my info and I tell him I have to reach for my glovebox (I've had my hands on the steering wheel the whole time until this point), and he says that's ok. He takes it an disappears for a couple of minutes. Comes back and says I'm good to go (not even a fix-it ticket since the light does actually come on, I just have to do it manually).

TL;DR, my question is why is this aggressive charge down the street to a 6-inch-bumper-ride necessary? Is this a taught standard procedure? Every cop, day or night, any location, has done this. I know cops want to be seen a good guys and friendly people and not the people kids are scared of because they're always told "if you keep being bad the police are going to come take you away", and I know they have to think of their own safety first, especially at night, but this aggressive behavior on the driving side of it (face-to-face they're nice) when it comes to pulling someone over doesn't exactly promote calm nerves in people.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by PhoenixSomeday

First time getting pulled over in AZ last night (Chandler PD). I'm on my way home from the store, it's 10;15PM in Chandler at Gilbert Rd and Germann Rd and as I'm waiting in the turn lane where I'm first in line to go from westbound Germann to southbound Gilbert, I see there is an SUV cop (are there any other kinds, seriously, besides bikes?) across from me in a forward lane going eastbound on Germann. I make my left turn, watching the cop the whole time. As I figured, he turned when I did (looks like he was intending to go straight originally). At this point I'm 60% sure he's coming for me. It becomes certain by the obligatory balls-to-the-wall charge to 6 inches from my bumper every other cop has done in the 17 years I've been driving both back home in CA and here (pulled over about 5 times, only two tickets, last one 15 years ago).

Very first thing he asks is do I have any weapons (he was Australian!! that was awesome). I'm thinking what the hell? I've never been asked that before. Then I remember oh yeah, we're in Yosemite Sam land, this is a thing here. Nope, no weapons. He says he pulled me over for my left headlight being out. I explain (and show) that when on the automatic setting, the left headlight has taken to not turning on lately. But if I cycle the light control from auto, to interior lights, then back to auto, it'll turn on (cycling from auto, to off, then back to auto won't turn it on). So the bulb isn't actually out, there's just something quirky with the auto setting and that left side. So he asks for my info and I tell him I have to reach for my glovebox (I've had my hands on the steering wheel the whole time until this point), and he says that's ok. He takes it an disappears for a couple of minutes. Comes back and says I'm good to go (not even a fix-it ticket since the light does actually come on, I just have to do it manually).

TL;DR, my question is why is this aggressive charge down the street to a 6-inch-bumper-ride necessary? Is this a taught standard procedure? Every cop, day or night, any location, has done this. I know cops want to be seen a good guys and friendly people and not the people kids are scared of because they're always told "if you keep being bad the police are going to come take you away", and I know they have to think of their own safety first, especially at night, but this aggressive behavior on the driving side of it (face-to-face they're nice) when it comes to pulling someone over doesn't exactly promote calm nerves in people.

They have to get close enough to read your plate, they usually run it before they pull you over so they know who should be driving.

[Bummer]

Sorry, PhoenixSomeday . . . I am not catching your point.

Being a Cop nowadays is, for want of a better term, RISKY BUSINESS. They definitely deserve praise and appreciation rather than criticism and empty complaints. Referring to this area as being "Yosemite Sam Land" definitely indicates an attitude issue . . . read: Chip On Your Shoulder. A sincere Thank You for the alert to a potentially dangerous malfunction is in order.

He had every right to stop you because an inoperative headlight at 10:15PM is a violation and dangerous for both you and all of the other drivers on the road.

Why he asked the "weapons question" is more than likely a Standard Procedure, if not, possibly an optional personal policy. In either case, What difference does it make?"

Time to drop the feeble excuses, get your headlight switch repaired / replaced and conform to all mandatory vehicle requirements for your own safety.

[Burning Madolf]

When I first started reading I figured he pulled you over because your were staring at him.

[asufan]

I've been pulled over a handful of times in Chandler (no tickets) and haven't experienced the 6" thing. The officers have actually been really cool every time "Just watch your speed next time, thanks for being honest..."

[KurtAZ]

Yup, love my City's Police Dept....except they can't seem to stop people speeding and running stop signs in my neighborhood...but that is a different story.

In answer to your question regarding the "6" bumper ride"...yes that is SOP. The officer needs to report make and model of the car, number of occupants, license plate, etc. to dispatch before turning on their lights and initiating the stop. Welcome to "Yosemite Sam Land"

[Colt AZ]

Police behavior is what it needs to be in order to protect communities. Try to imagine life without laws or law enforcement. Thank a cop that they're out there at work for you and me -- instead of questioning their every move.

[LBTRS]

Sounds like the police officer did an outstanding job and yet you're on here criticizing him???

I guess you were looking for a story to sensationalize, how some cop violated your rights and when that didn't happen you had to come on with something negative anyway?

So, your headlight is faulty and the police officer pulled you over for it. You showed him it was in fact faulty and yet he let you go without even a warning. Yet you're not happy with the experience?

I've been driving for 33 years and 9 of them in Arizona. I've never experienced a cop racing up to me from behind. If I were getting pulled over I wouldn't think twice about a police office racing to catch up to me. Lots of people run, wants to see what I'm doing inside the car once he lights me up, wants to read my plate, etc.

Get your headlight fixed and quit worrying about such things.

[sargeant79]

Yeah, I agree with the posters above... I'm not getting the issue here. Seems like this cop was extremely reasonable and I'm a little surprised that you're perceiving a problem with him getting close enough to your car to read your plate and see what was going on inside before pulling you over.

[meo92953]

There were 2 times I was stopped (in Minnesota) where the police were very helpful. The first time my trunk wouldn't close properly & the policeman helped me close it with rope. The second was because I had a headlight out & I didn't even know it. Neither time was I given a ticket & both times I was very grateful.

Police can often be our friends.