Rumor? Drive nice, get pulled over, free coffee!

[ThinkFast]

Wonder if this is really going to happen?

A $300 Speeding Ticket? Just Kidding!
By Lawrence Downes

The Associated Press reports that police officers in Rancho Cordova, Calif., a suburb of Sacramento, plan to pull drivers over during the holidays to give them — not tickets or warnings, but $5 Starbucks gift certificates, as rewards for good driving.


http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/a-300-speeding-ticket-just-kidding/

[USARMworker]

edit: removed speculative bullshit.

I wouldn't want to get pulled over, especially if I'm not doing anything wrong.

..

[SLOW10R]

:rolleyes What a potential waste of funds. I wouldn't want to get pulled over, especially if I'm not doing anything wrong.

..


Not much of a waste of funds when all gift cards were donated.

http://www.sacsheriff.com/media/1214_safe_driving.cfm

[mnb]

It might be briefly annoying if you're in a hurry, but I think positive reinforcement of good driving is just as effective as negative reinforcement of bad habits. Besides, think of all the fun the cops can have with it...

Do you know why I pulled you over, ma`am?
uh, no, officer

Do you know how fast you were going?
yes, the speed limit, 35

Did you notice that red light?
yes, and I came to a full stop before turning right

Do you drink coffee, ma`am?
excuse me? no, I haven't been drinking

[ThinkFast]

:rolleyes What a potential waste of funds. I wouldn't want to get pulled over, especially if I'm not doing anything wrong.

..


+1.

Can't imagine why anyone would object to having a festive lightshow come on right behind them, causing the inevitable leap your heart makes right up into your throat, followed by a quick inventory of potential excuses you might offer, if you could figure out what in he11 you were doing wrong...:rolleyes

And, like the article says, isn't this false arrest?

[}Dragon{]

The cards were donated to the city... a few years back Safeway donated ten turkeys to a PD as gifts to good drivers before thanksgiving.

[BlacKat]

As if the cops needed any more excuses to pull you over......


Cop pulls you over,

Cop: I pulled you over cause you were driving well, here's a gift card.

Dude: Uh, thanks man.

Cop: Is that pot i smell?



Ha, I can see it now.

[berkeleycarlos]

Lets complain about cops being dicks......no wait, lets complain about free coffee or turkey.

Shit I can't decide.

[kawikz]

great community policing IMO...

[mlm]

Stupid idea and likely to be an unwanted inconvenience instead of a reward. I for one wouldn't be too happy being late to work or missing a meeting because I was getting pulled over. "Wow, a $5 gift card! Fuck you very much!"

Why not just take plate numbers and mail out the cards with a thank you? I can appreciate the intent, but not if it involves detaining people.

edit: THE AP ARTICLE IS INCORRECT. Nobody detainment is involved, just cops pulling up next to you and handing you a gift card. THAT sounds fine.

[slowpoke]

I remember some agency did that a few years back.

[slowpoke]

+1.


And, like the article says, isn't this false arrest?

Who's being arrested?:confused

[highonF4i]

As if the cops needed any more excuses to pull you over......


Cop pulls you over,

Cop: I pulled you over cause you were driving well, here's a gift card.

Dude: Uh, thanks man.

Cop: Is that pot i smell?



Ha, I can see it now.

+ 1 million
I appreciate the gesture/idea but I do NOT want to be pulled over for anything but an infraction, or else my good driving will quickly become an infraction. :smoking

[Slow600rr]

+ 1 million
I appreciate the gesture/idea but I do NOT want to be pulled over for anything but an infraction, or else my good driving will quickly become an infraction. :smoking

Im sure you guys are kidding, but in the example provided the officer could not do anything about it anyway. There was no detention factor, therefor the evidence would not be admissible.

[}Dragon{]

Yeah I was mostly joking, but you don't think that, if the cop smelled a strong presence of H&S, he wouldn't just find some trivial, rarely enforced violation really quick? For example, "oh, you've got your graduation tassel hanging from your rear view...and, is that marijuana I smell?"
I feel like there's a bunch of ways he could get around that...


A lot of cops will be able to smell it before your car is lit up... perhaps they could give you a $5 card for a coffee shop in Amsterdam instead. :smoking :laughing

[slowpoke]

Don't smoke pot and drive...you should be all good:thumbup

[Slow600rr]

That's true, although would he go into court and testify to that? Who knows, but I wouldn't think so. Not worth losing your job over to get a marijuana arrest.

On a side note, I don't understand why those who smoke weed or possess it in their cars don't just go down and get the 215 card. That's what I would do if I smoked the stuff.

[highonF4i]

Don't smoke pot and drive...you should be all good:thumbup

Yeah, not a good idea...I don't have a car, nor would I blaze while driving if I did...but it's an interesting hypothetical question...getting pulled over for doing the "right" thing.

[antarius]

1) Don't smoke weed and drive.
2) Get your vehicle in compliance with the CVC.
3) Drive properly and get Starbucks!
4) Quit your bitchin!
5) :)

Really, I don't see the issue....

[ThinkFast]

Who's being arrested?:confused

In the article it said that according to the law, being pulled over by the police constitutes being arrested. I certainly don't know - maybe a LEO or lawyer can confirm/clarify?

[antarius]

Being pulled over means you have been detained.

This is not what they are doing. The article clearly says that when an Officer observes good driving habits, they will pull ALONG SIDE of the vehicle and REQUEST for a moment of their time. The person can, if they choose, deny them that request and drive on.

If they do give the Officer a moment of their time, he will reward them with the Starbucks card and the reason for it.

There is no detention factor here, there is no "arrest," there is no false imprisonment or anything else. It's a simple consensual encounter and has no impact on the persons constitutional rights.

[pshelton]

If you're old enough to remember Ozzie and Harriet, you might remember the episode where Ozzie got pulled over for good driving and was asked to drive the Mayor's car in an upcoming parade. But his DL had expired, so he ended driving the Mayor around in a horse and buggy, and everyone was happy, white, middle class and well-liked. God, don't you miss the story book 1950s, where cops were called "Officer" and everyone knew their place?

[mlm]

Being pulled over means you have been detained.

This is not what they are doing. The article clearly says that when an Officer observes good driving habits, they will pull ALONG SIDE of the vehicle and REQUEST for a moment of their time. The person can, if they choose, deny them that request and drive on.

If they do give the Officer a moment of their time, he will reward them with the Starbucks card and the reason for it.

There is no detention factor here, there is no "arrest," there is no false imprisonment or anything else. It's a simple consensual encounter and has no impact on the persons constitutional rights.

I see your point, although the original article explicitly says people were going to be pulled over:
The Associated Press reports that police officers in Rancho Cordova, Calif., a suburb of Sacramento, plan to pull drivers over during the holidays to give them — not tickets or warnings, but $5 Starbucks gift certificates, as rewards for good driving.

The Rancho Cordova press release is a bit more reasonable:
When a RCPD officer sees a motorist practicing good driving behavior, they will ride their motorcycle up to the driver and request a moment of their time to thank them for their conduct. If accepted, the officers will present the gift card in a red mitten holder and thank them for their conscientious driving. The card will be accompanied by a business card from one of the towing companies who so generously contributed the funding for this program.

Blame the Associated Press for twisting the story.

[5MARY4]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FUCKED THIS PROGRAM UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


One of our motors came up with the program as a PR campaign... We are ONLY making CONSENSUAL CONTACTS!!!!!! WE ARE NOT PULLING PEOPLE OVER!!!!! WTF????????????????????????????????????????????


We see you drive courteously,, pull along side,, smile,, and say thank you for being courteous during this crazy time of year. I hand you a gift card and we part ways. We KNOW the Constitution and State statutes,, we don't get off violating people's civil rights.

For you lemmings who take the media as gospel,, why don't you look into these things for yourselves?? "The AP reported it so it must be true". Idiots. How bout a quick phone call to the source,, RCPD.

"I heard about this program of yours, I have some concerns, can you tell me more about it"?

"Sure we can ma'am/sir, we gave our Officer explicit instructions to ONLY make CONSENSUAL encounters, drive safe, thank you for your interest."

Why is it that so many people WANT to believe that their Officers are fucking up instead of trying very hard to do the right thing????????

The Officer who came up with this idea is one of the nicest/good hearted human beings I have EVER met. He just wanted to give back to the community,, now he's getting shit on for his efforts. No good deed goes unpunished I guess... The RCPD tries something new to improve relations with its community and this is the response it receives,, gee,, I wonder why Cops have a jaded oputlook on things....

For those of you that supported this effort,, THANK YOU!!!!

For those that got led around by the nose by the media,, good luck to you,, I hope you pull your head out of the sand someday.

Sorry for the RANT,, I guess this struck a nerve after one of our own got murdered last night trying to do the right thing too. Normal guys/gals doing a stressful job getting it in the ass by sniviling idiots....................... And sometimes Dieing for YOU.

[s-girl]

I agree... how often in any walk of our society are we rewarded for good behavior? Not too often. Might be enjoyable for the officers as well, for a change of pace. Then again, maybe not?



It might be briefly annoying if you're in a hurry, but I think positive reinforcement of good driving is just as effective as negative reinforcement of bad habits. Besides, think of all the fun the cops can have with it...

Do you know why I pulled you over, ma`am?
uh, no, officer

Do you know how fast you were going?
yes, the speed limit, 35

Did you notice that red light?
yes, and I came to a full stop before turning right

Do you drink coffee, ma`am?
excuse me? no, I haven't been drinking

[CnDnMax]

the media twisted this story like crazy, they might as well said that the officers were arresting the good drivers and force feeding them their "free" coffee through a tube.
I think this program is a great idea. Officers are usually associated with the dark side of things and it would be a nice change of pace to recognize and reward peoples good behavior for a change.

[Noid]

Honestly, If I was pulled over ( I know this is not how it's being done ) my heart would skip a beat and I would be thinking to myself about what I might have done. But when the officer hands me a SB Card. I would have a smile from ear to ear. Who gives a shit about how your stopped and handed a SB Card. Thank you officer we for picking me.

[RolnCode3]

And the truth shall set you free...

Thanks for posting 5M4. I read that in the Bee, and something didn't add up. Was gonna' ask one of you guys if I saw you on a stop - just didn't happen.

Thanks for the info!:thumbup

PS - tried to leave pos rep and it won't let me. Take care it later.

[5MARY4]

RC3:

Isn't that odd how that works? I submitted a reply to the NYT on the site posted in this thread. I used my professional voice too. Somehow my reply did not seem to get posted on their blog. I guess the TRUTH is not nearly as sensational as the LIES the media likes to portray.

So there you have it folks. An Officer from the Dept. from where the program is being run has spoken. Do I hear a SINGLE change of heart from you that jumped on the media bandwagon??? Hmm??

Oh, BTW, I've given out about 1/2 dozen cards or so. No I didn't infringe upon anyones rights. And every person I CONSENSUALY CONTACTED was greatful. !!!!!

[Velox]

RC3:

Isn't that odd how that works? I submitted a reply to the NYT on the site posted in this thread. I used my professional voice too. Somehow my reply did not seem to get posted on their blog. I guess the TRUTH is not nearly as sensational as the LIES the media likes to portray.

So there you have it folks. An Officer from the Dept. from where the program is being run has spoken. Do I hear a SINGLE change of heart from you that jumped on the media bandwagon??? Hmm??

Oh, BTW, I've given out about 1/2 dozen cards or so. No I didn't infringe upon anyones rights. And every person I CONSENSUALY CONTACTED was greatful. !!!!!

Wow! You found 1/2 dozen people in this state that can actually drive compitently! :wow

Anyway, thanks for setting the record straight. I can't believe how the media can publish outright lies and get away with it. And thanks for all the hard work you do out there!

[highonF4i]

Yeah thanks for clearing that up. Makes a lot more sense, and would be a completely welcome gesture. Have you handed any out to riders?

[5MARY4]

Not very many riders around here this time of year:p,, sissys:teeth

[5MARY4]

HOLY CRAP !!!!!!!!! IT'S A FREEEEKN' MIRACLE

I just re-visited the NYT site and they DID post my response.... I guess we'll have to wait and see how that goes.

[Z3n]

5MARY4,

Thanks for coming in to clear this up. I think that little steps like this can go a long ways towards improving relationships between our police officers and the everyday citizens who's normal encounter with the cops revolves around them being punished. Better relationships between the citizens and the police will make everyone happier. You guys protect and serve and we get cool officers :thumbup

[ThinkFast]

RC3:

Isn't that odd how that works? I submitted a reply to the NYT on the site posted in this thread. I used my professional voice too. Somehow my reply did not seem to get posted on their blog. I guess the TRUTH is not nearly as sensational as the LIES the media likes to portray.

So there you have it folks. An Officer from the Dept. from where the program is being run has spoken. Do I hear a SINGLE change of heart from you that jumped on the media bandwagon??? Hmm??

Oh, BTW, I've given out about 1/2 dozen cards or so. No I didn't infringe upon anyones rights. And every person I CONSENSUALY CONTACTED was greatful. !!!!!

Regarding the rants against the media, and us "lemmings" that choose to accept what we read as true - you can rant all you like, but that doesn't change the fact that most people have neither the intelligence nor, more importantly, the time to discern what is fact and what may not be based on what they read. If I were to try to chase down the source of every single news item I read that smelled a bit iffy I'd never have time to do anything else (especially :ride ).

And the sources would be inundated with so many calls they'd never get any work done either.

So rather than belittle those of us who brought this whole topic to your attention in the first place, why not thank us for bringing it to your attention, and get your PR people to jump on the media and ask for a clarification. :x

PS - and if you're really feeling in the spirit of the season and would like to thank me, feel free to send me a *$ card, as I am not going to be driving up in Sact over the holidays - PM for my address.

[RolnCode3]

Not very many riders around here this time of year:p,, sissys:teeth
It was 37 degrees at 530 this morning. That's all I have to say.

[zombi]

this might be good intentioned but it seems like a pretty bad idea. Nobody wants to get pulled over even if it's just pretend/nice surprise. Probably even some shyster could find a way to sue the cops/city for it and win.

OK now I see also that there might be "consenual" aspect... well I guess there better be cause the original scenario seemed like really asking for trouble

[Z3n]

this might be good intentioned but it seems like a pretty bad idea. Nobody wants to get pulled over even if it's just pretend/nice surprise. Probably even some shyster could find a way to sue the cops/city for it and win

They're not pulling them over. Read the thred. :laughing

[5MARY4]

Regarding the rants against the media, and us "lemmings" that choose to accept what we read as true - you can rant all you like, but that doesn't change the fact that most people have neither the intelligence nor, more importantly, the time to discern what is fact and what may not be based on what they read. If I were to try to chase down the source of every single news item I read that smelled a bit iffy I'd never have time to do anything else (especially :ride ).

And the sources would be inundated with so many calls they'd never get any work done either.

So rather than belittle those of us who brought this whole topic to your attention in the first place, why not thank us for bringing it to your attention, and get your PR people to jump on the media and ask for a clarification. :x

PS - and if you're really feeling in the spirit of the season and would like to thank me, feel free to send me a *$ card, as I am not going to be driving up in Sact over the holidays - PM for my address.


Thinkfast:

Thank you for bringing this topic to my attention so I can address the inaccuracies in the story.

However, no one seems to mind that our Dept. has fielded DOZENS if not HUNDREDS of e-mails and phone calls from mis-informed folks,, what about their time????

The press release was very specific,, it was MISREPORTING that caused the issue. Again, I'm just frustrated that such a good program has blown up into such a negative issue due to poor journalism and/or alterior motives??

I still stand firm in my belief that there are those out there who just can't wait for us to fuck-up so they can rip us apart,, facts be damned. ALL I'm trying to say is,, don't be too quick to judge from a news story,, it might not be accurate.

Brian

PS: Thinkfast,, I TRULY am glad that this topic was brought up so I could address it.

[DancingQueen]

Being pulled over means you have been detained.

This is not what they are doing. The article clearly says that when an Officer observes good driving habits, they will pull ALONG SIDE of the vehicle and REQUEST for a moment of their time. The person can, if they choose, deny them that request and drive on.

If they do give the Officer a moment of their time, he will reward them with the Starbucks card and the reason for it.

There is no detention factor here, there is no "arrest," there is no false imprisonment or anything else. It's a simple consensual encounter and has no impact on the persons constitutional rights.


That's funny, I can picture it now. They pull up to the right side of me as I'm stopped at a light. I look over, officer asks me to roll down my window. I can't. My right window is broken! Last summer my driver side window in my truck got smashed and then it rained, soaking the inside. Luckily everything important works, I just can't roll down the right window. :( (can't afford to fix the window right now) I don't really have a point to this thread, just thinking of funny scenarios. No negativity intended.

[rt rider]

Is this the reason there were 4 moto cops on the corner of sunrise and whiterock on thursday? There is a *$ right there. By the way thanks for stepping up the enforcement on sunrise between douglas and whiterock. I have noticed people are driving slower including myself.

[5MARY4]

If you saw us at about 11:00/12:00 On Thursday we were closing intersections for the Caltrans worker's funeral procession that came through town.

[ThinkFast]

Thank you for bringing this topic to my attention so I can address the inaccuracies in the story.

However, no one seems to mind that our Dept. has fielded DOZENS if not HUNDREDS of e-mails and phone calls from mis-informed folks,, what about their time????


Exactly - giant pita, and I'm sure not very fun.



I still stand firm in my belief that there are those out there who just can't wait for us to fuck-up so they can rip us apart,, facts be damned. ALL I'm trying to say is,, don't be too quick to judge from a news story,, it might not be accurate.



I understand - and I think you're probably right (unfortunately). Now that you say it, makes me wonder why that is (that some people can't wait for a fuckup so they can rip you guys). No good deed goes unpunished...really is too bad.



Thank you for bringing this topic to my attention so I can address the inaccuracies in the story.

PS: Thinkfast,, I TRULY am glad that this topic was brought up so I could address it.

You're welcome - I guess I was just trying to be a giant PITA for you - wasn't really feeling so indignant. The media can be really irresponsible - otoh, maybe they weren't actually *trying* to be inflammatory. Some of them aren't the sharpest tools in the shed either. Maybe they just didn't read your release carefully enough and thought they were accurately describing the plan. I certainly can't recall ever hearing of anything like this before - police on the street offering positive feedback to drivers, and asking them (not requiring them) to stop if they'd like a gift card. Not really what the general public expects when approached by a traffic cop, ya know?

Anyhoo...hope the plan works out well - could really spread some holiday cheer. :thumbup

[afm199]

Somehow I am not worried about getting pulled over for good driving. In Oakland the officers have plenty of bad drivers to pull over. I will be surprised if this happens here :laughing

[antarius]

Good job 5MARY4, keep up the good work.

Hopefully this thread can be considered "resolved." :)

[NorCalBusa]

Regarding the rants against the media, and us "lemmings" that choose to accept what we read as true - you can rant all you like, but that doesn't change the fact that most people have neither the intelligence nor, more importantly, the time to discern what is fact and what may not be based on what they read. If I were to try to chase down the source of every single news item I read that smelled a bit iffy I'd never have time to do anything else (especially :ride ).

And the sources would be inundated with so many calls they'd never get any work done either.

So rather than belittle those of us who brought this whole topic to your attention in the first place, why not thank us for bringing it to your attention, and get your PR people to jump on the media and ask for a clarification. :x

PS - and if you're really feeling in the spirit of the season and would like to thank me, feel free to send me a *$ card, as I am not going to be driving up in Sact over the holidays - PM for my address.

What a stunningly stupid thing to post. Let us know when you rejoin the real world...

[T-1 Thunder]

As if the cops needed any more excuses to pull you over......


Cop pulls you over,

Cop: I pulled you over cause you were driving well, here's a gift card.

Dude: Uh, thanks man.

Cop: Is that pot i smell?



Ha, I can see it now.

Bingo! No shit, huh? Potential to now step into having probable cause. Maybe everyone should put a "I don't drink coffee" sticker on the window, then you can't get pulled over for sure.

[nakedape]

Sausalito PD, ten years ago, was giving out turkeys to people they observed observing the law. Actually they were gift certs for turkeys and the problem was pedestrian right of way. It's a tourist town, but the residents were failing to yield in the x-walks, so a bright someone said, "Let's give turkeys to good drivers". Somehow I think nailing them to the wall works better. Did you see the sting for ped safety SFPD just ran? Freaking drivers were almost clipping the decoy officers! Made me cringe.

Some bitch in a BMW did that to me in my rowdy teens and I flung a quarter at her as she sped away. Perfect toss apparently, since the back window shattered. Of course I was ggggoooone so fast, but I'll wager she put me jumping back to avoid being hit and the $$$'s that window cost together and decided it wasn't worth it. NApe

[DancingQueen]

:( I was pulling out of the shopping center where I work on River Street in Santa Cruz, and it is a four-way stop light. The light turned green and the direction I was going, there are no turn arrows, so whoever is turning left is supposed to yield to traffic going the other direction, right? A moto cop pulled out and turned left right in front of me. I always get irritated when people do that there, as it happens all the time, but I was a little shocked to see an officer do it too!
Just seems dangerous, I would hate to see someone get hit, especially an officer on a bike. Visibility is already slim to none. Be careful out there guys! :(

[antarius]

Bingo! No shit, huh? Potential to now step into having probable cause. Maybe everyone should put a "I don't drink coffee" sticker on the window, then you can't get pulled over for sure.

Read the thread. There is not going to be any detention factor, thus no "I pulled you over because.... oh is that pot I smell?" or violation of rights.

Please... read.

[5MARY4]

I give up

[NorCalBusa]

I give up

No shit- just write everyone tickets and give up the PR effort, it takes a few brain cells to comprehend and clearly they aren't at large.