Agitated
I have to say, I've lost some respect for the Arizona Police Department today.
On my way home from the grocery store, I made a right turn at this intersection, from Swan onto Golf Links:
I was in the rightmost lane on Swan, but when I turned, I went into the middle lane on Golf Links, mostly because the right lane ends in an exit only in about a half-mile.
Now, the reason I've always taken the rightmost turn lane is because I've never gotten a clear answer about whether it would be legal to make a right turn on a red light from the next lane over, as it is signed for both 'Right' and 'Straight', assuming it was safe to do so. It's annoying to get stuck at a red light for that intersection's long cycle when everyone to the right of you is going. Even the officer didn't know for sure - his first response was a pause, followed by "That's a good question." Wonderful. [Update: it appears it is legal to make such a outside turn: 'If you are in a lane that allows you to proceed with a right turn or straight on the road, and the lane to your right is marked "right turn only," you, as the driver in the left lane, have the option to turn right on a red light.']
Well, I got cited for that turn. But I think I was also lucky not to get arrested:
They asked me where I had come from, and I answered, figuring it was just one of those questions to see how nervous I was, but there was an ulterior motive at play.
I had not been pulled over by traffic cops, but by the Arizona Drug Enforcement Agency. Acting on a proclaimed report that 'someone' had seen me meeting with someone else in a Ford Explorer at a parking lot, buying drugs.
Seriously.
Those of you that know me also know that I don't smoke, drink, or do (illegal) drugs, and probably will never do any of the three.
And yet they pulled ME over. I'm pretty sure at this point that they were following me and just waiting for their chance, and this was the most they could get me for.
They asked if they could inspect my car, and for a moment I almost said yes, but then reconsidered: they already suspected me, and I've seen too many shows of planted evidence. Probably ridiculous, but so was this. So after making sure there weren't any consequences in doing so, I told them no.
The officer subsequently told me he believed I had illegal substances in the car.
So, after keeping me there for about twenty minutes at that point, they brought a K9 dog around to sniff the exterior of my car (and scratch the finish in places), claiming that if the dog responded, they'd have probable cause to search my car.
If I was being set up, it wasn't a thorough job, since the dog didn't pick up anything. So they cited me for 'improper position; right turn' - the second traffic ticket in my life - and finally let me go.
I suppose I should realize they're just doing their job, but... not this time. I do my best to follow as many laws as I reasonably can, and it sucks to have a freaking police officer effectively tell you outright that he thinks you're lying to his face.
That Youtube video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc ) about not talking to the police is SO dead-on.
At least my perishables didn't expire in the thirty minutes I was kept there.
Way to go, cops.
On my way home from the grocery store, I made a right turn at this intersection, from Swan onto Golf Links:
I was in the rightmost lane on Swan, but when I turned, I went into the middle lane on Golf Links, mostly because the right lane ends in an exit only in about a half-mile.
Now, the reason I've always taken the rightmost turn lane is because I've never gotten a clear answer about whether it would be legal to make a right turn on a red light from the next lane over, as it is signed for both 'Right' and 'Straight', assuming it was safe to do so. It's annoying to get stuck at a red light for that intersection's long cycle when everyone to the right of you is going. Even the officer didn't know for sure - his first response was a pause, followed by "That's a good question." Wonderful. [Update: it appears it is legal to make such a outside turn: 'If you are in a lane that allows you to proceed with a right turn or straight on the road, and the lane to your right is marked "right turn only," you, as the driver in the left lane, have the option to turn right on a red light.']
Well, I got cited for that turn. But I think I was also lucky not to get arrested:
They asked me where I had come from, and I answered, figuring it was just one of those questions to see how nervous I was, but there was an ulterior motive at play.
I had not been pulled over by traffic cops, but by the Arizona Drug Enforcement Agency. Acting on a proclaimed report that 'someone' had seen me meeting with someone else in a Ford Explorer at a parking lot, buying drugs.
Seriously.
Those of you that know me also know that I don't smoke, drink, or do (illegal) drugs, and probably will never do any of the three.
And yet they pulled ME over. I'm pretty sure at this point that they were following me and just waiting for their chance, and this was the most they could get me for.
They asked if they could inspect my car, and for a moment I almost said yes, but then reconsidered: they already suspected me, and I've seen too many shows of planted evidence. Probably ridiculous, but so was this. So after making sure there weren't any consequences in doing so, I told them no.
The officer subsequently told me he believed I had illegal substances in the car.
So, after keeping me there for about twenty minutes at that point, they brought a K9 dog around to sniff the exterior of my car (and scratch the finish in places), claiming that if the dog responded, they'd have probable cause to search my car.
If I was being set up, it wasn't a thorough job, since the dog didn't pick up anything. So they cited me for 'improper position; right turn' - the second traffic ticket in my life - and finally let me go.
I suppose I should realize they're just doing their job, but... not this time. I do my best to follow as many laws as I reasonably can, and it sucks to have a freaking police officer effectively tell you outright that he thinks you're lying to his face.
That Youtube video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc ) about not talking to the police is SO dead-on.
At least my perishables didn't expire in the thirty minutes I was kept there.
Way to go, cops.