A long-time friend who was an Ohio State Highway Patrol officer told me that any action substantially different from surrounding traffic gets an officer's initial attention.

 

Yeah you can hardly blame them, that's why I'd go with the lightest tint you can deal with (I've never gotten hassled with my Integra and I still think it's pretty dark), but make sure at night or day your windows are open and lights on at night if it's dark out.

Making the LEO comfortable as they approach is just a good idea for both parties.

One time I got pulled over (for not front plate) by a county guy, I was in my MSM and the guy walked up really slow, hand on his weapon, I was going 25 when I went by in a neighborhood, and stopped immediately when he put on the lights.

Later on I realized why he was freaking out, the car (Mazdaspeed Miata) is quite low, and with the top up the LEO had a HUGE blind spot and could not see me...I could have been attaching the silencer to my Uzi for all he knew.

I would drop the top next time to ease their comfort level but that might freak them out even more
Analogeezer

 

Mine Screams look at me, its Chili red and Black, I got pulled over the second day i had mine for 57 in a "30" it was really a 45... w/e but i KNOW it was because my car... the officer flaged down me and two other cars all traveling the same speed and pointed at me said get to the side of the road and waved the other two cars on... SOO PISSSED i saw it with my own two eyes!!!!...it was on a three lane highway and he stepped out on to the road and each of us were in a lane each. we all bascily came to a stop in front of him, and he pointed at me. and you know the rest,
Still wouldnt trade my Chili Red for anything.

 

I've lived in NC for 28 years and I think our state is the best I have seen for high speed driving. I NEVER see troopers out unless its Memorial Day or Labor Day.


VA is the worst BY FAR. They can impound your car if you have a radar detector even if its turned off. Total money making state. They suck.


I don't understand the tint tickets. Our cops have tint guns, if it passes it passes, if not, you get a ticket. There is no "he just thinks its too dark" and you go to court and prove him wrong.

 

nobody is saying their car is legal and the ticket isn't justified. we're saying it shouldn't be a reason to stop a car the same way a seatbelt ticket is justified but is NOT a reason for a cop to pull you over.

Add to that the law for tint in VA stinks....50% front, 35% rear unless it comes darker from the factory (which many SUV's do). So, it's ok for a Tahoe to have 28% but not me. I actually have good reason to need darker windows...migraines. I need to get a waiver signed by my doc for this car so it's marked on my file. This will get me out of the ticket but not out of the stop.

I ran 28% on my '02 Wrangler and '91 CRX Si for YEARS and never so much as got pulled over (even though I had signed waivers for both). I've gotten two tint tickets this year alone in the MINI, both from VA state cops.

 

I really don't think its your car. I think they are just cracking down. More and more cops are getting shot. I have had illegal tint for years and never got pulled. On my Suburban I just got rid of, they actually refused to inspect it and that has NEVER happened. They said the cops were cracking down and they could lose their inspection license.

So on the one hand I think window tint tickets are utterly absurd when there is real crime happening, but on the other hand, I do see the cops point of view at night on the side of the highway. Just my $.02.

 

well, that's my main gripe to be honest. at least in VA, the law allows super dark tint if it's OEM from the manufacturer. It's kind of like saying a Ferrari can drive 80mph when the MINI must abide by the posted speed limit.

 

God, I knew there was a reason I liked the state troopers, but disliked the local police, other than I haven't had a trooper pull me over w/o a real reason. That's the happiest story I've heard all day. Now, if he'd only written him a ticket.....

 

Probably your driving. not b/c it is too sport! if you think that is why, what would you think about a Z06 or GT2?

 

Chris Rock once did a PSA on this.
WARNING STRONG LANGUAGE

 

fixed

 

haha that's hilarious

 

Well, you see, the point is that I haven't changed my driving habits. When they pull me over, they always seemingly walk around my vehicle and ask me about it's various features.

I'm a Federal LEO on two-year employment probation (I'm new to the Agency... basically means you can get fired for anything), and I can't afford to drive like a fool. I don't know if there are tons of MINIs where you are at, but I get talked to ALL the time by folks everywhere. Everyone stares, like they've never seen one before.

Besides, you can't get ticketed and found guilty unless there is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. A cop can't legally just say you were speeding, and that is that. If he wasn't running radar, and doesn't have proper certification to judge speed with his eyes alone, his case is null. Just like I cannot say "I smelled marijuana in the vehicle." I am not certified to smell marijuana... the K-9 is.

 

Trucks are exempt from tint laws, for the most part. Minivans are classified as light trucks so they often have very dark tinting. Many cargo vans don't even have windows in the back.

So, you Clubman owners - go for it.

 

go for it if you want a ticket. The clubman is NOT classified as a truck.

 

OK, let me try again.

DISCLAIMER: The following statement is meant to be jocular. Consult your lawyer and local motor vehicle codes.


So, you Clubman owners go for it!*

* means the statement is not literal, but is an attempt at humor.

 

Man that was a great public service announcement. Thanks for posting that.

 

Loved the PSA! More people need to view that.

 

My car is PW/B, lowered, black and chrome wheels, viper stripes, illegal tint, never been pulled over and i've had it for over a year.. I probably just jinxed myself! Thanks guys.

 

LOL!!!! Classic!

Im PW/W with black wheels and gonna tint. Gotta do it- just doesn't look right without.

Roll the dice, baby! Vegas style!

 

Hi All,

I'm no expert on civilian Law Enforcement, I'm a recent retiree from US Air Force Law Enforcement. I only read the first page of this thread and hope I have a general grasp of what it's about. So if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to put in my two cents worth. If I offend anyone please let me know and I'll edit/remove my post here.

As most folks have said here, cops are people too and while I worked as a "Military Policeman," we still enforced a lot of the civilian laws (traffic laws in particular) on military installations. I never really paid much attention to the cars people drove except to ensure they were within the state allowed limits regarding safe operation. Noise levels, unsafe/unauthorized equipment, and things of that nature drew my attention more than vehicle style, color, or "awesomeness". Yeah a "hot looking" car with a big "wow" factor might get a look but I wouldn't pull someone over because their car got an "oooOOOooo" out of me. Now speeding, loud music/exhaust, unsafe driving, that got you noticed AND pulled over.

One poster talked about driving around at 3 a.m. (don't recall if they mentioned coming out of a bar or not) on a Sunday morning. That does get noticed and we do follow folks for a bit to make sure 1) they're awake and 2) they don't appear intoxicated. As long as they didn't panic and/or do something stupid, I'd make a turn soon enough and "break contact" unless I noticed again something "wrong" with the vehicle.

Respect. Let's face it, if you work in any kind of customer service-oriented profession, you get folks with a little attitude to them. I've been called many things in many languages and a few folks made up on the spot. Why did they get a ticket more often than the person who was respectful? Because folks who are more tolerant about getting pulled over made my job easier. There is always a bigger crime being committed out there and if you make it easier to let you go on about your business, I'll go looking for that "bigger crime" rather than holding you there and wasting both our time.

I once pulled over a guy doing 22 miles over the speed limit in a housing area (15 mph). He was a medical worker and I asked him if he was responding to a medical emergency (you just never know). I'd have escorted him in that case with all the lights and sirens he needed. However, he said he was in a rush to get to work to relieve a co-worker who had been working for 11 hours straight. Working 12-hour shifts myself which with pulling my weapon, daily briefings, roll-call and all that came out to a 15 hour day, I felt no sympathy. He wasn't happy about the lack of enthusiasm regarding his "need for speed" and he became beligerent. He got tickets for every violation I could find: speeding, busted tail light, object hanging from the rear-view (fuzzy dice) and a cherry on top.

Now, I'm a tolerant person, I had to be being a cop in the military. But cops don't get paid to take anyone's abuse. We're there to "protect and serve" and if necessary take a bullet all in the name of public safety. Treat us with respect and we in turn will (usaually) return that respect. If you've ever gotten pulled over for outrageous speed and walked away with a "fix-it" ticket (or no ticket at all), most likely your respectful attitude is why.

We do a job that many can't tolerate and encounter folks at some of the worst times in their lives. If you've ever gone to a scene where a man has beaten the snot out of his wife or molested his children you'll know what I mean. After we get done with that scene, we're out driving around again and someone decides to perform the stereotypical "California Roll-Through." You just broke the camel's back. Cops have bad days too and sometimes a blown stop sign just "deserves" a ticket no matter how respectful you were.

I've only recently retired and gotten a job in the civilian world. I hope I've provided some insight into the "cop mentality." I'm only one example so you can take what I've commented on with a grain of salt if you wish. I won't mention those cops out there who go to work with the attitude that they just want to give the general motorist Hell. It happens, what can I say, there are "bad cops" out there (Heaven forfend). Maybe it's because of my mother, she always taught me to be a tolerant person (thanks Mom). But, I never pulled anyone over just because they had a noticeable car, but because they did something noticeable while Driving the car. Take it easy out there and Happy (and Safe) Motoring.

 

Normally, I'd agree. However, on my maiden drive back to Phoenix, AZ after I picked up my SS/SS Clubman S, I was stopped by a MD State Trooper. His first words as he walked up, "Don't worry, you didn't do anything..." He's a fan of MINIs, looking to buy a Clubman and had not seen the Sparkling Silver color except on the Configurator.

 

Great post. Thanks for sharing and this pt you made was outstanding.

 

I've been pulled over in my 04 S for the xenon lights being too bright but the cop probly wanted an excuse to pull me over so he could get a closer look at my car

 

Actually, failure to dim your lights (normal headlights) is an indicator of pissible intoxication. When Xenon lights were first introduced in automobiles (they've been in flashlights for a while), I pulled over a few folks too. They are BRIGHT! I've got a them on my (don't hate me for having a non-MINI too; I've got kids) Chrysler Pacifica. I have to say they also add some clarity for those behind the headlights aside from the brightness.

After so many years of working midnight shifts my eyes are light sensitive (I wear my sunglasses at night, I wear.... oh sorry fell into song there). Seriously though, they ARE bright so try to be a little charitable for the guy, he may have thought you forgot to turn them down.