| It's a form of harassment, but I think the cops feel that since the
majority of women are "pleased" once they find out the REAL reason
they're stopped, they can get away with it.
It's not fair and it's not kosher, but that's the way some people
(usually men) abuse their power.
I went thru the SAME thing when I worked in Charlestown, MA, several
years ago. Every Monday thru Friday, I drove home on the same stretch
of road at 11:30PM. Like clockwork.
And every once in awhile I got stopped by this SAME MDC officer who checked
my driver's license and said that my brakes weren't working, or my tailight
was burned out... or the REAL gem was "Are you aware of the minor's curfew
that prohibits minors from driving between the hours of 1AM and 5AM?"
"Officer, I am not a minor and it is only 11:30PM.."
"I didn't say you were violating the law, I was merely asking if you were
aware of it.." and this playful banter was followed by the offer of a
cup of coffee at Cop Heaven (the Dunkin' Donuts down the street).
The first time I was flattered, if not confused. The second time I was
less flattered and a little aggravated. The third and fourth times
I got downright mad and then finally I threatened to report the jerk
if he did it again.
It stopped.
I was only 22 years old and he came across as the kind of asshole it's
against my pride to date. I never went for the coffee and was pleased to
find out this jerk was caught up in the MDC Promotion Exam Scandal in
Medford and Boston (the cop that is now doing time for the big bank robbery
and trying to murder another MDC cop is Tommy Doherty and I grew up
with him as he lives on the street my folks still live on)...
So, the only thing that gave me solace is they FINALLY get theirs, as any
cop that will abuse his power that way will abuse it other ways, and they
always get it in the end.
And not all cops are like that...
But it's nice to know its not limited to Massachusetts!!! :*)
Bugsy
|
| I, too, have been stopped many times for no apparent reason and
no citations given; most times in Weston, Mass. where I went to
college, Regis College. One time I was travelling west on Rte 30
after leaving Regis and was stopped by a Weston cop who proceeded
to tell me I was speeding. I informed him the reason he had to
exceed the speed limit to catch up to me was because after he made
his illegal U-turn at the intersection he had to wait for his red
light to turn green! I had the green light to get onto Rte 30.
He looked at me with surprise and walked away muttering something
about not speeding.
Another time I was stopped on my way home from work (4-midnight),
also in Weston, and told my license plate was incorrectly placed
on my car. Firstly, it wasn't, and secondly, they could not have
seen my plate until they pulled out of Dairy Queen as I drove by
within the speed limit. I waited a good twenty - thirty minutes
while they 'checked it out.' I have looked 'too young to drive,'
and the list goes on.
|