You and the Police-A Perspective from the Other Side

[highdesertranger]

thanks grimjack glad to have you aboard.  highdesertranger

 

[cyndi]

Grimjack, I really appreciate your taking the time and making the effort to post your point of view.  Looking forward to more!

 

[caseyc]

In regards to someone else's post, it *is* possible for an officer to find out if your car insurance is expired or not. &nbsp;One time several years ago, I got stopped for a simple speeding violation on a major freeway during commute hours going to work. &nbsp;I presented my registration no problem, but noticed my Geico car insurance card had the previous 6 months policy listed. I knew my premium was paid up, so I simply told the officer this is my insurance information card, and my insurance is current and active even though the insurance card shows expired. &nbsp;Sure enough, the officer took the time to make some phone calls, and 20 minutes or so later told me my insurance was fine, gave me a ticket, and I was on my way. &nbsp;I live in a major city, by the way. Everything is computerized nowadays, so it's pretty simple for an officer to find out if your registration or insurance is current or not. &nbsp;Anyone who thinks otherwise got another think coming.&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img"><img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[Ziggy Moon]

@ Grimjack - thanks for the explanation and the tips. I mentioned the traffic stop and search when I was younger, only as an example of the consent to search. <br><br>I've been stopped a few more times over the years, but I have yet to ever receive a ticket. I've never argued the facts or become disrespectful when I've been pulled over, that would be pointless and damaging to the desired outcome..... it just so happens that every time I've been stopped, I knew very well that I was in the wrong.<br><br>You didn't freak me out, Grimjack - at the moment I'm not living in my van, just considering the options like you. But if this type situation (request to search) ever occurs when and if I decide to go living/traveling in my van...... well, I know I would be just as polite and respectful to an officer as I've always been - but would they be the same they've always been toward me? And at this time, would/should I be comfortable in refusing consent to search? <br><br>Clearly there is a stigma attached to those who choose this sort of lifestyle.... ain't it funny how you can be held in high regard when you're in line with a certain standard, yet any deviation from this standard, somehow places you at the bottom of the gene pool (not my opinion). Like I said in another post, I have nothing to hide! ......... But I do have plenty that could be jeopardized by an officers wrong impressions of me living/traveling in a van.<br><br>I look forward to learning more, Grimjack.<br><br>

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

My state is working on a system to check insurance in the patrol car (or so they claim).&nbsp;&nbsp; They gave me a flier on it with my registration renewal (for my previous van), urging us to make sure our addresses match the insurance carriers info or get a ticket.&nbsp; So they are catching on to fake or non-backed cards etc.&nbsp; <br><br>I tried to update my license info with my newest address, but they wouldn't let me without my birth certificate...apparently you need one to change any info on the license issued by them with your picture on it...that originally required a birth certificate then (ah sweet bureaucracy, who needs common sense)

 

[Seraphim]

Caseyc

We will disagree. I suppose it's possible to make a phone call to an insurance company, and I suppose it's possible an insurance company will take an officer's word on the phone that he IS a police officer, and provide them the information - which may be in violation of privacy laws (not sure) - but that would be the only way an officer could find out. Since we were never issued company phones, and I would never use my personal phone for official business ( makes it fair game to be subpoena'd in a court case and electronically searched), and there was never any reason to take the effort. And if I asked the dispatcher to make a phone call to an imsurance company, Ive no doubt I would have been advised by supervision not to do it again. Dispatcher's time is too precious lol. Just mark the citation no proof was offered, and let BMV handle the issue. While an officer has computerized access to your criminal history and your driver's license information, they do not have computerized access to insurance company files.

And procedures change, as well. Five years ago, especially on accidents, if someone had an expired card we took their word their policy was current. I assume so many people were lying and it was creating issues, because the state of Ohio changed the requirements on their OH2 (accident form) and citations: if an officer did not see a current card, they are now required to mark 'none' on the OH2 or citation, and the driver is required to prove otherwise. When someone called their insurance company, who wanted to tell me the driver was insured, I declined because it would make no difference, and I had no idea who I may be actually talking to over the phone. Whether or not a phone call would be acceptable to the BMV, in today's environment in Ohio, is Highly doubtful.

Can't speak for other state's procedures.

Of course, it may have changed again in the past four days, since I retired lol. Constant changes...

 

[Seraphim]

Dazar

Never heard of that proposal. Insurance companies would either have to provide access to their computers for government agencies, or be required to constantly update information in a governmental database - a lot of time for some insurance employees. Possibly costly, as well. IMO a waste, when Ohios current system works well, and places the onus of proof on the driver, who is required by law to have proof of insurance with them. Some officers gave drivers until the end of shift to bring a valid card to the PD (paperwork generally expected to be turned in by end of shift), but I was always suspicious of cards just printed with the starting date the same as the date of violation.

 

[caseyc]

They are strict in California.&nbsp; No monkeying around here in the Golden State, haha! <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif">

 

[Lostinspace]

In Florida if you cancel insurance or it is not current the insurance company has to notify DMV that it is not current. But I don't think the insurance companies keep it current.

I had cancelled the insurance on an old Buick over a year ago. I used that tag on my newest acquisition, so it was still listed as current. All I had to do was put the current sticker on the old tag and mount it. Good to go.

Funny thing though I had done the addition of the insurance over the phone and didn't have a current card. So DMV called the insurance company and verified I had added the vehicle to my insurance. But it's a small town and everyone knows everyone.

Works for me.

 

[Ziggy Moon]

@ Seraphim - Congratulations on Your Retirement, That's Awesome!&nbsp;<img src="/images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Congrats on retirement!<br><br><br>I dont know any specifics, i just remember seeing the little flier and thought it was odd.&nbsp; Maybe they require insurance companies to submit some of your info to a database they can check.&nbsp; Or maybe its a scare tactic <img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif" class="bbc_img"><br><br>Ive gotten a pass on an expired card before, my insurance was good, and he let me slide.&nbsp; I have been pulled over more in west virginia than anywhere else, but the cops have been very cool so far.&nbsp; I even got popped for a broken tailight and they let me go with a warning.&nbsp; I think they are just looking for DUI, which is a huge problem here.&nbsp; I have almost no fear of vandwelling and getting harrassed by police...im more worried about nosy hens.<br><br>Funny story, we were in a old beat up truck that recently had a broken spring (i think) in the back...we went to make a right turn onto a ramp just as a cop was coming toward us...well the truck decided all of it didn't want to turn so it was a huge understeer, but we made it.&nbsp; The cop immediately pulled us over, and we both looked at each other like "Hell i woulda pulled us over too for drinking" (neither of us do).&nbsp; We laughed and told the cop we know what your thinking but explained.&nbsp; He checked the license and let us go, telling us to get it fixed.

 

[IGBT]

So is there little/no risk of "evidence" being planted during a search of one's vehicle?&nbsp; Maybe I watch too many movies, but then again, we did just have police officers shoot two innocent women in a truck in California recently...<br><br>Back in 1998 we were driving through rural Florida and a unmarked police car inched closer and closer until he was inches from our bumper (no lights on).&nbsp; I saw the extra light thing on the side of the car and knew it was a police car.&nbsp; He followed us that way for miles but I refused to go over the speed limit of 55.&nbsp; He eventually passed us and proceeded to do the same thing to the car in front of us.&nbsp; That car sped up, and bam! blue lights went on and he pulled it over.&nbsp; I was very tempted to stop and make sure the officer was going to treat the "speeder" correctly but then thought about how I was in rural Florida and kept going.&nbsp; Little thing like that still bothers me today.<br><br>In general I am very trusting of a police officer but I am guessing you could get a bad seed just as you do in any other occupation.&nbsp; I think I would refuse a search though I have never smoked even a cigarette in my life.

 

[Grimjack]

@IGBT<br><br>In 20 years of police work i have never seen any officer plant evidence on anyone. What would be the point? Its easy enough to arrest dopers and the like, why would one risk his job and freedom planting evidence?&nbsp;<br><br>Now I have seen "attitude arrests" Guy gets mouthy and then gets arrested for drunk in public....<br><br>However I can only speak to how things are done here in California. I have heard horror stories (on the news) from other states. Especially the south.

 

[TxGypsy]

If you are pulled over in the state of Texas they know if you are insured or not before they ever step out of their cruiser. &nbsp;Possibly a very small town police force might not have the computers needed to access the information, but about 90% of all law enforcement in the state have it.

 

[cygvan]

im pretty sure that in new jersey, insurance companies report to dmv if your insurance is cancelled for non payment. i dont think they report if you cancel due to switching to another carrier but non payment for sure.<br><br>happened to an employee of mine. progressive actually cancelled him erroneously. after 30 days they contacted dmv (or put him on a list i dont know how they do it). dmv cancelled his registration.<br><br>he was pulled over without performing any moving violation as the patrol officers computer/camera must have flagged him.<br><br>what transpired was two months of bureaucratic BS before it was ironed out.&nbsp; progressive posted his payment to the wrong account triggering the domino effect. dmv was less than helpful. the municipal judge skeptical. evidence was bountiful.<br><br>i shudder to think that human or computer error holds the key for, at least a major inconvenience, to at worst, incarceration/impound etc.<br><br>