Got pulled over coming out of Walmart

[ScottyPotty]

The other night, my wife and I were pulling out of Walmart and I noticed a LEO behind me. The way he was tailing me I was wondering if he was going to light me up. Once they came on I pulled over and put my hands on the wheel, dome light on and window down.

Officer: Good evening sir
Me: Hello, I have a CHL and I'm currently carrying.
Officer: OK, where is your firearm?
Me: right front pocket
Officer: License, insurance, registration, CHL License
Me: Its in my back right pocket.
Officer: Go ahead and reach for it.
Officer: What are you doing tonight
Me: My wife and I were at Walmart
Meanwhile another LEO comes up on the passenger side and scares my wife. She asked him why are we pulled over - he says "I don't know, I'm just here for backup"
Officer: how is your driving record?
Me: Perfect, why are we being pulled over?
Officer: The placement of your license plate holder makes your license plate sticker hard to read.
Me:
Me: That's odd, I've had this truck 8 years and never had a problem. I just put a new 2 year sticker on it a couple days ago.
Officer: Ill be right back.
Officer: He comes back and says "I'm going to let you off with a warning. We are on a lookout for a black truck at Walmart but I like to have a reason to pull over someone. You will probably never have a problem with the placement of your sticker. Have a good night"

It was nice that the gun was a non-issue.

[WayneB]

Officer: He comes back and says "I'm going to let you off with a warning. We are on a lookout for a black truck at Walmart but I like to have a reason to pull over someone. You will probably never have a problem with the placement of your sticker. Have a good night"

Ok, so, if he agrees that the sticker placement will probably never be a problem -- what was the warning for? Is it a problem or isn't it?

[docachna]

...Me: Perfect, why are we being pulled over?
Officer: The placement of your license plate holder makes your license plate sticker hard to read.
Me:
Me: That's odd, I've had this truck 8 years and never had a problem. I just put a new 2 year sticker on it a couple days ago.
Officer: Ill be right back.
Officer: He comes back and says "I'm going to let you off with a warning. We are on a lookout for a black truck at Walmart but I like to have a reason to pull over someone. You will probably never have a problem with the placement of your sticker. Have a good night"....

Yeah, I'm throwing the BS flag on that one.....now where's that emoticon ???!?

[ScottyPotty]

Why do you think Im lying?

[docachna]

Why do you think Im lying?

The cop's lame-o excuse for stopping you.

Not you.

[dangerranger6100]

The sticker has to be unobstructed, it's a valid reason for a stop, but it's not something you would ever be cited for (at least I would hope not).

They were looking for a different black truck.

I think he was telling you he would rather stop you for the sticker violation than just because your truck matched the description of whatever they were looking for.

[evan price]

Why do you think Im lying?

Nobody thinks you are lying, it's a comment on the p.c. for the vehicle stop which, while technically valid, is a stretch. Once they determined you weren't the droids they were looking for, p.c. for the stop became irrelevant. It was an official stop most certainly with a LEADS inquiry, which will show as warning issued for minor vehicle code violation. They can't just randomly run people through LEADS theoretically.

[Whirlwind06]

"These is not the droids we are looking for".... "Move along"

[Cosmos]

Why do you think Im lying?

Nobody thinks you are lying, it's a comment on the p.c. for the vehicle stop which, while technically valid, is a stretch. Once they determined you weren't the droids they were looking for, p.c. for the stop became irrelevant. It was an official stop most certainly with a LEADS inquiry, which will show as warning issued for minor vehicle code violation. They can't just randomly run people through LEADS theoretically.

I believe Evan nailed it in he needed something to enter for the LEADS inquiry.

P.S. - I got a chuckle out of the droids reference. Reminded me of this version: http://youtu.be/56_S0WeTkzs

[ScottyPotty]

I beleave docachna explained it. sorry for the misunderstanding. sometimes that happens on the internet.

[Cruiser]

That is some eye sight the Officer has!

[Bombarde32]

I would have become flustered, I think, trying to carry on a conversation with officer #1 while trying to find an opening to notify officer #2 at the passenger window. Was that an issue for you?

[diamondsun]

With that excuse for pulling you over, you should have asked for his license...

[JediSkipdogg]

That's one of the most BS reasons and the guys I work with use it a lot. Technically, per the ORC, none of your sticker can be covered. It doesn't matter if it's 100% readable, if a corner is covered it's a violation and they love using it.

[Werz]

That's one of the most BS reasons and the guys I work with use it a lot. Technically, per the ORC, none of your sticker can be covered. It doesn't matter if it's 100% readable, if a corner is covered it's a violation and they love using it.

Unilluminated license plate light + Whren et al. v. United States = Easy Traffic Stop

How often do people check to see it their license plate lights are working?