I have been sitting here reading about good and bad LEO encounters and it encourages me to share my own. My own happened about 6 ago. The night the war in Iraq started to be exact. Back in those days I was all about the import lifestyle so I was driving a black Honda Civic with modified head and tail lights. The car had high profile tires and rims. You know the style
Well on this particular night I was driving from my home in SC to FL to visit family. It was about 9:30 pm and I was on I-95 in GA. I passed about 3 GA State Troopers parked in the median. Being a lead footed 24 year old I looked down at my odometer and was slightly terrified to see that I was traveling at 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. I was not surprised when I saw one turn on his headlights and pull out behind me. At first I was very relieved as he looked as if he was going to go right by me, but then my heart sank as he braked hard and pulled in behind me. He followed me for what seemed like miles. I felt I was going to get pulled over so I started slowing down. Sure enough he lit me up and I pulled over. As soon as I stopped, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my license. I do know now that slowing down as much as I did and also reaching for my license probably made me seem more suspicious. At the time I was thinking I was making it easier for the officer by slowing down and being prepared to hand him my information. The officer comes to my window and introduces himself and asks if I know why I am being pulled over. I had always been told not to admit guilt so I said, "No sir." To my astonishment he says, "Sir your front right headlight is out." I actually had no clue that this had happened. Everything was fine with the car when I first started out. Also, I had fog lights on my car which were turned on and compensated for the headlight being out, so i was not aware of any reduction in visibility. He tells me that he is using the headlight as PC for stopping me. He asks if I minded stepping out of the vehicle. I comply. He asks if I mind being searched, I comply. He then asks the line, "are there any drugs, guns, explosives in the vehicle?" At this point I remember that I have a Smith & Wesson .32 revolver in the glove compartment. I inform him I do have a revolver in the compartment. He tells me to stand in front of his car while he retrieves it. The gun is loaded with protection ammo. He begins asking me questions about the gun, where I got it, why I am carrying it, do I have a permit. At this point I am thinking the worst. I bought it from an older gentleman I worked with and realized at this point i have no clue where he got it. I do not have a permit and I have realized possibly a little too late than I may not be transporting the gun legally in GA. I do explain this to the officers and he tells me I was not transporting illegally which is a relief. He does finish his search on my car with my consent. He tells me he can tell the gun had been shot recently, basically questioning why. I inform him a friend of mine was a LEO in NC and I had been shooting with him recently. The officer has been very polite and professional throughout the entire encounter but there is a noticeable relaxation in the rest of his dealing with me. Surprisingly enough, he returns the gun to me even though he was never able to locate the serial number of the gun to run it. Turns out when the original owner replaced the grips on the handle the serial number was covered. The officer told me the reason he pulled me over was 95 was a major drug corridor up and down the east coast and I fit the profile. He returned my gun and sent me on my way only informing me to get my headlight fixed. I have to say this officer handled me very well I think considering not only was I speeding, but also I probably did everything wrong in how I handled myself.
Well on this particular night I was driving from my home in SC to FL to visit family. It was about 9:30 pm and I was on I-95 in GA. I passed about 3 GA State Troopers parked in the median. Being a lead footed 24 year old I looked down at my odometer and was slightly terrified to see that I was traveling at 80 mph in a 70 mph zone. I was not surprised when I saw one turn on his headlights and pull out behind me. At first I was very relieved as he looked as if he was going to go right by me, but then my heart sank as he braked hard and pulled in behind me. He followed me for what seemed like miles. I felt I was going to get pulled over so I started slowing down. Sure enough he lit me up and I pulled over. As soon as I stopped, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my license. I do know now that slowing down as much as I did and also reaching for my license probably made me seem more suspicious. At the time I was thinking I was making it easier for the officer by slowing down and being prepared to hand him my information. The officer comes to my window and introduces himself and asks if I know why I am being pulled over. I had always been told not to admit guilt so I said, "No sir." To my astonishment he says, "Sir your front right headlight is out." I actually had no clue that this had happened. Everything was fine with the car when I first started out. Also, I had fog lights on my car which were turned on and compensated for the headlight being out, so i was not aware of any reduction in visibility. He tells me that he is using the headlight as PC for stopping me. He asks if I minded stepping out of the vehicle. I comply. He asks if I mind being searched, I comply. He then asks the line, "are there any drugs, guns, explosives in the vehicle?" At this point I remember that I have a Smith & Wesson .32 revolver in the glove compartment. I inform him I do have a revolver in the compartment. He tells me to stand in front of his car while he retrieves it. The gun is loaded with protection ammo. He begins asking me questions about the gun, where I got it, why I am carrying it, do I have a permit. At this point I am thinking the worst. I bought it from an older gentleman I worked with and realized at this point i have no clue where he got it. I do not have a permit and I have realized possibly a little too late than I may not be transporting the gun legally in GA. I do explain this to the officers and he tells me I was not transporting illegally which is a relief. He does finish his search on my car with my consent. He tells me he can tell the gun had been shot recently, basically questioning why. I inform him a friend of mine was a LEO in NC and I had been shooting with him recently. The officer has been very polite and professional throughout the entire encounter but there is a noticeable relaxation in the rest of his dealing with me. Surprisingly enough, he returns the gun to me even though he was never able to locate the serial number of the gun to run it. Turns out when the original owner replaced the grips on the handle the serial number was covered. The officer told me the reason he pulled me over was 95 was a major drug corridor up and down the east coast and I fit the profile. He returned my gun and sent me on my way only informing me to get my headlight fixed. I have to say this officer handled me very well I think considering not only was I speeding, but also I probably did everything wrong in how I handled myself.
