Don’t Squeal Your Tires in Highland Park
Every week when I flip through the Highland Park DPS blotter, I’m surprised that I haven’t been pulled over there before. Someone’s always getting clipped for a busted taillight, then cited for an expired registration or revoked license.
Yesterday, though, I saw a first. A guy was pulled over in the 4500 block of Preston Road for squealing his wheels. He was then cited for a few other minor infractions.
The lesson? Fill up your tires.
It’s called exhibition of acceleration. Many years ago I was pulled over for it back in the H-E-B area. They don’t take into account low tire pressure or a puddle of water on the road. That’s what the court date is for…presenting your side of the issue because it’s guilty until proven innocent no matter what anyone says.
Oh yeah, my wife was singled out and pulled over for out-of-date registration (my fault) in UP while the country-club mothers in their SUVs sped by the officer around 30mph in a school zone. He couldn’t tell that they were speeding but his keen eye saw the 2in x 4in sticker on the windshield was expired.
for pete’s sake, its not the minor violation.
its the minority behind the wheel of the vehicle
with the minor violation.
always has been.
always will be.
I’m convinced that “expired sticker” is a pretext for pulling over cars that look like they could generate some hits on outstanding warrants. They stop the car, look at the interior and occupants, and then conveniently notice the sticker is actually current.
I live close to a 4-way stop where the cops hang out to catch those who don’t completely stop. They go after rich cars, too. But the “country club” cars that zoomed past your wife don’t get stopped for the fishing expeditions.
The use simple violations like this to investigate possible suspicious persons. If there is a suspicious vehicle they cannot pull it over without a reason, this minor violation is used as a reason to stop the vehicle.
@boredreader. They stop cars where there is no violation and use as pretext that they misread the date on the sticker.
I was pulled over for expired inspection in HP and the cop let me go. My wife was pulled over and got a ticket. She looks way more Park City-ish than me…go figure.
@Dembones. No they don’t. It’s all on video cameras inside the HPDPS squad cars. They only pull someone over on real violations.
I had my perfectly in-date registration sticker “misread” by an officer while heading south on Hillcrest near my son’s elementary school a couple of years ago. I’ll admit, at the time, I did drive a make of car recommended by 4 out of 5 drywall guys. The officer apologized for his poor eyesight when he found a cub scout in the back seat and no probable cause. There was no moving violation, no rolled stop, not even a winking headlamp.
@Boredreader. You are mistaken. It happened to me, same as JustAnotherMom. Officer apologized to me for misreading the date after visually checking out car interior and occupants–and checking driver’s license, which had the local address. He could have checked the sticker date first. Clearly a pretext.
I was also pulled over in HP years before. The officer came to my window and said only, “Sorry, wrong car.” So it is simply not true that HP police stop cars only for real violations.
The Cops here are jokes. They don’t have anything better to do than pester innocent people with ridiculous citations.
I love the HP police. When you need them (and I have), they are outstanding. Traffic schmaffic.
Complaints about HP/UP police are the same folks who complain about too many sunny days in a row. I’ll take a “false pullover” any day of it means they keep thugs outta here.
@Cigar Daddy. We pulled-over drivers were informing, not complaining. If you would similarly approve of your own false pullover, I suggest you drive a less desirable car or walk alone after dark to improve your chances. Enjoy.