Any cops in GD this afternoon? I have a question.

[Jamastiene]

I was on a 5 lane highway today on my way to Subway. I'm one of those notorious speed limit following types, so I know this whole incident that happened wasn't over my speed. The highway was like this. Two lanes were going in one direction and two lanes were going in the other direction. The lane in the middle was for turning left. I turned on my signal and moved into the middle lane to make my left turn into Subway.

There was a county sherrif's deputy car coming from the other direction (not in the turning lane) while I was waiting. He got closer and made a strange beeping sound. He didn't really turn the signal on, but just made the small beep sound they sometimes make. After he passed me, I turned into Subway and waited to see what he wanted. I was going there anyhow, so I decided to just wait before I went inside. Sure enough, he turned around, came back and pulled in right behind me close enough to block me in. He sat there a few seconds and then pulled away.

Any of you who are cops mind telling me what that was all about, because I am confused? What did I do wrong if anything or was he just looking for someone who had a car that fit my description or what? I'm totally confused by the whole incident. It made no sense, considering I am pretty sure I did nothing wrong and they didn't exactly clue me in on why they pulled in behind me for like 5 seconds and then left. That was just fucking weird. That's all I can say.

[electropop]

1. Did you commit any of the following offenses?

(1) Driving While Black?
(2) Displaying seditious librul propaganda bumper stickers?
(3) Failing to display your F.O.P. sticker?

[Jamastiene]

3. Definitely, no on the first two, but

what's F.O.P.?

[mdmc]

13. Friends of Police

methinks

A Sheriff is tasked with the protection of county buildings, transportation of criminals, and operation of the county jail (in NYS).

He might of been looking for something else.

[MADem]

2. It sounds like they were looking for a car that matched yours, but either

the plate didn't match, or YOU didn't match...or both.

[Jamastiene]

4. I am pretty sure neither matched if that was the case.

I was in school for an hour and then went to the Subway on the way home this morning. I'm the only one with keys to the car, so I am sure it hasn't been doing anything illegal. That was unnerving anyhow. It was the way they didn't tell me what that was all about that got me.

[MADem]

8. No, I mean they were looking for a criminal driving a car

similar in either color and style to yours; not that the criminal had taken your car.

They eyeballed the license plate and realized it was the wrong car, and perhaps gave you the once-over to ensure that you weren't the criminal and you'd stolen the plate from someone else's car to try to hide in plain sight.

[Jamastiene]

14. Oh, ok.

Thanks for letting me know possible reasons for the strange beep he did at me. I thought it was weird at the time. I had just turned the music off too. I might not have heard him otherwise. In a way, I think I was just unnerved because I had the stereo pretty loud and my hearing isn't what it used to be anyhow. Had I not just turned the stereo off, I might not have heard the strange little beep.

[Sammy Pepys]

7. That's what it sounds like....

A few years ago I was driving home one night when a police car passed me going the opposite way (four lane road, two lanes each side). He gave me that weird beep just as he passed but no sirens, but since I didn't see lights I just kept going. He U-turned, and pulled up behind me. No lights or sirens, but he put his little sidespot on the back of my car, and then pulled up alongside me and seemed to take a quick glance before getting on his PA and saying "Nevermind!" Then he sped off.

My father was a cop for several years, and when I told him hat happened he said they were probably looking for a car like mine (or someone in a car like mine) and he was making sure I wasn't that car/person.

Either that, or you were doing something you weren't supposed to but the cop got another call and had to jet.

[PeaceProgProsp]

10. Police don't turn on the sirens until they want you to pull over.

If you're being followed by a cop and the lights are flashing, but there's no siren, you're supposed to keep driving until the siren goes on and then you pull over (they're looking for a safe place to stop).

I don't know what the beep means, but it's probably something similar -- maybe, you're not supposed to stop but they want to get closer before they decide whether to pull you over at which time they'll turn the lights on and then the siren.

[TlalocW]

5. Any liberal bumperstickers on your car?

Wouldn't be the first instance of a cop not liking someone's bumpersticker and being a dick about it.

TlalocW

[Jamastiene]

20. No. I have always wanted some liberal bumper stickers, but

I'm on a budget that doesn't allow them. I alwasy seem to pick food first. :)

[LunaSea]

6. I had an identical experience

City cop tailed me and blocked me in as I apparently have a doppleganger whom the officer knew should not be driving.
Somewhere out there is a criminal with my face. That sort of news really makes your day.

[Jamastiene]

12. I would really be offended if I knew there was someone

who looked like me who was doing who knows what. That has got to unnerve you. I would imagine it really would make your day.

[Alacrat]

9. It sounds like he thought he knew you

If he was headed the other way, and bumped his siren at you, he was probably saying hi, and turned around thinking you were a friend, or someone he knew. Once he realised you weren't he cruised on. If he was looking for a car like yours, he wouldn't have alerted you while he was going the other way, if you were the bad guy, you would have known to flee, and he would have given himself away. JMO I work for the F.D. that is how we say hi to one another, rather than blowing the horn, or laying on the siren, kinda like mump mump.

[Jamastiene]

11. Yeah, that's it.

It was like you hear when sirens start to die down on television. I don't know many firefighters or cops so I don't know about those things. I only know from television. On television the sirens will die down completely and then you'll hear that beep sort of sound. It's almost like they were starting to turn on the siren and then not doing it. Something like that. I drive a mighty old car. He must know someone that has a car like mine or something. I didn't know him or at least I didn't think I knew him. There is one guy I went to school with years and years ago who is now the Chief of Police for the city, but this was a county car.

Thanks, btw, for clearing that up for me. I would have puzzled over that forever.

[Alacrat]

17. Your welcome.

One thing about LEOs they always want to look like they are doing something official, and that is why he spent more than a moment behind you. He realised he didn't know you, but didn't want to look like he was driving around visiting.

[Lusted4]

15. Was there a solid yellow line on your side of that turning lane? n/t

[Jamastiene]

18. Well, that entire turning lane is enclosed by solid yellow lines

with dotted lines on the insides on both sides. It's a left turning lane. If someone wants to turn right, they just exit from the road there. I don't know if that explains it any better.

[librechik]

16. maybe he thought you needed his help, when you waited for him

then figured it out and left. (cop's daughter here)

[Jamastiene]

19. That could be one other explanation that makes sense.

Thanks for your input. I'm leaning toward either the "he thought I was somebody I was not" or the "he was looking for someone in a simlar car." Your idea sounds very plausible now too.