I got pulled over this morning!

True story.

On my way in this morning, I was heading southeast bound on Elston towards the Wellington/Rockwell intersection (those who aren't familiar, it's a 6 corners type thing). Anyway, I've rode the route enough (over 2000 times) to know the timing of the light, so I can cross right when it turns green.

So, this morning as I'm coming up on the intersection, I see the cop stopped at the light (heading in the same direction). I'm also watching the timing of the lights. So I slow way down (didn't have to too much as it was quite windy and a bit cold), and as soon as I see the light to my left turn red, I add a little steam to my pedaling so I can hit the green light right before I cross the white stop line.

As soon as I cross the line, the cop pulls up next to me and starts yelling "What does a red light mean?" confused, I say it means "stop." He then yells that again, and again I say "stop". He then forces me over to the curb and gets out of his car and starts getting really confrontational about the event. At this point I'm in shock and saying that I went through a green light and he told me "we wouldn't be having this conversation if that were true."

He then goes into how ALL cyclists think they can ignore traffic laws and yet give cops shit when they do something wrong. At this point I realize this guy has a chip on his shoulder (he also told me not to call him "man" when I was talking to him Sorry for being so informal). I also say that I don't have a problem with cops at all, in fact, the majority I've met are really nice people.

He then repeatedly asks me for ID and then says this: "I hope you don't have ID." WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN!?!?! I say that I have ID and if it's ok, I need to reach into my bag to get it out. He gives me this look like I'm crazy, but quite frankly I'm not taking my chances with this dude (unfortunately the cold zaps my GOPRO battery or I'd have a nice video for you guys).

He takes my ID and gets back in his car. I sit there in the cold wondering what's about to happen. He then gets out about 2 minutes later and asks if I think I'm getting a ticket (power trip much?). I say, if I ran a red light, I would expect that. He lets me off with a warning, saying he put me in the system and if I get pulled over again, I'll most likely get a ticket.

I say thank you and ask to shake his hand and he says "no, we're good."

All this being said, I honestly thought I timed the light right. If anything I went a .5 second early, but the fact he was immediately generalizing all cyclists and cop interactions was the cue to just let him do his thing. If I did run the light, I would expect a ticket - I'm not above the law, nor do I think cyclists are.

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Permalink Reply by David Barish on February 28, 2014 at 9:10am

This could have ended in a lot of worse ways. Your ability to check your anger and masterfully manage the situation minimized the chances of a bad outcome. Kudos to you.  As to what was going on in the officer's mind... who knows? My theory is he sees you not stop, takes his eye off the light and does not notice how you had handled the light as artfully as you handled the encounter. He stops you, comes on like Barney Fife and soon realizes he got the wrong guy. You allowed him to find a graceful way to get out of it rather than let a series of poor decisions escalate into something bad. 

Next time you ride by you will wave or salute in a non mocking fashion and he will remember that you are one of the guys that will not be pulled over again.

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on February 28, 2014 at 9:13am


David Barish said:

He stops you, comes on like Barney Fife and soon realizes he got the wrong guy. 

If he'd have come on like Barney Fife, we'd have all been laughing. :-)

I agree, good way to handle the incident though.

Permalink Reply by Andrew on February 28, 2014 at 9:21am

Whether helping me out of a bind or giving me static for no good reason, I will never address a policeman or policewoman as anything but "Officer."  That little bit of implied respect can go a long way.

Save the "man" for a bartender giving you a cruddy pour.

Glad this ended reasonably well.

Permalink Reply by Chris LaFrombois (8.5 mi - o.w.) on February 28, 2014 at 9:25am

After he told me to stop calling him man (I can't help it, it's how I talk), I only referred to him as "sir" for the remainder of the incident. I'm really glad I kept my cool. I did almost lose it after he said he hoped I didn't have my ID. For some reason, that really rubbed me the wrong way - like he wanted to start something.

Permalink Reply by dan brown on February 28, 2014 at 9:25am

I know I will get flamed for this (I have already donned the appropriate asbestos gloves, eyeshield,boxer shorts,boots  and vest) but this is further proof of my theory about the (envy) battle between cyclists that enjoy most things in life (sitting in a car ain't one of them) like having meaningful relationships with members of their favorite gender, and enjoying the chainlink at work.

 

Let's just say it's like a person who is on the way to Peter Francis Geraci seeing people in the bank cashing large checks. Those that ain't gettin' it are VERY JEALOUS (envy is one of the seven deadly sins btw) of those who are gettin' it early and often (it ain't just for votin' anymore).

 

SO glad you (a) broke the stereotype and (b) did not get a ticket !!!!

 

thanks for helping confirm my (un)scientific theory !!!!

 

DHB  aka  Dan Cooke (Cooke with and "E")

Permalink Reply by Matt Talbert on February 28, 2014 at 10:11am

So you had your camera on? You think that made an impact on the outcome of this?

Permalink Reply by Mike Schwab on February 28, 2014 at 10:13am

If you don't have ID, he can cuff you and take you down to the station until they confirm your identity.

Permalink Reply by Chris LaFrombois (8.5 mi - o.w.) on February 28, 2014 at 10:21am

Unfortunately, it wasn't on. I'm not sure what the outcome would have been if it was on.

Matt Talbert said:

So you had your camera on? You think that made an impact on the outcome of this?

Yeah, I know what he can do if I don't have ID, I'm just wondering why he said that - as I've posited above, he was probably trying to start something. Unfortunately (fortunately for me), he may not have got what he wanted. Although, you are not required to possess ID in the state of Illinois - so I don't know if cuffing me would have been the best thing to do.

If you don't have ID, he can cuff you and take you down to the station until they confirm your identity.

Permalink Reply by Blatherskate on February 28, 2014 at 10:39am

Kudos for keeping your cool, not sure I could have done the same. (I'm working on it)

Last winter on a rainy night, I hit a pothole and flew over the handle bars. As I looked up from the ground, dazed, soaking wet and miserable, a CPD SUV cruises by very slowly, we lock eyes and they drive off. Never mind that I'd just face slapped the ground and broke my glasses. 

Does CPD have a grudge against cyclist? I would say some probably do.

Permalink Reply by David P. on February 28, 2014 at 10:39am

Police officers who do beat duty have high-stress jobs and take a lot of shit, so I tend to cut them a certain amount of slack (police in the US, anyway); but it does sound as if the nature of your interaction with that officer was mostly a product of his own personal issues and whatever chip he had on his shoulder. Last interaction I had with CPD on my bike was with a couple of officers driving down my block as I was leaving for work who were impressed that I kept riding through the s**t weather - so there's a lot of variability in what you can expect!

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on February 28, 2014 at 10:53am

But did he know the camera wasn't on?  Was it on your  bike or helmet?

Chris LaFrombois (8.5 mi - o.w.) said:

Unfortunately, it wasn't on. I'm not sure what the outcome would have been if it was on.

Matt Talbert said:

So you had your camera on? You think that made an impact on the outcome of this?

Yeah, I know what he can do if I don't have ID, I'm just wondering why he said that - as I've posited above, he was probably trying to start something. Unfortunately (fortunately for me), he may not have got what he wanted. Although, you are not required to possess ID in the state of Illinois - so I don't know if cuffing me would have been the best thing to do.

If you don't have ID, he can cuff you and take you down to the station until they confirm your identity.

Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on February 28, 2014 at 10:54am

That's awesome.

Jeff Schneider said:

The last time I had any words with an officer was when he complimented my Pedersen bike.  We definitely have a least a few bike-friendly officers in the Uptown/Lakeview area.


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