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I was driving home from work tonight when I got pulled over turning into a convenience store. The first weird thing was that it seemed like the lights came on right after I had started to break and had my turn signal on. I'm sitting there for a good 15 seconds thinking what the heck? As I wait for an opening in traffic so I could continue on my route which has now become a traffic stop.

I pull in and hand him my IDs when he comes over. He states he pulled me over for going 40 in a 35. Again I'm thinking what the heck. I know that's a perfectly legal reason for them to pull me over if I'm going over the speed limit but I've never heard of anyone getting pulled over for 5 over unless it was a school zone. I really don't know if I was going 35 or 40. I very well may have been so just say "sorry, my bad." He asks for my insurance so I go to get that and as I'm leaning over to get it I hear him go "Oh, CHL" <cringe> Here I am reaching into my glove box and he didn't know I handed him my CHL. I had figured he'd noted it and was okay. Nothing really happened of it though and I just told him it wasn't on me (as it wasn't) and handed him my insurance.

He checks shines the light on my tags to make sure they aren't expired before going back to his car. This was probably the shortest I've ever sat waiting. It felt like maybe just 20 seconds. He comes back and asks me a series of questions, where am I coming from, where do I work, what do I do there, how long have I worked there.

He then asks for a good number to reach me at. I give him my phone number and realize he's writting it down on a small note pad with other phone numbers, non of which have names next to them. He then hands me my IDs and tells me to slow down and leaves (no ticket). Overall quick & easy, he was very polite the whole time.

So I'm hoping an LEO can chime in and tell me what just happened. After mulling it over here is what I've come up. Let me know if this sounds plausible. I was driving down the road and the cop turned on the street behind me shortly before I started to turn into the store. Maybe he thought I had just noticed him behind me and was trying to "lose him" b/c I had something to hide. Because he thinks I may have something to hide he asks me a series of, what I viewed, as irrelevant questions to see if I am lying about "something".

Even if that is the case or not, why did he ask for my phone number in the form a question "what's a good number to reach you at?"

The best explanation I can come up with is that he is the local cop and is trying to get to know people who live, work, or hang out in his patrol area. The reason for the stop could be just what he said, exactly how you think, or almost anything else. I tend to go with his story since you admit you are not sure and if he is looking for a reason to stop people to get to know them, it is a good reason.

As for the wording of the question, it is probably just his habit now. Most of the time when a cop asks someone for a number, they have to specify what it is for so they get the right number. If I need to be able to contact you, I might ask that way. If I am getting the number for a report and don't ever expect to personally call, I just ask for their home number.

atxgun wrote:Even if that is the case or not, why did he ask for my phone number in the form a question "what's a good number to reach you at?"

He's not a real cop. He's that guy from the Village People and he wants a date

I really have no idea. Been hearing/reading a few different experiences of LEOs asking where people work and for phone numbers lately and not sure why. Also not sure if we're required to answer such questions, seems outside the scope of a traffic stop.

I wonder what the reaction would be if I told a LEO that my number was BR549.

My guess is you are part right he thought you looked nervous and pulled you over and asked you the questions to get a good smell of your breath.

And, as Steve Rothstein will surely agree, none of those questions require a response under Texas law. You can't lie, but you needn't have answered, either.

Couple of thoughts: First you didn't say what time it was, but if it was late night, traffic stops are usually aimed at finding DUI. Might explain the question about the phone number. Never heard of anyone asking for such unless it was an accident.

Second, we had a guy impersonating a cop stopping people (females mostly) late at night. He was pretty good because he got spotted one night with a car stopped by a patrol unit and they didn't "make" him. He eventually got caught because someone called 911 when he stopped them. He was asking for phone numbers.

Last, you live in Austin. 'Nuff said.

I would have made a note of his badge number and called the watch commander the next day to see what was going on. Those guys have no need to know anything that there isn't a blank on the ticket to write in.

When I check my rear view mirror and see a police vehicle, my heart rate always notches up a bit. Then I check my speedometer (I do not normally exceed the speed limit, but it does not hurt to check.) I plain get nervous when I police vehicle follows me.

During one period of time, I was having to work very long hours. I was in my car driving home at 3:AM. (versus a normal 8AM - 5PM shift). In the span of about ten miles and 20 minutes, I observed three fully lit police cars and each had another vehicle pulled over. I was surprised that I suddenly felt a sense of calm. I felt secure knowing that the Plano Police Department was out at 3:AM.
Hoot

If I am not mistaken there is a spot on the TICKETS that LEO's hand out for home and work numbers even on warnings.
As far as his little black book, I am going to go with the earlier response of it was the cop from the Village people!

whats funny is when im riding my motorcycle at night and they stop really far behind me to run my plate to see if its stolen.obviously they think motorcyclists are stupid and dont watch where the traffic is and that i dont notice someone stopping really far behind me.lol

He was completing a field interview card is my guess.

Sounds like a police harassment to me.

ericlw wrote:whats funny is when im riding my motorcycle at night and they stop really far behind me to run my plate to see if its stolen.obviously they think motorcyclists are stupid and dont watch where the traffic is and that i dont notice someone stopping really far behind me.lol

That's pretty normal from what I've gathered. It gives them space to move the car quickly if needed.

hoot wrote: I felt secure knowing that the Plano Police Department was out at 3:AM.
Hoot

I live in Plano too. After attending the Citizen Police Academy I found that they seldom write tickets, but do stop and check on a lot of folks. Mostly for DWI. Crime is really low here. I have found them to be a very professional group. Among the best in the nation.