Be Careful in Bartow, FL

On Sunday I left my home early in the morning (in my black 1999 996 Cabriolet) to see my Dad on Father's Day in Sebring. No good way to get there from the Florida West Coast. I was very conscious about speeding and thought I was basically cautious about all aspects of driving, but a Bartow city police officer thought otherwise. Heading north through town in the middle lane realizing I needed to move over to the left lane and turn left at the next light which was about 1/8 mile away. I check my mirrors and see a police officer in the left lane roughly six car lengths behind and to my left. I hit the left blinker driving at the posted 35mph speed limit. I get to the traffic light which is green and make my left. Almost immediately, the lights flash and I see the LEO motion me to turn into the shopping center parking lot. As I ready my license, registration and insurance card, he approaches the car and asks 'what's wrong'? My response, 'nothing than I know of'. I ask why he pulled me and was told, 'you cut me off back there when you moved into the left lane'. My response was that 'I turned on my signal and that I judged you to me multiple car lengths behind me'. He says ' you were also speeding'. I said, ' speeding?, how much over the speed limit was I traveling'. He said, ' I didn't clock you , but you were going faster than me and I was driving the speed limit'. At this point (what a wonderful thing it is to be 57) I realized another approach was going to require adoption. I apologized for cutting him off and he returns to the squad car. After 10 minutes he walks to my car and says ' I 'm going to give you a verbal warning rather than a citation'. I thanked him for his courtesy and continued on my way. I have no doubt that if I had been driving a less 'flashy' vehicle, there would have been no stop. Glad I turned off the hip-hop music I had blaring. BTW, on the way home once I got on I4W, I was passed routinely even though I was driving between 75 and 85 (depending on the posted speed limit). I saw pick-up trucks driving at least 90mph!

Sounds like the cop had a (barely suppressed) case of road rage. They are so used to people getting out of their way that when you had the audacity to change into "his" lane in front of him he decided to blue light you. I would file a harassment complaint regardless. If I am right your complaint will contribute to a whole stack of them on his commanders desk. If I am wrong then no harm done.

Even though I'm old enough to know better, I would have had to ask him how I managed to cut him off if I was going faster than him.

Quotes source post: 9619410

Good point! I think them foreign jobbers get extra attention due to the uniqueness! I visit my parents in Destin every few years, where is Barlow OP?

Reminds me driving back from Key West 2 months ago I got pulled over TWICE by two separate cops 30 - 40 apart. WTF? Cop 1. Marathon, I was going 37 in a 35 (yes US1 speed limit magically drops to 35 after sundown) stuck behind a minivan going 37 since Key West so 1000' from passing zone I made the move over the double yellow and BOOM out of nowhere nailed! $160+ fine F' that lawyered up for that one. Cop 2. Islamorada, I see him on side of road I have cruise set at 45 speed limit is 45 so I figure no problem. As soon as I pass him pulls me over. Illegal tints!!! WTF? I was going 45 as I passed him at night who cares? $160+ fine F' that lawyered up, too. I would rather pay for my lawyers hookers and blow than give a dime in illegal taxes to the revenue police. It's just a money grab by the local governments in Florida so be careful or layer up

Barlow is just north of Ft Meade, maybe an hour from Sebring (the city with the track). I gotta say I thought about this traffic stop for the rest of the day. Clearly he was busting my *****.

I've been pretty luck with cops since I got my Porsche. Most just want a good look at it. We are moving to a small town about 30 miles outside of Austin in August. I was there in the Porsche last week. As I was coming out of the real estate office, there was a local cop in the parking lot. He walked over to ask if I was moving there. He introduced himself, welcomed me to town, asked me a lot of questions about the car and then proceeded to tell me about all the really good driving roads in the area that aren't patrolled heavily. He just asked me to keep to the speed limit in town. No problem as I always do. Turns out he has an old Miata he auto crosses. I promised him a ride when we moved in if he would show me some of those roads. I suspect he'll take me up on it.

Quotes source post: 9619590

The only time I was that far deep in FL I had to drive all the way to Key West. This was the week of Sept. 11 which also happens to be "bike week" I was astonded at the number of cops on patrol & all the motorcycles they had pulled over. There were no rooms at the hotels finally found a Best Western dive for $200 in their "last room" Oh for the good old days when I visited FL & ignored the speeding tickets I got since I live in CA! Last time I checked up on this after a Texas Deputy pulled me over in my, "little yellow car", about 10 years ago, all but 3 or 4 states collaborate & share info to force ticket victims to pay up. In CA speeding tickets are $300+

... and another example of how it always pays to be polite to the po-po. Stay calm and deferential and you might get the benefit of the doubt. Right and wrong is irrelevant by the side of the road. You never want to be the "a**hole in the Porsche."

"Wonder how it would have panned out if you had give him the Bird!".

Quotes source post: 9619590

So you broke the law twice, and got busted twice? what is the problem here?

Ive gotten pulled over many times... mostly when Im at the wrong, each time Ive been let go with a warning. It pays to be respectful to these guys... they do have it tough at times.

Quotes source post: 9619691

Talk about profiling!

Flip the bird then hammer down I'd say!!!

Quotes source post: 9621443

You would probably have to be there to understand

I'm quite surprised I don't have any problems in the SRQ area.. I'm there at least 2x a month but am typically in an unassuming rental.

Quotes source post: 9622089

Oh? the guy admitted he crossed the double yellow and had illegal tint. what else do i need to know?

Quotes source post: 9622035

Ya but id say pretty accurate profiling If not then maybe a prius is in order!

Quadcammer, really? Lets see: 1. The speed limit on an EMPTY 161 miles of road (Tuesday night at 10pm) magically drops from 55mph to 35mph. WTF? Headlights City of Marathon ever hear of them the magically illuminate the road ahead of you so driving back to Miami (161 miles) does not take 5hrs with no traffic whatsoever. 2. 1000' from a passing a zone is a revenue officer just waiting for somene to be so eshausted they do exactly what I did in an unmarked car and then make the city some extra revenue. BTW, I made it almost 40 miles from key west without passing the dip**** in the minivan and going 35mph so yes technically I did break the law but come on 35mph on the ONLY highway is rediculous. 3. Tints really? Who cares in Miami, the cops have tints! Becasue it is freaking hot and keeps the sun out. Plus traveling 45mph on a dark and EMPTY road this is what this cop feels is such a public hazzard he has to pull me over? How about go solve an actual crime? BTW, the dip**** that stopped me had freaking TINTS on his patrol car too! And, yes you need to live here to "get" really it. There is a money grab in the keys going on as far back as I can remember they love to prey on people from Miami and Tourists especially if your driving a nice car.

Quotes source post: 9620749

Funny, I was pulled over recently (#39) and as the deputy walked back to his car I said "You're right".. He thought I said "Yeah right.".. He runs back to the car and says "oh you want me to give you a ticket".. lol.. Meanwhile, I had this look on my face like WTF is this guy talking about? Interesting miscommunication scenario.

I used to think this profiling was a big problem,or are they joking. Oh yeah ... Regards,

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