Do police profile drivers by the type of car or condition of car they drive? Please read the details.?

Question

I've had five and perhaps more situations where I've been witness to police making assumptions about people based on the car they drive and not on their race or ethnicity.

I had a friend (who is white) who drove an old Chevy Nova 1969.  This car was a favorite among African-American and Mexican youth.  Once, we were driving through his neighborhood coming from work (we used to work together), when we were pulled over by a police officer who wondered why he was in that neighborhood.  "I live here" was his reply.

Another time, again we were in his car while parked in front of his apartment building.  Within minutes, we were surrounded by four police cars, who ordered him out of the car.  When he got out, the lead police officer, looked shocked -- my friend was apparently not what the officer was expecting -- and the lead officer apologized.  "You're not what we expected," the officer said to us.

At least three incidents also happened to me. I drive an old, beater Toyota -- has body damage, needs a paint job: peeling paint, and is dated in style -- but it gets great gas mileage and is cheap to insure so I see no reason to upgrade and fixing it would be too expensive; I'm a college student so I have a limited budget.  Once, while driving home at night, I passed by a police car going the other way.  The police officer then turned around and followed me five miles to my street before veering off.  I could tell he or she was following me by my route; they were also probably checking out my stats via my license plate.

Recently, I had a similar situation.  I went to the hardware store to buy  light bulbs.  A police officer immediately pulled out behind me and followed me all the way home (about 3 miles).  I tend to take surface streets to get home, driving through residential neighborhoods rather than main streets because of the traffic congestion.

I went to airport to pick up my parents who were visiting, and the airport police came over to inspect my car.  The airport police didn't say anything, but I could tell by their behavior what they were doing.

DANBOSPD · Accepted Answer

I love your question and here is the answer

Older cars - such as the one you and others describe - have more violations that others.  And yes - older cars in junky condition seem to have higher percentages of people who seem to find trouble.  

People who use drugs, don't spend their money on BMW's - they by drugs instead.  So the chances of me finding a dirtbag in an old piece of junk is much better.  There is a reason why I have never found a drug dealer in a high value car - because most of them use more dope than they can make selling it.  If you don't like being stopped by the police - then fix up your ride!

? · Answer

10

Don C · Answer

If you can prove that the Police in your area have been Profiling cars and people (of race), then you can do you us all a great justice by contacting you local News Paper,TV News Net-Work and ask them to do a story on Police and Profiling. By doing so it brings to the fore-front of the injustices that Police think they have a right to do. Also it puts the Police Department on notice that their injustices will no longer be aloud. There is no reason that the police have to profile ones car that they drive, no matter how old or what shape it may be in, other then if it may be a driving hazard. Where I live that's what someone did and the Police department stopped pulling over older cars.

Anonymous · Answer

Profiling is just another name for the more well known term "stereotyping."  OF COURSE, all humans stereotype.  It is human nature and it makes sense.  It is simply using your common sense.  It is using the law of averages to make an informed decision.

That being said, I still don't think law enforcement should be able to ACT on that stereotyping, until they have something else to corroborate it.  They SHOULD keep their eye on you if their stereotyping tells them they should, but they should not be able to pull you over and waste your time and violate your civil liberties.

Of course, if our country actually had stiffer penalties for crimes against people and property, there wouldn't be as much crime in the first place and this wouldn't be necessary.  But as long as we keep p*ssy footing around with criminals and giving them light sentences with $60k a year jail cells, we will keep getting what we get.

We could also free up more money to deal with REAL criminals by eliminating victimless crimes like drugs, prostitution, gambling, etc. which are not really crimes since there is no victim.

Deb · Answer

I drive an 1986 Honda with missing trim, but nobody has ever stopped me for anything. I've got quite a few college parking stickers on my bumper. I'm sure the cops feel sorry for me and know that I'm a student who will upgrade her car when she darn well feels like it. It gets great gas mileage and I have no income, so I drive by and smile and nobody says a word.

When I graduate, I'm getting something even tinier! Beep beep!

ladystang · Answer

i drove a 69 mach 1.  while getting it restored the city police would always follow and pull over.  they would tell me all kinds of things i did wrong but would never ticket me.  after finally getting it painted.  they still followed me and would pull over. finally one wrote up that my license plate light wasn't working.  he wouldn't let us out of car to check.  he also wrote up my husband doe no seat belt.  he took it off to get wallet in front of officer.
after he left i had husband check.  the light was working.  had him take me to station.  i raised he**.  told them i was tired of being followed.  the people at work been talking about my escorts at lunch.  and now i had a bogus ticket.  he tried to explain my light wasn't bright enough.  told him that's the way it was supposed to be in 69.  then he said that technically my husband wasn't wearing the seat belt if he took it off to get wallet.  told him fine i would let the lawyer and judge figure it out.
well he took the ticket and surprise no more escorts going to work.

Anonymous · Answer

Perhaps there is someone they are looking for that also drives that kind of vehicle.

My husband and I drive both old and new vehicles, and never had a problem.

Tac One · Answer

To answer your question. Yes the police do profile by car types as well as race. They will say no, but they do. They believe that certain people who commit crimes drive certain cars, as well as certain minorities. Sadly, they're wrong just as much as they're right.

Anonymous · Answer

there must be probable cause.

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Do police profile drivers by the type of car or condition of car they drive? Please read the details.?

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