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Does this qualify as police harrassment?

Okay, I am still infuriated just thinking about our encounter with the police last night. I want to know if the policeman was allowed to treat us the way he did and if we could file a complaint. We got a $200 ticket for speeding and normally we would just pay it off, but we are so angered that we're gonna fight this in court.

The setting:

We're in Massachusetts, coming down from New York and bringing my brother back to Maine for Christmas break. It's 1:30 at night, and since my father cannot stay awake this late, he's in the back sleeping. I had a fever and so my brother was left to drive. It was his first time driving on the highway.

I kept an eye on him most of the way, but the one moment I nod off, the police was on our tail. Or was he? It was all very confusing. We were in the left lane, and he had his lights on the right lane. There was a car in the right lane who pulled over and the police was behind him. Oh so it's not us, we think, and speed up again. The police passes the car and goes to the middle. Maybe he had an emergency? We slow down and FINALLY he gets behind us. Petrified, we stop in the left lane. BIG MISTAKE. We learned the lesson way too well last night.

Police: ARE YOU A F***ING IDIOT! ARE YOU STUPID! YOU WANT US KILLED?! PULL TO THE RIGHT.

(My brother pulls to the right)

Police: ARE YOU FROM ANOTHER PLANET?! IN WHAT WORLD DO YOU PULL TO THE LEFT?! WHERE'S YOUR LICENSE?

(Goes over to my side of the window)

PULL DOWN YOUR WINDOW!!

(I pull it down)

Brother: I'm sorry it was my first time driving on the highway I didn't--

Police: WHERE ARE YOU FROM?! (As he shouts I fear he'll burst a vein on his neck)

Me: We're from Maine.

Police: WAS I TALKING TO YOU?! I AM TALKING TO HIM! WHERE'S YOUR LICENSE!

(Brother hands him it and he walks back to his car to check it. He returns 5 minutes later)

Police: I AM GIVING YOU A TICKET FOR GOING 85 IN A 65 MILES AN HOUR ZONE. YOU HAVE TO PAY $200 BY (so and so) blah blah blah.

(Any normal police officer wouldn't shout it like a drill sergeant and rub it in our faces that the ticket is $200)

Dad: I want to speak with you.

(Police ignores him and starts to walk away)

Me: Can we have your police ID number?

(A palpable look of fear crosses the policeman's face and he retreats to his car like a dog with his tail between his legs)

Me (shouting out the window): YOU NEED TO LEARN TO BE NICER TO PEOPLE! YOU CALL YOURSELF A POLICE OFFICER!?

(I take over driving and we go home)

I mean seriously, everything he said was literally in caps. He seemed to have anger management issues and if we would have back-talked he would've got us out the car and thrown us to the ground. But no, we were very polite and civil towards him. Are they supposed to be treating us that way? My brother couldn't even explain, the police was too busy screaming his head off. I've never been pulled over before, but no longer will I think of police as public servants. Should I call his chief and file a complaint or is this not enough grounds to do so?

Thanks for reading all this!

6 Answers

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  • 8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Definitely not the way a law enforcement officer should treat anyone during a traffic stop, even if you were speeding. However, because there is no physical harm done and he was just screaming, unfortunately it wouldn't qualify as police harassment. I would, however, take it up with the police chief in that jurisdiction and explain what happened.

    Source(s): Personal experience
  • ?
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    The officer was probably angry that your very stupid brother put them all in danger by stopping in the left lane.

    But OF COURSE this is the truth, you were all perfect sweet innocent little angels, and did nothing to anger that big bad police officer except do 20mph over the speed limit. *rolls eyes* YEAH RIGHT.

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    that's sexual harrasment so talk over with a cop or education counselor. Harrasment - Being large stressful or Violent Sexual Harrasment - something inapropriate that should not be executed in public refering to words on the topic of the physique or touching the physique. Can communicate along with his physique or your physique.

  • James
    Lv 7
    8 years ago

    If you have a recording of this. Always turn your cell phone on record around them. And set it on the dash or some were. Not in your hand. They will shot you for that. That is armed assault. Press charges here with the Sates Attorney. He will do nothing. But keep it for your records. But generally you can do nothing with that type of person. But you never know some day they may need help. And you need say no to them. And if they press that. You have your evidence for court as to why you told them No. That they then understand.

  • 8 years ago

    Nice story and I see that you are an author (enough said)

  • 8 years ago

    Harassment is a repeated conduct, therefore this cannot be harassment. It is, however, extremely unprofessional.

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