Before I get started, I just want to say that I am not anti-police. I was brought up to respect police and I believe they are public servants here to protect us and keep our community safe. My friend, Bobby, recently became a police officer and you'd be hard pressed to find a more honest, dedicated, hard-working individual anywhere.
However, police officers are people and they are all different which leads me to my story. I live on a corner of a street that runs parallel to Route 30, which is the road I take to get to I295 on my way to work. Instead of taking Route 30, I take the back road because it has less traffic and no traffic lights. The only downside is that the speed limit is 25 mph.
This morning I am chugging along at approximately 30 mph when you come flying up behind me in a big, white SUV me and start riding my butt. There's no one behind you and no on in front of me. It's a pretty straight road and most of it allows passing but you continue to just ride my butt. I hate that and am starting to get aggravated at you, but I don't want to speed up because we are about to pass a grade school and I am not sure that you are aware that it is there because it is partially hidden by an overpass.
After I pass the school I come to a stop sign and take a good look in my rear view mirror. It turns out you are driving a NJ State Police SUV. I cross through the intersection but you are delayed before you cross; however, that does not stop you from zooming up again to ride my butt. Now I am starting to feel a little panicky. Am I going too fast? Should I slow down? Maybe I'm going to slow and you want me to speed up. Is there something wrong with my vehicle? Have I inadvertently done something wrong?I finally get to I 295 which is three lanes. As I merge you zoom up to pass me. I look to my left and I see you as you pass. You are looking forward as if you were not interested in me at all AND you looked as if you were barely 20 years old. Obviously you weren't interested in me and just wanted to get to 295 faster than I was going.
If you had seen anyone else driving like that, I would expect that you would give them a ticket. Why then do you think it is appropriate for you to drive in such a dangerous manner? Is it because you are a policeman? If you needed to pass me, you could have simply passed me or flashed your lights and I would have pulled over to the right to let you pass. Do you realize how intimidating it is to have a police officer behind you, let alone one that is riding your butt through a school zone?
I know you put your life on the line for me and everyone else every single day and I respect that. But please don't use your badge and your big SUV to intimidate me unnecessarily. If I am going too fast, pull me over and give me a ticket. If you need to pass me, then let me know and I'll let you pass. Please remember that when I am driving, my focus is supposed to be on the road AND NOT the big, white NJ State Police SUV that is riding my butt. If you promise not to ride my butt, I promise to be a good driver. Thanks.
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16 comments:
considering I live in your neck of the woods...I wonder if it was the same one who gave a me a ticket for having my middle tail light out...when the two main ones...worked perfectly....lame....
Ah, the do that here too. Sooo irritating, not to mention nerve wracking.
That is aggravating! Unbeliveable the rudeness.
You're right. Anyone else driving like that would get a ticket themselves. I would have been confused, too. Do I pull over? Speed up? What? Driving is hard enough with regular drivers around us. Cripes!
Good letter and as a NJ resident so very true.
I live in Ohio and they are just as rude. I was on my way home from dropping my daughter off at preschool and still had my youngest son in the car. It is already scary to have other drivers around... but to have a cop on you butt... that is ultra stressful. It makes me want to stop my car get out and ask what they are doing.
Like you, I have a few friends, neighbors and relatives in law enforcement and they are all good people.
But you every now and then you come across some that have massive chips on their shoulders. Those are the ones that give the good folk a bad reputation.
That's super annonying!!! There are bad eggs everywhere. :(
Police men irk me when they drive like idots! Here in Vegas we are constantly dealing cops that drive far faster then the speed limit. I can only pray that they don't hit a car with kids.
Lovely. Reminds me of a couple months ago I was on my way home from work driving down a little side street going maybe almost 35. Then a cop starts following me really close, which causes me to go a little faster, then he effin' pulls me over to tell me I'm going too fast. I wanted to call him names, but I called him sir. He didn't give me a ticket, probably cause I had my nurse clothes on and he could tell I wasn't out joyriding.
Next time, get the car number and call in and complain. If he gets enough, he'll get in trouble and maybe think about how he's driving next time.
This is not OK. And the fact that it was a young cop makes me think he was just on a power trip. I would have been not only annoyed but probably a little scared. And public servants should NOT make law-abiding citizens feel that way, EVER.
Noah's Mommy - I've never seen him before even though I travel that same road every day to work.
Alex the girl - It's irritating, nerve wracking, unnecessary and quite dangerous, I think.
Renee aka mekhismom - It's aggravating, rude, and just bad driving.
Kathy - I was confused and like I said, actually felt a little panicky.
NJdecorator - I'm sorry to hear that this is a common occurence. I've had policemen behind me before but they never rode my butt.
Manda - I guess it doesn't matter where you are, apparently. I think it is wrong for a policeman to use his vehicle as an intimidation tool.
Dave - Yea, policemen are people too and each one has his own good or bad qualities.
Donnetta - Probably more like a careless egg.
Goldibug - It's dangerous. I know sometimes they need to drive faster than the speed limit but not EVERYTIME they get behind the wheel.
Julie - It sounds totally wrong but at least he did not give you a ticket.
Carabee - I didn't really notice a car number and the last thing I want to do is upset a policeman.
JD - I know it's not ok and I have considered the fact that he was young a major factor. He'd probably drive that way even if he wasn't a policeman.
Checking in from SITS. Wishing you a beautiful week. My best. Zen Cupcake
Ugh, I hate when they do that!
Things like that are SO annoying!
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