Traffic Stops
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:11 am
The tape talks about dissolve or resolve and I have a very hard time with it. I will give you all the info and my thoughts and see if you have suggestions.
Over 14 years ago I was subject to traffic stops both as a passenger and a driver. I am confident I was not doing anything wrong yet I was questioned in a way where I felt harassment, intimidation, and like they were trying to get something out of me that didn't exist. No ticket was given in any case but I don't feel like I should have to go through that.
I am confident these officers were not even thinking about this one second after the stop ended. Yet I persist with anger thoughts such as to why would they be so rude to someone who is not threatening them, they can get away with anything, I still want to sue them, or they don't belong in the public arena. I have read that having your hands on the wheel when an officer approaches you is good and in more recent stops, I have done that and they haven't been aggressive. Perhaps that is a way to somewhat control how an officer will behave and I haven't had a problem with a stop for some time yet my anger persists. I recognize the anger can mean fear of police and any time I drive through my neighborhood, I'm always wondering if I'll be stopped even if I did nothing wrong.
The tape talks about using assertive I messages but this is one case where it seems like even if you think you are mistreated, it would be very hard to be politely assertive.
Please give me your thoughts here. Thank you.
Over 14 years ago I was subject to traffic stops both as a passenger and a driver. I am confident I was not doing anything wrong yet I was questioned in a way where I felt harassment, intimidation, and like they were trying to get something out of me that didn't exist. No ticket was given in any case but I don't feel like I should have to go through that.
I am confident these officers were not even thinking about this one second after the stop ended. Yet I persist with anger thoughts such as to why would they be so rude to someone who is not threatening them, they can get away with anything, I still want to sue them, or they don't belong in the public arena. I have read that having your hands on the wheel when an officer approaches you is good and in more recent stops, I have done that and they haven't been aggressive. Perhaps that is a way to somewhat control how an officer will behave and I haven't had a problem with a stop for some time yet my anger persists. I recognize the anger can mean fear of police and any time I drive through my neighborhood, I'm always wondering if I'll be stopped even if I did nothing wrong.
The tape talks about using assertive I messages but this is one case where it seems like even if you think you are mistreated, it would be very hard to be politely assertive.
Please give me your thoughts here. Thank you.