Complacency while driving leads to LEO contact :(

[Blackhorse1]

This happened a few weeks ago but I forgot to share!

So a few weeks ago, on a Sunday if I remember correctly, I was headed to look at places to move to from San Clemente. Having lived there for 5+ years I became very relaxed in the area. I was leaving home headed N on El Camino Real; it was a busy Sunday with the locals enjoying the sleepy beach town (if you’re familiar with the area, you know what I’m talking about). I was soaking up my day off with my windows down, my music on, and had my radar detector up (I know I'm gonna hear about having one but I've had it for years; safety warnings, construction, emergency veh.) As I was going past a little outlet I drove right past a motorcycle Deputy who gave me the evil eye (I assume, he had his shield down ) As soon as I drove past I saw him pull out with lights on, no siren. I knew I wasn't speeding, my music wasn't loud, and I was driving like any other responsible professional CCW holder does, so I thought I might've changed lanes without using the signal or something along those lines. As had my windows down, a full-size Kimber 1911 IWB at 3 and spare mags at 9, I thought best not to try to get my wallet out of my pocket since I traveled all of 20 yrds to pull over and he could see clearly in the vehicle. I put my sunglasses on my head, turned the truck off, turned on the lights (daytime! ), and put my hands back on the wheel.

As he approached he asked for my license and registration. I responded by saying I had a CCW permit and my firearm IWB at 3:00. He asked me where my permit was and I told him in my right rear pocket. I could tell he was hesitant about letting me reach back there because from his view he could see from around my chest up. He told me to go ahead and hop out of the truck. I opened my door and hopped out with my back to him. By that time the sleepy town had something to look at! I pulled my shirt up enough so he could reach into my pocket for my wallet and once he got it I just leaned on my door. After retrieving the wallet from my pocket, he gently lifted the side of my shirt to see the firearm. As I was trying to pinpoint which compartment the permit was in, he sifted through other ID and CCW permits and started asking me about those. He told me to hop back in, so I did and closed the door. After finding my permit he said, "Hey [Blackhorse1], what's the one thing you're supposed to do when you leave your house?" I ruffled through my mind.... I have my permits, my gun, ammo, money, phone, ect., ect., ect.... and then it donned on me! My seatbelt!! I responded with the right answer. He handed me my wallet and left by saying, "[Blackhorse 1], put your seatbelt on."

Of course I had my Kimber and everything else, but a saying in my industry is "you have to be able to protect yourself before you can protect a client!"

Now I make a conscientious effort to click it to avoid the ticket!

[BonoVox]

You should also keep your wallet outside your back pocket when in your vehicle for this exact reason.

All in all a good encounter. I credit the LEO with handling the situation in a profesional matter.

[sealbeach]

Kudos to both of you for a smooth stop, but shame on you for skipping the seat belt! I guess they really do stop people for not wearing a seatbelt. Personally, I find it uncomfortable to drive without one, the habit is so engrained by this time.

[AMS MIKE]

Most the SC officers I have encountered are very polite and attitude goes a long way with them. I grew up in SC surfing T-street and trestles

Also as BonoVox said, best thing is to keep your wallet out of your rear pants pockets when driving.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by sealbeach

Kudos to both of you for a smooth stop, but shame on you for skipping the seat belt! I guess they really do stop people for not wearing a seatbelt. Personally, I find it uncomfortable to drive without one, the habit is so engrained by this time.

When i got my first kidney xplant i talked to the docs about it - the law went into effect sometime around then. At the time they wrote me a letter to NOT wear them... I got a ticket for not wearing my belt, fought it, the ADA wanted to drop it, but the judge said nope - he'll have to take it higher than here. I ended up with 1 point and no fine. I have mixed feelings on seatbelts, but its a political thing (and helmets), not safety related.

[akulahawk]

Originally Posted by 1buba

When i got my first kidney xplant i talked to the docs about it - the law went into effect sometime around then. At the time they wrote me a letter to NOT wear them... I got a ticket for not wearing my belt, fought it, the ADA wanted to drop it, but the judge said nope - he'll have to take it higher than here. I ended up with 1 point and no fine. I have mixed feelings on seatbelts, but its a political thing (and helmets), not safety related.

Seatbelts aren't just a political thing. I can see where people do not want to use them. The problem is that most of the time, they reduce YOUR injuries in the event of a collision or a roll-over. By reducing YOUR injuries, seatbelts reduce hospital costs by people using the trauma system and therefore reduce costs to you and me. There is a very small subset of people that would experience greater injuries because they used a seatbelt.

I don't necessarily thing that seatbelt tickets should be a primary reason to stop someone, but those tickets should be a secondary item. You get stopped for speeding, obstructing traffic, whatever, and you're not wearing the seatbelt, then you should also get the seatbelt ticket. That's JMHO. I'm a medic... I really like it when people do the smarter things, so I don't have to work as hard. Then again, stupidity is job security for me.

[1buba]

Originally Posted by akulahawk

Seatbelts aren't just a political thing. I can see where people do not want to use them. The problem is that most of the time, they reduce YOUR injuries in the event of a collision or a roll-over. By reducing YOUR injuries, seatbelts reduce hospital costs by people using the trauma system and therefore reduce costs to you and me. There is a very small subset of people that would experience greater injuries because they used a seatbelt.

I don't necessarily thing that seatbelt tickets should be a primary reason to stop someone, but those tickets should be a secondary item. You get stopped for speeding, obstructing traffic, whatever, and you're not wearing the seatbelt, then you should also get the seatbelt ticket. That's JMHO. I'm a medic... I really like it when people do the smarter things, so I don't have to work as hard. Then again, stupidity is job security for me.

It's not that I'm against wearing them - but I don't think it is the gov'ts job to force folks. Same with helmets. I think you should have an option. I don't particularly like the option I've thought up, but you should be able to take out an insurance policy in lieu of wearing the helmet or seatbelts (i don't even ride). That's what i meant about the political part. I lean libertarian on this one.

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by 1buba

It's not that I'm against wearing them - but I don't think it is the gov'ts job to force folks. Same with helmets. I think you should have an option. I don't particularly like the option I've thought up, but you should be able to take out an insurance policy in lieu of wearing the helmet or seatbelts (i don't even ride). That's what i meant about the political part. I lean libertarian on this one.

You just want people riding without helmets to make sure kidneys are available!

[1buba]

Originally Posted by Bombard

You just want people riding without helmets to make sure kidneys are available!

HAHAHAHAHAA. fair statement....

[El Gato]

I started keeping my wallet/badge in my left rear pocket (I'm right handed) about 20 years ago... Yes officer my gun is on my right side and the wallet is in my left rear pocket...see gun?...reaching with left hand for wallet/badge....real slow like....

Nothing goes in my gun hand except the gun and nothing goes on my gun side except the gun and maybe one of the knives... magazines, wallets and keys go left side... until I have to start the truck/car/whatever....

Don't carry water bottles, soda nothin' in the right hand...

I got caught flat footed once with a charging dog and alot of stupid worthless stuff in the right hand... you tell yourself to drop the extra stuff... and then watch yourself not drop it.. . it happens...call me paranoid... but just because I'm parianoid doesn't mean "they" aren't out to get me/both of me/etc.

[NikNak]

Originally Posted by Bombard

You just want people riding without helmets to make sure kidneys are available!

Ditto ... I saw that one coming, but all joking aside, I've seen those w/o seatbelt across multiple lanes and it isn't pretty .... same with cracked melons on bike. I wear helmet, back, elbow and shoulder pads when riding. More for my wife's benefit than mine. No need to have her do everything for me in the future. I'd never hear the end of it.

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by NikNak

Ditto ... I saw that one coming, but all joking aside, I've seen those w/o seatbelt across multiple lanes and it isn't pretty .... same with cracked melons on bike. I wear helmet, back, elbow and shoulder pads when riding. More for my wife's benefit than mine. No need to have her do everything for me in the future. I'd never hear the end of it.

My uncle was CHP for 30+ years. He said in all the time he was on the road, he'd scraped up plenty of bodies, but he'd never unbelted one. Not that people in seatbelts aren't killed - but it was his personal experience that he'd never seen one.

I grew up ALWAYS belted in. I can't even sit in a parked car unbelted without a conscious effort. It just feels wrong.

[JandJDude]

Originally Posted by El Gato

I got caught flat footed once with a charging dog and alot of stupid worthless stuff in the right hand... you tell yourself to drop the extra stuff... and then watch yourself not drop it.. . it happens...call me paranoid... but just because I'm parianoid doesn't mean "they" aren't out to get me/both of me/etc.

Somewhat different context, same issue. I have a good friend who was with a finance unit in Iraq. Part of his duties was providing security to an officer who routinely rolled around the more colorful parts of Baghdad with a footlocker full of US currency used for reconstruction projects (everything runs on cash). Up to a cool million USD in one footlocker.

Anywho, he said one day another team was on duty. One guard to the front and rear with an M4, two guys carrying the footlocker between them. This day a sniper took out the front guard, dropped (wounded) the rear guard. Now, instead of dropping the damn footlocker and diving for cover, the two guys started running with this footlocker that weighs in close to 80 pounds.

Just another example underlying good training that way you respond out of instinct and you don't have to think about it.

[Quietpi]

Originally Posted by Bombard

My uncle was CHP for 30+ years. He said in all the time he was on the road, he'd scraped up plenty of bodies, but he'd never unbelted one. Not that people in seatbelts aren't killed - but it was his personal experience that he'd never seen one.

I grew up ALWAYS belted in. I can't even sit in a parked car unbelted without a conscious effort. It just feels wrong.

Unless I happen to know your uncle, you can +1 or 2 that statement re: Chippies.

Re: growing up belted -- I was born BSB (before seat belts), so I can't say that. But having been an EMT, I don't start a car before belting. And, no, I've never unbelted a body.

I have, however, had people (read "idiots") tell me, "boy, I'm glad I wasn't wearing my seatbelt, or I could have ended up upside down!" They say this while I'm looking at the "starred" windshield. This from the ones who could still talk, if not think.

Maybe we're a little off-topic here, but maybe it will save a life.

[swdr]

I have my CDL, etc., in a cheap plastic business card folder in my front shirt pocket for simple visible access. I don't like taking out my pants wallet -- I tend to forget to put things back.

FWIW, on seatbelts, I don't mind them being mandated given that I'm already paying taxes to support free emergency trauma care. I don't expect that an opt-out system for emergency care will ever be implemented, but until then I think the taxes vs. mandate is a fair trade-off.