Apparently, I Unkowingly Ran From The Police

I'm not looking for legal advice or anything, just venting and telling a story really. A bit flabbergasted and confused but calling an attorney to work through what I don’t understand.

I manage several manufacturing plants across the southern US and travel a hell of a lot nationally and internationally. This week's trip is to beautiful Waco, Texas. I brought my continuous improvement manager on this trip. We took off on Sunday morning because we wanted to be here when the plant opened this morning. So..... we're rolling down 25 just south of Louisville, Mississippi in Winston county in a rental Toyota Carola. It was about 10am and by then I had about five cups of coffee and a couple bottles of water running through my guts... and I had to piss. I’m not a fan of gas station restrooms because they’re typically pretty nasty, so I pull off the highway, head down a gravel road, find a secluded spot, and empty my bladder on a tree. It’s a run of the mill potty break, I get back in, turn around, and pull back onto the highway.

Just as I pull onto the highway and am speeding up, I see a dark blue Charger on the other side of the highway tooling along in the left lane. The radar detector isn’t going off, but I look at my passenger and say, “I bet that’s an unmarked cop”. I’m still speeding up, the speed limit is 65, I get up to speed and I set the cruise control at 70. Seconds later, there are blue lights on my ass and I’m pulling over.

A rather vocal and very candid state trooper comes to the driver’s window and says “It’s not real fucken bright to run from the police in Mississippi boy. Get the hell out of the car. What you say and do here determines whether or not I take your ass to jail.”

I get out of the car and ask, “What are you talking about?” He said “you pulled onto that side road to get away from me”. I told him, “I just pulled back there to take a piss. What are you talking about?”. He didn’t explain and being the son of a retired state trooper, I know not to argue or question the police in the moment. So, I still don’t have a clue what in the hell he was talking about. He was damn adamant about it though.

He had me put my hands on the hood of his car as he gave me the what-for for running from him. I just stuck with "Yes sir." and "No sir." from there on out. Mississippi state police need to take better care of their vehicles too because there were muddy cat pawn prints all over the hood and roof of his car. My dad would have shot the cat and made me wash his car.

Anyway, he didn’t arrest me, didn’t pat me down, didn’t search the vehicle, didn't have my passenger get out of the car, and just gave me a ticket for doing 93 in a 65. I'm freaken lost to say the least. It's kinda screwed up, but also a little comical too.

 

First question I got is did you hit 93?
Good think he didn't come up on you when you were pissin' could have been an exposure charge.

 

Yeah, I'd absolutely lawyer up, or at least see what's required to contest the ticket. I once had a warrant out for my arrest in NC because some cop pulled me over for going *TWO* miles over the limit and wasn't upfront with what was required to remotely pay the bill.

 

That was my initial question too. Did you haul ass to 93 and set the cruise to 70? Irregardless, the radar gun should have your picture of the vehicle and an a estimated speed. Contest the validity of the gun. Leo should have audio of the stop, including his alledged unprofessional statements. Discovery is a wonderful thing. Perhaps a mild suggestion. Use a public restroom, reduce your fluid intake, and draw little attention by staying with the flow. If you truly were under speed, it should (but not always) surface in court. Good work not losing your cool. Good luck.
(Ret. LEO- 25yrs)

 

What I don't get is....you know it's an unmarked car, the speed limit is 65, so you set your cruise to 70.

Get yourself a dashcam. It will prove what you did, where you went, what speed you were going and if the officer treated you unfair.

That and stop pissing on the side of the side of road.

 

So, I had something similar when I was riding a crotch rocket in east Texas.
I had stopped at a store and bought a coke with the idea of stopping by a state park on Lake O The Pines. Tooling along at 78, I almost missed the turn in to the park and got on the brakes hard and turned in. Speed limit 15...no problem, people kids, look in rearview, Blue lights. Never saw him but he said I was trying to run. Took a bit of " honestly, I never saw you and was planning to come in here and just almost missed the turn, I swear". to settle him down. $300 for the ticket, $50 for "Pre-Trial Diversion" and 6 months without another ticket and it stayed off my record.

 

I never hit 93. I hadn't even reached the speed limit when I saw him. I assume he was after someone in what looked like the car I was in. Doesn't say much for driving ability if a Toyota Carola can ditch a Dodge Charger though.

 

Or worse. I have a friend whose brother is a felon because of something like this. Pissin' against a tree, cruiser rolls up, sees him... and the idiot RUNS. Instead of (maybe) a ticket or misdemeanor, he got arrested, charged AND CONVICTED for evading arrest and is now a convicted felon. Because he drunkenly pissed against a tree.

 

I’m not a lawyer, but I would caution saying much in a public forum when you have a potential charge or legal proceeding in the future. Don’t post any more details, get an attorney, and take care of it offline.

Just my $0.02...

 

I bet he clocked you oncoming and turned around, you made your stop, he found you again.

 

Agree with above. In the US it's customary to set your enforcement OVER 5mph in town and 10mph highway so the case isn't thrown, wasting everyone's time. So states in Jerkwater USA and letter of the law enforcers typically anger the citizenry and create PR issues. Who knows what happened above. I was one of the rare ones that enjoyed court. If the subject is found NG, more power to him. As long as the Leo did his job properly, it's not his call. I'm curious where this one lands.

 

Radar detector should have provided some documentation. You can contest and appear in court. The officer will either be present (unlikely) or have a documented affidavit, the slip from the detector should be included. If its not you can hope for dismissal, but likely argue for reduction in charges.

If Texas allows for deferment, you can try that as well. You would pay full charges, but without any further infractions in a period of time, usually 1-2 years the record will be expunged. Insurance wont be notified and charges are there from dropped.

Directionality of your vehicle to the cop wouldnt really change the read out. I suspect its a handwritten value due to their state of mind seeming aggravated based off your account. A lack of print out or slip from the detector will just validate you there.

Good luck.

 

Wow...That's a deal right there. Your hung out to dry in California. Lol

 

Yeah Im not sure for other states, but Ive used that option more than once in Washington.

 

Lesson here is dont stop to piss on a tree in Mississippi lol

 

Leave it to someone from Oklahoma to crack a joke...lol

 

So... the cop communicated that he caught you doing 93 before you pulled over to pee, and perceived you pulled off to evade him.... Sounds like it will come down to the judge working out how best to reconcile two conflicting stories with a plausible reason for the conflict. In my experience when I’ve been caught and listened to a bunch of cases waiting for my turn, these usually go: guilty, but with penalty waived. But that’s in California.

 

Get one of these:

BARCONIC The Whizdom - Personal Urinary Device

https://www.amazon.com/Whizdom-Personal-Urinary-Device-BarConic/dp/B01MY5FMWC

Duck tape a bottle to your boot and have it drain there. Empty every hour or so.

Either that or pick up a pack of depends but that could get expensive real quick!

 

Showing up is usually in your best interest. I've seen similar outcomes. Typically the ones that go wrong are the people that dont quite realize that their in a courthouse and that the judge is essentially the king/queen there. Say as little as necessary, be as respectful as possible.

 

When I drink one cup of coffee, "a bottle" ain't gonna help. I'm gonna need a bucket for 2-3 cups.

 

In all serious though, all instruments have a set calibration period. If something takes a measurement then it needs to be calibrated. If/when you show up in court ask to see the specification for that particular model that was used saying you were going 93mph. Then ask for them to furnish the calibration record showing that the instrument has been calibrated within that specified period and is current. Good luck

 

just trying to add some humor here that’s all

 

I would go in and tell the truth, I was focused on relief as I was in pain and may have been going that fast, I never saw any LEO.

 

This is definitely not legal advice, but posting this on a public forum is probably not a great idea.

 

I had cruise control set at 70 before I stopped to take a leak though. I wasn't speeding and I damn sure wasn't running.

 

I'm telling y'all the exact same thing I'd tell the attorney or judge so no harm, no foul.

 

93mph in a 65mph zone could be considered reckless driving in Mississippi. Piling on "He tried to run from me" isn't helpful. If it was me and it wasn't practical to return to the out-of-state issuing jurisdiction I'd hire an attorney in the jurisdiction to represent me.

Good luck.

ps... it was a medical condition that forced your "restroom" stop.

 

could have been another vehicle similar to yours he clocked

 

Keep your mouth shut, delete your post, watch this video, and hire a competent attorney. Do your research first, there’s a lot of worthless attorneys.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE

Also, a lot of times, they will throw everything and the kitchen sink at you just to get you to plea so they more easily obtain their money and conviction.