<VV> police harassment - again -long

Fri Sep 30 21:47:39 EDT 2005

Mike,

We have a similar situation here in North Carolina. Cars 35 years old and 
older are not required to have a safety inspection (regardless of plate). 
This is a new requirement this year. I'm sure a lot of police officers don't 
know about it, it wasn't very well publicised.

I probably have a different perspective on this situation that a lot of 
people. I am a State Inspector and I encourage people to have their Corvairs 
inspected even though it isn't required. It certainly isn't because of the 
$8 "profit" I make for 20 minutes of work that often turns into an hour when 
I have a problem with the inspection machine or the car being inspected. 
It's because I think the service I provide is a bargain as is the 
certification that the car is "safe". I have personally experienced a 
situation where an insurance company accused me of having an unsafe Corvair 
when their insured ran into me. The fact that my car had recently been 
inspected was a factor in the settlement. In North Carolina an insurance 
company gets out of paying anything if they can prove that you in any way 
(like 1%) contribute to the accident.

I know that most people don't like the State telling them they have to do 
anything, especially when it come to our cars, but I think it is foolish not 
to take advantage of a real bargain.

Spence Shepard----- Original Message ----- 
From: <mhicks130 at cox.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 11:36 PM
Subject: <VV> police harassment - again -long

>A while back I posted about being pulled over by a York County VA sheriff 
>because I didn't have the state-mandated safety inspection sticker in my 
>window.  He told me that antique cars were not exempt.  Afterwards I talked 
>to a state police officer (they oversee the safety inspection laws) and he 
>said antique registered cars ARE exempt and suggested that I keep a copy of 
>the laws in my glovebox for the next time I got pulled over.  Well I got 
>pulled over again today - by the SAME sheriff's deputy.
>
> This time he was directing traffic in front of a school.  He left his 
> post, drove the wrong way in the opposing lane to chase me down - for not 
> having a sticker (which I am exempt by law from having).  I was ready for 
> him this time - I had my printouts.  He saw them when he walked up to the 
> car and asked if was going to read them to him.  I replied "if I have to". 
> I told him that I had talked to the state police and they told me I was 
> exempt.  He said they lied to me!!!  I barked back that no they did not. 
> I then read the laws to him as requested.  He admitted that I was right 
> (??). He then threatened to pull my tags and force me to tow my car home 
> because it was unsafe in his oppoinion because I couldn't "prove" the 
> brakes were good.  I offered to jack the car up and show him but he wanted 
> the inspection pink slip. I told him the inspection slip doesn't prove 
> anything and again offered to show him my brakes.  I was actually YELLING 
> at this guy by this time.  I know it's no
> t a good idea but I couldn't help it.  Telling my the state police were 
> liars and then threatening to impound my plates with no probable cause was 
> more than I could take.  I accused him of harassment and demanded another 
> officer be brought to the scene.  I felt things were getting ugly fast and 
> I wanted a "real" cop to be there.  Well things calmed down and me and the 
> deputy had a reasonable little talk after that.  He said he didn't 
> remember talking to me before and was just trying to inform me of the laws 
> pertaining to antique vehicles.  But of course he was telling me the wrong 
> laws until I read him the real law.  He knew the real law too, he just 
> doesn't like people not having inspections and using their cars.  They 
> only gray area here is the law restricts the kind of driving you can do - 
> you aren't supposed to use antique cars for daily transportation.  It does 
> allow you to use it for club activities, shows, repairs and "pleasure 
> drives". Unfortunately it doesn't define
>  "pleasure drives" anywhere.  The state police officer said because of 
> that I could drive it pretty much how I wanted.  The sheriff's deputy 
> thought it meant I can't even stop for a bite to eat if I'm on a pleasure 
> drive.
>
> I ended up not getting a ticket, which I almost wish I had got so we could 
> settle this thing.  I don't know what to do.  At the end of it all he was 
> shaking my hand, tellng me I was a good guy, congradulating me on 
> informing myself on the laws and offering to take me out for coffee the 
> next time we met.  I'm quite the diplomat I guess.  The allows me to drive 
> my car the way I have been driving but this guy doesn't like that.  I'm 
> tempted to get a sticker just to get this guy off my back but I'm still 
> young enough to want to fight for principle!!!  Dammit.
>
> BTW, he did talk to me about the Bible and God and the commandments and 
> stuff.  It turns out we're not human beings having a spiritual experience, 
> we're spiritual beings having a human experience.  He's very knowledgible 
> on holy things this guy.  I got a less of it this time than the last time 
> he pulled me over.  It still aint right though.
>
> Sorry for the long post but you guys are the only ones who would 
> understand my dilema.
>
> mike
>
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