Have some spare time on my hands and would like to answer any questions you guys might have. Pretty much an open book but if I’m unable to answer your question, I will let you know. My goal is to get to everyone. Ask away!
State Trooper AMA
r/AMA
Have some spare time on my hands and would like to answer any questions you guys might have. Pretty much an open book but if I’m unable to answer your question, I will let you know. My goal is to get to everyone. Ask away!
Comments
Do you write other law enforcement officer if you stop them?
What state?
When you pull someone over for drugs, so you think that a larger supply passes you and you pulled over the decoy?
Have you or your office been contacted to support ICE doing raids? If so, what’s their ask? If not, so you expect to be asked to support ICE in their work?
What’s your favorite gas station to stop at for a drink or snack? Do you often get your purchase for free as a thanks for your service?
Do you get any friction or inter-department rivalry from county and local police?
How do you feel about the sheer prevalence of firearms in the US especially as it pertains to your safety in the line of duty?
Thanks for keeping the roads safe! Was always curious.. If two cars were both speeding recklessly, how do you determine which to chase?
Dream job to be a cop or just wound up in it for other reasons?
Do you mostly work the highway?
How do people with thin blue line stickers act when you pull them over?
Have only been pulled over by one State Trooper in my life. I was going 3 over. He asked me to step out of my car and sit in his front seat where he questioned me then let me off with a warning. Looked it up and found out this is super common with troopers… why?
Do you ever watch cop shows?
Scotland here – what exactly is the difference between a State Trooper and local police officer? Do you have different remits or powers? Do you deal with specific criminal activity that the other wouldn’t?
What are your state’s MJ laws? Are you lenient for personal medical use? What if they say it’s hemp do you test it?
I drive a tractor trailer. When I go through weigh stations and I see some pulled over for further inspection, is there something the weigh station cops are looking for to make them go in the lot after their on the scale or is it just completely random?
How has your demeanor changed over time with your job? How taxing is it on your family?
What’s your typical schedule?
Why don’t State Troopers enforce the local gun laws? We had neighbors shooting all the time at the back of our house in college and the Troopers would show up and shake hands with the guys and say be careful, and then they’d go back to drinking and shooting. Are they scared of another Ruby Ridge?
When your ticket numbers are down, do you tell your boss, “I can’t make em speed, sarge?!”
Are you allowed to take your cruiser home with you? is there a height requirement to be a trooper?
If you pulled me over for speeding and I was really nice would you let me off with an unwritten warning 👉🏼👈🏼
What qualities or characteristics do you have that butt heads with your obligations and duties as a state trooper? Do traffic stops or conversations with civilians have to bash with who you are personality wise?
Are you more likely to not ticket someone if they never had a ticket before or if they are polite and respectful?
I know on the highway everybody goes above the speed limit, but how much over the speed limit would a car need to be going before you personally pull them over?
What goes through your mind when pulling up during a stop? Like what emotions do you have? Thanks for your service and everything you do.
Do you feel it’s important for members of law enforcement to have a sense of humor or a good personality? Or is it better to be “tough and strong” because letting your guard down could make you unsafe or vulnerable on the job?
Is the whole You’re too Smaht to be a statie from The Departed true? Like is there a test and such
Are the physical requirements to be a state police officer different than a town police officer? Do you get to choose your service weapon?
Do you think that the initial training at the beginning of your career adequately prepared you for the job?
Do you all really care about “illegal fireworks”? it seems they’re far more popular in states where they’re illegal.
I know that several states (Ohio, for example) are calling for teachers to carry weapons and offering funds for weekend training classes, as well as subsidies for teachers who are willing to buy a handgun to carry while teaching. Do you believe that teachers can and should be the first line of defense if and when a school shooting occurs?
Do you ever watch ‘Audit’ videos?
what’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?
What percentage of your coworkers would you say have displayed racist tendencies
This is going to sound like a stupid question, but what is the difference between you as a state trooper and regular police?
What is the best way to answer the question, “Do you know how fast you were going”?
where do u usually got for your literacola?
Do you ever reward frank honesty with a decreased ticket or warning?
Like, “yes, sir, I was speeding. I should know better I just got carried away” then cut the fine in half or run the driver and wait 10 minutes and let them go?
One of my good buddies and life mentors was a RCMP member. He would almost always drop people’s fines by at least 20kmph or even more if they were just honest and expressed some mature regret.
What did you think about Super Troopers movie?
I wish you all would drive clunkers with cameras and catch some real lawlessness the rest of us see. It’s not the guy doing 40 in a 25 on empty roads it’s the guy doing a buck twenty, weaving or tailgating when you are already speeding. Then pass on double yellow. I live in a state where if the cops ticket the courts are lenient and it discourages enforcement
On average, how often do you or your coworkers extort people for sexual favors on the side of the road?
Unless this has been asked already, you have any wild stories like Police chases you’ve been in?
During an average shift, how many stops end in arrest vs tickets?
I saw you say in an early reply that quotas weren’t real. But if quotas aren’t real, why would the state of Ohio have a new law outlawing them? Why outlaw something that doesn’t exist?
What’s the wildest wreckless persuit you’ve been in?
I used to be state police but got probationary terminated due to an off duty injury resulting in blindness in one eye. How should I go about informing a trooper of this when I get pulled over to try and get the courtesy of a warning. Right now, my strat is pretend I forgot my wallet and while scrolling through my photos for my ID, I “stumble” across a pic of my police ID in view of the officer. I never actually claim I’m an active officer, and when he asks where I work or something along those lines I’ll tell the truth, but what is a better way to say I was an officer that was injured?
So… have you ever gotten a “favor” in liue of tickets?
Quotas: a real thing or nah
Have you been tasked to ask about citizenship or residency status on traffic stops? Do you profile if you believe they are illegals migrants IE let’s say farm workers in a truck.
Did you follow Karen read case and how floored were you by the investigation
What’s your favorite time of day on shift?
Why are you all so meannnnn?! I’ve gotten pulled over twice and was terrified yet polite but still got talked to like my dad after I got busted sneaking out. Most videos I see are of stern/mean guys
Do you pull over a lot of people that have “illegal tint” including windshields?
Would you cross over if you saw one of your fellow officers doing something illegal or against someone’s constitutional rights?
Have any incite into who makes up ICE? Ex military? Current/former police?
Bunch a Chuck e cheese mfers.
How accurate is the movie Super Troopers?
Thoughts on Connecticut enforcing left lane passing with tickets to those that left lane hog?
When the news reports a drug bust on the interstate, there always seem to be some “lame’ excuse for the stop. Does the State have some CI info in advance or are the cops really that lucky?
My nephew is a state trooper in Indiana. He says that ten percent over the speed limit is ok. Do you agree and how widespread is this? The comment about 3 mph over seems unlikely.
I drive on interstate a lot and by far the most dangerous driver in my opinion is someone driving way slower than the flow of traffic. Why don’t these people get tickets? Do you guys not see the danger in this situation!
Just want to say I always appreciate you guys helping keep our highways safe! Wish there were more of you keeping idiots from speeding over the mountain passes in the wintertime, it’s so dangerous then.
How many crashes, if any, have you been involved in?
Can you see my expunged felony during a traffic stop?
What’s your take on the ICE raids and their use of masks and lack of ID? How do you feel about warrantless searches? Not trying to stoke a fire, just genuinely would like to hear the viewpoint of a responsible law enforcement officer working day in and day out for the public good.
How does the job negatively and positively impact your home life?
As a motorcyclist and a pedestrian, I have a beef with NOT seeing a driver through tinted windows. I can’t see what they’re looking at. Why the heck are so many black glass vehicles?
Opinion on medicinal use of psilocybin?
What do you wish the average person understood about your profession but does not?
I have a great question, If I tell my local police about someone that drives REALLY drunk every single weekend pretty much, will it do anything?? Will he somehow be on their radar for weekend driving?
Is it true police have “quotas” to reach when it comes to writing tickets?
My friend’s husband is a police officer and she told me that his department plays games about who can write the most speeding tickets, and other minor infractions etc. each shift.
I heard that stage troupers do a lot of csi as well? I’m some way or form. Is this true?
Craziest thing you’ve ever seen? Most dangerous criminal you’ve come face to face with?
If the ID statute requires only a name and address, why are y’all so hot for a birthdate and arrest for failure to ID if it’s not given?
Not specifically aimed at troopers, but all law enforcement.
I once (often, but this event only happened once) drove 95 in a 60 mph highway, but it was like 11 pm. And a police car turned their lights as I zoomed past, and there’s no one else on the road for like 10 minutes.
So police car chased after me, but since I was not doing 90+, him getting his police car out of the ditch took some time, I was able to reach an intersection, and thereby merged in normal traffic.
I saw the car turn the lights off and make a U turn.
What would have been the repercussions of that? (Bear mind that this was 30 years ago)
Do those “Fraternal Order of Police” decals that are out on a car actually help in not getting a ticket?
what was your best day on the job?
Best way to get out of a ticket if you don’t have tits?
Do you work back up for ICE?
If you do how do you feel about it?
Why don’t people get tickets anymore? Why don’t cops do their job anymore? I see someone run a red light nearly every time I see a red light. The same posted speed limit that was once the max is now the minimum.
Is it because we prosecuted Derek Chauvin? Is that it?
What would it take to make a trooper arrest an ice agent for illegally abduction someone or taking on other nefarious behavior?
Have you ever seen or known other troopers that were involved in white supremacy or consistent cases of excessive force? How do you feel about those things pervading police departments nationally?
How long have you been a state trooper? How old are you? Male or female?
Have you ever used drugs?
When someone gets a DWI do they take the license? What’s the procedure for the situation ?
Scariest day on the job?
I think most police officers are good people trying to do the right thing. Every day you wake up not know if you will be in danger that day.
It must be tough.
With that said, I am sure there are bad people and racist people in the position. What percent of the people you work with are bad people?
Sorry if this has been asked but if you ask someone do you know you were speeding or do you know why I pulled you over… what’s the best answer? an honest answer and apology for speeding ?
Has anyone simply provided their documents then immediately invoked the 4th amendment? If so, what has been/would be your reaction?
How proactive is your agency in regards to mental health?
So I like cars and I like guns. What’s your vehicle and load out?
What are your thoughts on the 1st amendment auditors
Does your station allow P320’s to be used?
If I’m driving and some idiot is weaving in and out of traffic going at least 20 over the speed limit, should I call 911 and say it’s a non-emergency and report it?
When you’re hiding behind the bushes in the median, how much over the limit are you waiting for?
Favorite cop show? Most realistic cop show?
What’s the best tip/trick/technique you’ve learned for de-escalation?
How do you feel about soberism stops? Where you set up stop and checks? I personally feel that it’s a set up and not constitutional.
Have you ran into and how do you handle sovereign citizens?
Hello sir, I just like to ask regarding speed limit. When driving interstate highway, with 60 or 70 speed limit. Is it okay to drive 10mph more? Because most of the time cars and trucks are above the speed limit, I am wondering if you can get pull over by doing so?
How do you react when a motorist invokes their 5th and 4th amendment but is otherwise compliant by promptly providing license, registration, insurance ?
Do you ever have work related anxiety?
Do you pull people over for impeding traffic and going too slow?
I drive a dodge 5500 spray truck(fertilizer/weed spray guy) and I adhere to dot regulations, like a dot number visible on the truck, stop at weigh stations etc.. when signs say speed 70 trucks 60. How big is considered a truck? Is it by weight? CDL? Do I go the same speed as the semis or as the cars?
You sound like a good cop, thanks for that. Also thanks for taking the time to do an AMA. I know your Job is hard and I appreciate that you risk your safety for us. I hope you enjoy your week.
Is a bottle of beer with a screw on top ( like a Coors lite in the metal bottle) considered an ‘open container ‘ if the top is on it?
How do you feel about private citizens and 2A/CCW?
Do you enforce the smoked color license plate covers? Oversized tires with no mudflaps?
How often would you pull someone over for a headlight that’s not working?
Hey, thanks for doing this AMA. I work for local government, and you remind me of our good LEOs (and they’re mostly good). I saw in an earlier comment that you do care about mental health of LEOs, which I appreciate. I have a small hand in looking at data and making policy recommendations based on that, and have a question for you: What’s your opinion on mandatory mental wellness check-ins with a psychiatrist specializing in the LE community, say, annually? You seem very level headed and I’d appreciate hearing your take.
What goes through your head when you are arresting someone?
Would you say you are looking for probable cause on most of your stops?
Do you feel that a lot of the mistrust in law enforcement and anti-police sentiment we see nowadays is at all warranted? If so, what do you think can be done to fix it?
I’ve always heard that cops tell their kids “don’t talk to the police without a lawyer”. Is that true?
Biggest / most common giveaway a car is loaded with drugs?
Did you have a plus 1 for the State Toopers Ball?
Do I have to move over if a cop is behind me without his lights on? I was driving over the speed limit and he was up my ass flashing me.
Is it true State Police prefer being addressed as Trooper and not Officer?
Is there any truth to there being a “ticket quota” state or county officers have to hit? I’ve never believed that but have heard enough people say it it makes you wonder lol
With all the talk about immigrants lately, do you stereotype ” Mexicans” and stop them for any reason to see if they have licenses?
How often do troopers drink drive while not on the job?
I am in no way implying you’re like this, but I was once stopped by a state trooper that gave me a chill to my bones.
It was 2 pm and I was on my way to work. He stopped me on a very busy highway and from the moment he approached my window my survival instinct went into over-drive. This man looked at me as if he were a hungry lion and I was a zebra. Not a “checked me out look”. A predatory look.
He asked for my license and when I gave it to him in the most skeevy and suggestive way he asked “Do you really weigh 130?! You don’t look like you weigh that much”. He then asked if I had been drinking (I hadn’t) and pointed to my smoothie in the cup holder and said “so that’s not a Bloody Mary?”.
It’s so hard to put the interaction into words because he didn’t say or do anything I can point up as completely inappropriate but I would bet everything I own that this man has ended women.
Have you heard any awful stories relating to other officers turning out to be predators like this?