The red and blue flashed in the rearview mirror as I pulled over, killing the manual transmission, while anxiety took over.
We drove back from Eureka Springs, AR this morning. A small four-day getaway, Q planned, to make adventures and checkout of the M-F shenanigans. The trip down went smoothly. Other than uncomfortable sitting arrangements from hours of driving, nothing major happened. There were lots of tiny towns and winding roads out there in the middle of nowhere. On the way back, however, things got a little bit more lively. I got to experience the law enforcement of Fairview, MO. Later, after making it home, I would research the city – and it sounds like a few things may be off there (all the way up the ladder).
Fairview, MO. In the 2010 census, 383 people were registered living there. It was one of the places we went through on the way back to Lawrence, KS. At about 11:30 AM, on this chilly overcast spring day, while passing through the Franklin Township, red and blue lights flashed behind us. A white pickup truck, with local law enforcement branding on the side, pulled us over in Q’s 2005 Pontiac Vibe. A slender man, with a stocking cap and a badge hanging on his chest, like what you would see on a TV detective, got out. He was wearing the cool mirror single piece glasses and approached along the side of the car. Having already grabbed my license and insurance, I was ready. I stayed still until he approached so he could see my movements. He asked if I knew why he pulled me over. I honestly had no idea. I had the cruise control set to the speed limit. Nothing else seemed amiss at that moment…
Mind you, it was daylight, we were pulled over for a “passenger headlight” being out. Realizing over our trip – it didn’t come to mind when he asked his question, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” I told him that we were recently aware and the part was ordered. In actuality, it was the driver’s side. This, of course, annoyed me. The light was noticed Monday and ordered from Amazon on Monday, for a Tuesday (today) delivery. And it was full-on daylight. If I had them off – it would not have mattered. But, he was right, it was out, which is not legal. What I cannot get over though, is Officer Scofield’s (spelling?) weird mannerisms. He treated us with the highest amount of suspicion. Two adults, with two kids in the back, with obvious packings of a trip of sorts. Also, he would not look at me in the eyes, or if he was, his head was left or right and eyes sideways. It was like Stevie Wonder was having a conversation with me. He was peering inside of the car as if we had drugs inside or he was looking for some other probable cause. The most dangerous things in the car at this time were the toys that would absolutely assault bare feet. The bodies and kilos were not in this car for this trip.
We sat while he ran the plates, my license, and he scoped out whatever he was looking for. He kept looking up and down the street as if to see if we had an entourage. When he was done running the legal checks, he came back and gave us a verbal warning. No documents issued and he did not have any normal pleasantries that officers typically do. He continued to not look at me but finally did look at me with extreme caution when I extended my hand to shake his (which is what I have always done when pulled over). While I was very angry inside for the logic of pulling me over during the day for headlights, his treatment of us, and lack of courtesy, he did have the legal right to. However, I would not say that the Fairview Police Department is on my Christmas list or Thanksgiving Thank You card list…
Looking back, hours later, I am not upset about the logic of a headlight being of concern during prime daylight. While I will respectfully disagree… it was out. That is not legal. I just wish that I understood what he was looking for, or expected to find. Was I fitting a suspect profile or did I look extraordinarily suspicious – and if so what was triggering it? It wasn’t as if he followed us and my driving was the cause. He was off to the side of the road when he pulled onto the road and immediately turned his lights on. The bottom line – is that I am unhappy with the treatment without what I feel was real probable cause. I will be over it by tomorrow. Just slightly annoyed and curious. It is not going to ruin the trip or my day.
As always – warm wishes – joe
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