Well I just got a ticket. I was driving up to the stop light at 104th Ave on 148th Street. Right in front of the community police station. There was a line up of cars waiting for the light but no one in the left turn lane and I wanted to turn left. So I pulled out, crossed over the yellow island and drove up the left turn lane.
Unfortunately as soon as I pulled out a cop was oncoming and saw me drive over the yellow island. Bad luck. I make the turn, look in my mirror and all of a sudden there's a cop car behind me. That was pretty quick. After a few seconds they turned their lights on and I pulled over.
I'm hesitant because they've already run my plate and know I have restricted firearms. One cop gets out walks up to the passenger side and says do you know why we pulled you over?! Nope. He says something and I give my version of the events and he starts to dispute it. I just kind of roll my eyes because he's making a big deal about nothing.
He steps back and his partner comes up to my window and we go through the same scenario. I said there was a line up of cars, the left turn lane was empty so I drove over the yellow painted island to get into the left turn lane. Then he claims I was completely over into oncoming traffic and he had to serve to avoid me. I was going less that 30 KM/h.
I said that's a lie. I was not completely in the oncoming traffic lane. He's like I know what I saw. I'm like well that's for a judge to decide. I was going to dispute the ticket and make him lie in court but I decided to pay it because it's not worth my time.
When he came back with the ticket he was a little more respectful and a little less panicky. He asked if I had any questions and I said right behind the police station over there they smoke crystal meth in public. It's right beside Superstore and they create all kinds of problems. They harass customers, steal from the store. It's a mess.
I said if you let that go and make a big deal of me driving over a yellow island, then that's unequal protection of the law. Taxpayers expect better. He's like oh that's completely unrelated blah blah blah. I said it's not unrelated. It's unequal protection of the law. This isn't how you build public trust and confidence in law enforcement. I said I supported the Surrey Police but stuff like this really takes the wind out of your sails. It's disappointing.
I mentioned how IHIT was sleeping with witnesses in the Surrey Six and he's like that's got nothing to do with me. I'm like yes it does. It all relates to public perception and public trust. I know I shouldn't make a big deal about it but this unequal protection of the law really bugs me. They shouldn't let the drug use slide.
At first they pulled up like two young kids with chips on their shoulders and I was like really? They were young. Probably new. Both of them would probably do a lot better under real pressure than that white lady that stuck her gun in my face on my way home with my daughter in the car. All of these interactions effect public perception and public trust.
In fact, if they searched my licence they would have seen that many years ago I took out a mugger in that same Superstore parking lot. A white crackhead who mugged a Korean woman.
You're allowed to give someone a warning. Times are tough. Everyone is struggling financially. Tickets cost money, money takes food off the table. One time many years ago, I was on my motorcycle in Langley on the way to work during winter.
A cop pulled me over and asked me if I knew why he pulled me over. Nope. He says I see this guy on a motorcycle during the winter so I run his plate. Your driver's license has expired. I'm like really? Aren't they supposed to give me a notice about that. I forgot to renew it.
He gave me a ticket and let me push my bike the rest of the way to work. Then he says if you renew your license and dispute the ticket, I won't show up at court. Which would mean I'd win.
That was nice. I thanked him and did exactly that.