Help me settle a debate.

[MsSunshine]

It's a stupid debate.... but a debate nonetheless.

I have a family acquaintance whom I bumped into a few weeks ago, and noticed that she had a firefighter sticker on her back car window. Not sure what they're called... but I think it's the insignia/shield for a local department.

It made me curious... I've known her entire family since I was a kid.... and NONE of them are firefighters... or anything of the sort. So, I asked her what it was all about.

Her reply? "It's so I don't get pulled over... or get a ticket"

Me "Yeah... um... you're not a firefighter."

Her "Well, I have a family friend who is... "

I kept my opinions to myself... and told her that I didn't think the sticker was going to prevent her from getting ticketed if she was driving like a jerk. She kind of blew me off after that... LOL

My question is... are those stickers truly a "free pass"? Or is this acquaintance misinformed? If you pulled someone over and it turned out they had no affiliation whatsoever with whatever their sticker was representing... would it change how you dealt with the situation? Would you call them on it? Would you even care?

There is nothing that disgusts me more than people who pretend to be something they're not... it disgusts me even more when they try to reap the benefits. (Not to say that anyone has "above-the-law" privileges... but you know what I mean!)

Anyway, just curious to hear some opinions. Thanks!

[AZLawDawg]

My question is... are those stickers truly a "free pass"?

Nope.

[StudChris]

Thin blue line, red blue line, FOP, fire fighter insignia, they all get stopped. Usually, my first statement when I get to the car is, "What station you work at?" Usually, I get a confused look. At that point, it's just another stop.

On another note, it's not worth losing some female friend because you don't like her sticker. The correct answer for you for now on is, "Oh ok... wanna go out?"

[SgtCHP]

They don't get a pass in my neck of the woods. I think your cousin needs to be stopped and taught a lesson. She is poorly informed; and, no doubt, will in all liklihood give an officer a lot of lip when she gets stopped and cited for a traffic infraction.

[MsSunshine]

Thin blue line, red blue line, FOP, fire fighter insignia, they all get stopped. Usually, my first statement when I get to the car is, "What station you work at?" Usually, I get a confused look. At that point, it's just another stop.

On another note, it's not worth losing some female friend because you don't like her sticker. The correct answer for you for now on is, "Oh ok... wanna go out?"

This is not someone I see regularly... I was visiting family and bumped into her in a store parking lot... I live across the country.

In retrospect... I should have just smiled & nodded. It wasn't my intention to burst her bubble... I just thought she was grossly misinformed.

Sigh.

Oh well. I'm sure she'll figure it out eventually.

[PhilipCal]

Your friend is terribly misinformed. No pass.

[crass cop]

Ive seen those "FOP" support stickers on some dirtbag cars just for that purpose..."well, I didnt think I would get stopped if I had the sticker"
I will never have a cop sticker on my POV....just a target for some jagoff to decide to bash my window or see where I live.
BUT....no....no free rides, unless you really are a LEO or FF. Posers dont count.

[TOMBSTONE]

ME: Whats with the Firefighter decal?
Your Friend: Ummm my blank is a firefighter
ME:Oh yah what station/department is he with
Your Friend: Err...Umm
ME:Liar, sign here

[Michigan]

The only "free pass" is a badge or military uniform.

[KapsFB]

The only "free pass" is a badge or military uniform.

Well......wait a minute. Is she hot?

[HEDP]

Thin blue line, red blue line, FOP, fire fighter insignia, they all get stopped. Usually, my first statement when I get to the car is, "What station you work at?" Usually, I get a confused look. At that point, it's just another stop.

On another note, it's not worth losing some female friend because you don't like her sticker. The correct answer for you for now on is, "Oh ok... wanna go out?"

This.




...................and tell her your a firefighter!





.

[HEDP]

ME: Whats with the Firefighter decal?
Your Friend: Ummm my blank is a firefighter
ME:Oh yah what station/department is he with
Your Friend: Err...Umm
ME:Liar, sign here

Not so sure about this.




I know 2 guys who are firefighters. Don't have a clue where they work. Never cared to know or ask them.


I don't go, "So, tell me a firefighter story, there so exciting!"



And how many people do you know who know cops but can't remember where they work, lest what precinct they work at?



.

[Name Taken]

When I see FOP stickers or thin blue line stickers I engage myself in a game. I call it "Find PC" and 90% of the time end up stopping them. I will ask about the sticker and have not ONCE stopped any who I offered Proffesional Courtesy to.

Those stickers are a joke and mean nothing. If I need to know who you are...I'm sure you'll tell me.

[nonickname69]

Your thoughts are correct. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry has sticker on the back of their car for some reason or another. I barely even note them as I am looking at the driver and all that officer safety tactical stuff.

Stickers won't get you off of anything and being related to a firefighter most definitely doesn't qualifies a reason to even be let off of a ticket.

99% of the time you can't even tell what the stickers are until you get the car stopped are walking up on it.

[crass cop]

I personally hunt for the obama stickered vehicles.