FOP stickers and attidude

[rx8rider]

Just wandering whether you guys ever cut people some slack when you see the FOP sticker on their plate or on the window?
Also, what's the best thing one can do when stopped (for whatever reason)? How much does attidude (good and bad) count and what are honestly the best responses (is ignorance and denial bad or does telling the truth count for anything)?

[webjeep]

One of the first things taught in most interdiction classes is that there are more thugs with FOP/PBA stickers on their cars than cops.

Attitude is everything. If you have a good attitude and are courteous it may go a long way. Some will write regardless, but at least a good attitude makes the exchange that much more pleasant.

[slamdunc]

Attitude is the single most important factor on a marginal stop. The FOP sticker doesn't mean anything in and of itself. If it is a real FOP of PBA sticker, I usually inquire where they got it.

[pujolsfan146]

Can't overstate the importance of attitude. Goes a long way.
I got in a vehicle pursuit 2 nights ago. After we caught the guy my backup pointed at his "support your local sheriff dept" license plate frame and we had a good laugh. In most cases if you support your local law enforcement you wont need to show it by displaying an FOP sticker or license plate frame. It comes out in other ways.

[SinePari]

Just wandering whether you guys ever cut people some slack when you see the FOP sticker on their plate or on the window?
Also, what's the best thing one can do when stopped (for whatever reason)? How much does attidude (good and bad) count and what are honestly the best responses (is ignorance and denial bad or does telling the truth count for anything)?

FOP and other stickers mean diddly-squat. If you know what you did, I appreciate it when someone just admits it right away. Playing stupid, blaming someone who cut you off, or "going with the flow of traffic" are ways to make the team in my book.

[motorwaycop]

Every where in the world its all about attitude.
Thats mine and yours. I'll treat you nice if you treat me nice. It won't always be able to change the end result, ticket or arrest, but if you lie and whine you definitely going to get some!

[AZLawDawg]

Just wandering whether you guys ever cut people some slack when you see the FOP sticker on their plate or on the window?

nope, everyone's got one nowadays. You don't even have to actually pledge money to get one, all you have to do is say that you will, and you'll get one in the mail. Now an AZ DPS FOP sticker, that's a whole 'nother story. You don't just "get" those in the mail.

[t150vsuptpr]

Stickers, any LE oriented stickers at all, mean only one thing .... they are trying to get on my better side now that they have screwed up and caused me to take a second or even third look their way. They knew their habits and preplanned ahead by placing the stickers as a "tactic".
Besides .... so many stickers get left on vehicles year after year, they are even left on them at selling time as if to enhance value I think.

No, I don't pay them no mind myself.

No, I don't have them on my POVs either.

[RBrodowski]

I've seen people say, "Comeon, give me a break, I donate to the FOP!" Well too bad I'm not a member of the FOP :P.

[TGM]

This is one concept that is hard for non LEOs to understand...

The first thing I think of when I see a car with police organization stickers is that the driver is a wanna-be, or someone who speeds on a regular basis and wants to curry favor. The only exception to this rule is the local Houston Police Union stickers, however they are not obvious law enforcement stickers at first glance, and even they are only on LEO family member cars and 1st year officers.

My car has a small local fire department sticker (I am a volunteer), and an AOPA sticker (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association - I am a pilot).

[10 FORTY 3]

If the person is a true FOP or LEO supporter, then 9 times out of 10 you will never be stopping these folks because they OBEY THE LAW!! Like it was previously mentioned, one of the first things taught in traffic enforcement classes is that people will attempt to "fool" cops with those thin blue line stickers and all that mess.

[MBD]

My last arrest came from a 19 year-old who was OVI, had 3 empty beer cans, 2 full beer cans and a nearly empty whiskey bottle in his vehicle. He also had an FOP supporter sticker on the rear window.

[harnettlawman]

Be very polite and don't argue with the officer over anything. Answer his questions truthfully and realize that he has a job to do.
If there is any problems, it will be found out in court.

[harnettlawman]

Ignorance and denial is bad because that shows you are incompetent. You have a driver's license, so you know what you are doing. The speed limit is always posted in some shape or form and your responsibility to pay attention to the signs.

[Bill]

With all the PBA and FLOP cards in NJ, I could care less about a FLOP sticker. Stickers mean nothing and I don't pay any attention to them at all. 80% of NJ is PBA anyway, not the FLOP.