RudieRVA 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🇯🇴

What is it about #cops in rural areas that seem to be the most high on the fumes of their egos and have the biggest superiority complexes? I got pulled over by Hanover County police for going a bit too fast down a side road (I have no argument there, I should’ve known better). But my record is as close to immaculate as you can get, with my only other speeding ticket a LONG time ago when I had my first car (2003?) But this officer was very clearly fishing for other things to tack on, and threw the book at my with a reckless driving charge, all the while exhibiting a very uppity, arrogant demeanor.

I see more police in rural Hanover County than I did in 3 days in New York City for crying out loud

Mar 22, 2023 at 9:49pmWeb
Show threadRudieRVA 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🇯🇴Mar 22, 2023
And of course they’re hiding in the bushes waiting to make their ticket quota, harrassing people over petty bullshit, no doubt just collecting revenue. #acab #defundthepolice
Show threadg.w.cohrs Mar 22, 2023
@rudiev Hanover is where I had my first direct encounter with police racism. I was in the back seat of a two door sedan that my friend owned at the time. She and our other friend in the passenger seat are both Black women, I'm a White man. We got pulled over for a "broken taillight" one night by these two good ole boy pigs and they were hostile and dismissive (drunk on their power and intent on harassing two college sophomores) until they saw me in the back seat. Then their attitude utterly changed, still jerks but no longer hostile. All that's to say, Hanover cops are a special kind of special, but also, yeah, had a similar experience as you with a Culpeper cop once.
Show threadRudieRVA 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🇯🇴Mar 22, 2023
@historydrey Wow, I’m sorry you had to go through that. Having had a few minutes to think it all over, I feel a bit silly now complaining about a ticket when Black people routinely have to fear for their lives over even basic traffic stops. It’s amazing what people will tolerate for the illusion of safety.
Show threadg.w.cohrs Mar 22, 2023
@rudiev Oh! Sorry. Honestly that was not my intent. I was just trying to offer yet another example of police abuse and while your experience and my experience aren't necessarily on the same level, they both represent facets of the larger constellation of police abuse, brutality, and exploitation of the communities (particularly marginalized communities) they are supposed to serve and protect. You had a shitty experience, and I'd argue that most drivers have had shitty experiences during traffic stops even for minor infractions. Sure you may have broken the law, but sheer lack of respect that cops often show to civilians of all types bleeds into every aspect of their duties.