pulled over for vaping

[wormie69]

I have had some really funny looks from people when I drive and vape. I have wondered if people might think it is drugs because so few people I have talked to have ever heard of an ecig. I try not to flash it around to much just for this reason. Especially my pink Ego really stands out. I will be much more aware after reading this.

 

[Fawsune]

What kind of illegal substance looks like an e cig anyways? :/
I have vaporizers for my weed and they look nothing alike. Hell vaporizer pipes for weed sometimes look more like crack pipes than anything and some of them require lighters. Other versions look like cell phones, etc. Obviously this was an uninformed police officer.

 

[Col. Gaunt]

Sometimes cops like to hassle people for no reason other then they are bored. Maybe he just thought what you had looked cool and he wanted to confiscate it from you so he could keep it for himself.

I know that not all police officers are like this but I have had my share of experiences with some bad ones.

 

[wizzelwuzzel]

Im sorry, but Im to livid atm to not share this.

So I just jetted over to friends house less that a mile away from me. While stopped at a red light a cop stops in the lane to my left. There I am, minding my own biz, singing along to some tunes, and vaping off my 401. My window is rolled up while doing this, so its probably pretty clear that Im not smoking a gig, or Id be dying of nasty smoke inhalation. I notice the cop notice me, and then sternly glare at me. The light turns green and I make a right turn. The cop then cuts a cross 2 lanes (putting lives at risk, pift.) and proceeds to follow me a block or so. He then pulls me over, stating "I have reason to believe you are driving under the influence of ............. please step our of your vehicle so I can search it." blah blah blah. I gave him my ecig spiel but he didnt seem to buy it. Long story short, he stole 15 mins of my time while searching my car and found nothing... because the was nothing to find ARG! He then tells me 'it appears you're vehicle is clean but I will need to inspect your smoking apparatus" which I proceed to hand him. He gives it a long look over while Im explaining the parts and what exactly it is. He hands it back to me, seeming unconvinced, and tells me "You can be on your way now but in the future, avoid using this thing while driving if you wish to have no further issues such as this. Have a nice day." UM WTF!?! Is he telling me that my vaping while driving is more dangerous than a regular cig while driving!?! ARG stupid people.

Anyone else have any similar issues like this?

p.s. sorry, just had to vent to an understanding crowd =)

I was actually just wondering about this today while I was driving. I bet there are a lot of people in the same situation. At least it was only 15 minutes. Every time I got pulled over, they took their sweet time. I guess that's because they actually had to write me up a ticket though.

 

[tresrottn]

I am not going to go there.....

I definitely stay pretty neutral. Things are pretty black and white, to me.

I appreciate very much most police officers, and I think the ones who abuse their authority due to frigid wives and not being very well endowed just completely ruin it for the good 90+% of them

 

[fritos1]

Since I've been reading this thread, I've been trying to be as obvious as possible when vaping, especially at lights. I'd kinda like to be pulled over, just for the entertainment value of dealing with the cop.

RadicalJD

Yeah attorneys are like that.

 

[oldmanatc]

This is my first post, so hello all. I think this should be made a sticky. Similar events are bound to happen in the future and educating members on how to act is a good idea.

 

[imtheshane]

I've actually been pulled over for the same reason. After I explained everything to the officer, and let him try it out, I referred him here for more info. He thought it was about the coolest thing he'd ever seen, and thanked me for taking the time to explain what they were, how they worked, and letting him try it out.

 

[JRBlood]

And people wonder why I keep a digital video camera in my car at all times.

It would have been great to get a video of this to prove how uneducated the cop was and how you were treated.

 

[guava]

The officer who pulled the OP over did not arrest her, did not seize the vaping equipment, and did nothing other than his job. When he advised her about not vaping and driving, it was most likely a courtesy (like trying to be nice, hello) for her to avoid getting pulled over again.

Nothing I've said will change any minds who have personal axes to grind against the police.

I'm glad the OP has (from what I read) recognized an opportunity instead of a victim-status moment. The officer violated nothing, based on this account of the story from the OP. He did his job...what a concept for some people! LOL.

 

[LowThudd]

The officer who pulled the OP over did not arrest her, did not seize the vaping equipment, and did nothing other than his job. When he advised her about not vaping and driving, it was most likely a courtesy (like trying to be nice, hello) for her to avoid getting pulled over again.

Nothing I've said will change any minds who have personal axes to grind against the police.

I'm glad the OP has (from what I read) recognized an opportunity instead of a victim-status moment. The officer violated nothing, based on this account of the story from the OP. He did his job...what a concept for some people! LOL.

He had NO reason to search her vehicle once it had been established that the device in question was not for illicet purposes. He had no right to say to not use the said legal device while driving. He was ignorant and bullyish. Most cops aren't, but some cops are suffering from Bully Cop Syndrome, and I hate dealing with them when they are like that. To assume that he was in the right, simply because you have respect for police(I do to), is rediculous. You cannot blanketedly say that cops are all in the right simply because they are cops. What about the cop who recently went to jail for shooting a guy in the head when he meant to use his glock like tazer instead? Was he in the right just because he is a LEO? No, even if he had tazed him in the head he would have been in the wrong. That is improper procedure. Obviously, the cop in question in this thread did nothing near that bad, but there are all types of individuals who become LEOs and for different reasons. Doesn't make someone suddenly holier than the rest of us just because they wear a badge.

 

[guava]

He had NO reason to search her vehicle once it had been established that the device in question was not for illicet purposes. He had no right to say to not use the said legal device while driving. He was ignorant and bullyish. Most cops aren't, but some cops are suffering from Bully Cop Syndrome, and I hate dealing with them when they are like that. To assume that he was in the right, simply because you have respect for police(I do to), is rediculous. You cannot blanketedly say that cops are all in the right simply because they are cops. What about the cop who recently went to jail for shooting a guy in the head when he meant to use his glock like tazer instead? Was he in the right just because he is a LEO? No, even if he had tazed him in the head he would have been in the wrong. That is improper procedure. Obviously, the cop in question in this thread did nothing near that bad, but there are all types of individuals who become LEOs and for different reasons. Doesn't make someone suddenly holier than the rest of us just because they wear a badge.

Let me just say, I think this post of yours says more about you than it does about the OP, the cop mentioned in the OP, or any law enforcement officer.

 

[LowThudd]

Let me just say, I think this post of yours says more about you than it does about the OP, the cop mentioned in the OP, or any law enforcement officer.

What is that supposed to mean exactly?

 

[guava]

What is that supposed to mean exactly?

It means you don't know about law enforcement at all except experience being on the wrong end of it.

I don't think I'm wrong.

 

[LowThudd]

It means you don't know about law enforcement at all except experience being on the wrong end of it.

I don't think I'm wrong.

Incorrect. I have never been arrested, only been patted down once. For someone who thinks he knows so much, you sure do jump to conclusions quickly.

 

[EdensDaddy]

You actually can use these devices for illegal substances... When I first got mine I recieved a few comments like "hey my boyfriend smokes his ..... with one of those too!" or people asking me for a hookup for a liquid ... supplier. So, IMO, The officer is completely in the right for pulling over the OP. But after observing the behavior and coherency of the user he should have continued his patrol. Just my 2cents

 

[LowThudd]

You actually can use these devices for illegal substances... When I first got mine I recieved a few comments like "hey my boyfriend smokes his ..... with one of those too!" or people asking me for a hookup for a liquid ... supplier. So, IMO, The officer is completely in the right for pulling over the OP. But after observing the behavior and coherency of the user he should have continued his patrol. Just my 2cents

So can any pipe, cigarette, cigar or any other smoking aparateous. "Laced" cigarettes used to be quite popular(and no, I never invibed).

 

[EdensDaddy]

I agree... But as stated many times these devices are very suspicious to a person who does not know about them... and just because they are designed for nicotine liquid doesn't mean they are using nicotine. I am just saying the officer was fine with his first reaction but should have dismissed the OP a more edjucated officer.

 

[LowThudd]

I agree... But as stated many times these devices are very suspicious to a person who does not know about them... and just because they are designed for nicotine liquid doesn't mean they are using nicotine. I am just saying the officer was fine with his first reaction but should have dismissed the OP a more edjucated officer.

I agree completely.

 

[guava]

Incorect. I have never been arrested, only been patted down once. For someone who thinks he knows so much, you sure do jump to conclusions quickly.

I'm not the one who decided to lecture people on what is proper and not police procedure... You did.

You are clearly NOT an expert.

I am a police officer, and I spend too much of my FREE time biting my tongue here seeing misinformation/distortions of actual events/etc. Stuff that could not/ did not happen the way portrayed/ and/or have been explained away already.

Too bad this forum gets polluted with people more intent on grinding an ax, hammering out grudges than just being real. You might not like cops, but I'm here too trying to help people. I'll never bow down to BS though.