First off, cops do run plates at random for the reasons mentioned above. My parents are friends with cops so I know this for a fact. Second, Trying to read someone's plates is not due cause for pulling someone over, but he probably could have found something else real quick (like stopping beyond the stop line). Warning for all you drunk drivers out there, cops can pull you over for the smallest things and they will if they think you're drunk. I find the easiest way to identify cop cars is the search light that is almost always on the driver side (in front of the mirror). Even unmarked cars probably have them. The only ones I think might not have them are the plain clothes cops, but I don't think they can pull you over. Also, they'll lights in the grill and a cage glass behind the driver.

I believe the story, but not the cop's part. His headlights would have illuminated the license plate from several car lengths back, license plate light or not. The license plate bulb on most cars are barely enough light to read the plate by. Their headlights on the other hand put out a lot of light. So, a car was edging up on you at a light. Big deal. You're stopped, and they're barely moving. He would have been reading the plate from a car length away. If he got too close, he wouldn't be able to see the plant because his own hood would have been in the way (unless it was a raised truck or something). Consider on most cars, the front bumper of a crown vic would match the bumper on the car, and therefore the license plate. I have had plenty of cops play with me over the years. I don't know how many I've annoyed by setting my cruise control to 2mph below the speed limit and staying right. They'll fly up, sit on my rear quarter (a BIG blind spot in my car), or tailgate. If necessary, I tap my brakes. Not hit the brakes hard, just light up the brake lights. I've done high visibility mods to my taillights too. The main lights sequence out once, and the center light flashes. It's perfectly legal in every state I've driven in (and I've been in quite a few with cops messing with me). If its just someone being an ass, they back way off. Since I'm still going slow, I'm less interesting to the police. I know they like my car, because they know it's fast. (0-60 in just over 4 seconds, top speed somewhere well above 150), so they figure if they mess with me and I don't realize it's a cop, there's a chance I'll try to race them. I know the roads around my house are heavily patrolled. In a 5 mile stretch of road, I'll see a car pulled over about 50% of the time, and I'll usually spot at least 4 patrol cars looking for someone to pull over. Both me and my friend (she has a very similar car, with similar specs) set our cruise to just under the speed limit, because we know we're an easy target. She got pulled over one night just for the license plate light being burnt out. They were hoping to get her for something else, but she didn't do anything wrong (except for the bulb). I replaced the bulb in the morning, and she just had to send in the ticket saying it was fixed. No fine, no problems. If a patrol car wants to bump you, let 'em. Make sure the only thing you do is dial 911 and ask for the police and an ambulance to be dispatched because a patrol car rear ended you.

Next time you should just switch into reverse and give him a little tap before driving off.

Yur just stupid! This isn't even an FML

SMART!!!(:

Ohhhh FYL indeed :)

Congratulations #41 your an idiot. Your very existence is an FML for the rest of the world.

And you didn't see the lights in the rearview mirror? You deserved it.

That sucks.

Really? You missed the big headlights on the car. WOW. Now you have 2 tickets instead of 1. Nice