Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Unwritten


A Cop's Wife (or spouse) does not get tickets.
At least, not in this little corner of the world.
For example: I had someone email me off-blog about the ticket scandal. They said that in their community, being an officer's wife or family doesn't really count for much. If the officer gets out of their vehicle with the expectation of a giving a ticket, the ticket is written regardless of who's on the receiving end. If they get out thinking "let's see how this goes" then the person may just get a warning.
I have an exact copy of my husband's shield, in a little ID Holder along with his current PBA card. On the inside of the ID Holder is my driver's license, my insurance cards, and an indicator that says: "Officer's Wife."
Of course, this Officer's Wife never gets pulled over... but let's just say I did...the Officer generally walks up to the car, asks to see ID, I pull out "my badge"...and he/she walks away. They don't even pause long enough to tell me how fast I was going, or what the infraction might have otherwise been...it's an unwritten rule that you never write an Officer's Wife, simply because you don't want your wife to get written.
Period. The End.
I'm curious: how do they handle that kind of stuff in your community? Do you, as the spouse, have some sort of police identification? Was there ever a time when it just didn't work?

13 comments:

  1. We buy FOP plates for our cars in our neck of the woods. If you get pulled over the cop will then usually ask about your plate... and you can go on from there about how your husband is a police officer as well. Works like a charm!

    ReplyDelete
  2. When an officer runs our license plate it will come back as "CA Cop and Cop Wife Baytown Police Department".
    I have yet to be pulled over, but there is certainly the unwritten rule that you dont write up a Cops wife. CA Cop has been pulled over a few times and is always immediately sent back on his way.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OK... we are obviously getting ripped off here ;) (and yes, I'm the one who wrote off-blog, as my comments only go through about half the time).

    Husband and I talked about this again this morning and as far as "ticket fixing", any ticket that is out of order, missing, changed or adjusted has to be filed with the chief with a written explanation of why there is a discrepancy. A copy also goes to the city.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm getting the drift that different departments tend to do things different ways...but I would like to think that even where Meadow lives, a CW can toss out a little LEO Charm and get out of traffic infractions...!
    :) Stella

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have only been pulled over once, and I didnt get a ticket, I do think it was because of DH being a cop. I didnt like it at all. I am sorry but If I do something to get a ticket I should get the darn thing! Just as with anyone. The law is no different for me just because I sleep with the guy who gives tickets ya know. No one is above the law. DH and I have talked a lot about this, and I am sure I can write a whole blog post about everything I think, but I do think the cop's wife card move is lame. And no I dont have anything on me that sas I am married to a police officer. Sadly in our small town it is easy to know who everyone is, and our last name is rare, so its not hard for the officer to run my tags and know who I am married to.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Let me just say this: for all the times when my husband's life is on the line...for all the times he's off having to deal with gangbangers, for the every single instance when he has to deal with someone all hopped up on drugs...for all the missed Holidays...this is a perk that I will gladly take, and not feel guilty about...it is the one thing I have that I can say makes the job worthwhile...and God Forbid I was hurt or worse...for them to find that ID on me fast would often mean the difference between life and death. It may not seem fair, but in a city as big as NYC, they will pull out all stops for an MOS's Wife.
    :) Stella

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stella you seem to be weak minded and have low self esteem. If you didn't have your husband you wouldn't survive in this world. You need a 'free pass' and you need to tell everyone that it's your 'right'. You're the cops wife that goes to the 'get togethers'(you know, cops and the family getting shit faced then driving home)and are hated by everyone.:)

      Delete
    2. I don't really want to dignify this with a response but I will because you obviously don't know me NOR have you really read my blog:
      I AM A SURVIVOR. I HAVE BEEN ONE SINCE LONG BEFORE I MET MY HUSBAND.
      Stupidity does not have a place here. Sorry. And BTW: you don't insult someone and then end with a "smiley face."
      Stella

      Delete
    3. So sorry you just don't get it. Thanks for stopping by.
      SCW Stella

      Delete
  7. If I am speeding, cop's wife or not, I should get a ticket. If the officer chooses not to give me one because of my husband's job then that is great but I would NEVER expect to not get a ticket just because my husband is law enforcement. I of all people know what he goes through each day so I of all people should be respectful of that and follow the law and not expect any special favors!

    ReplyDelete
  8. After reading this post and discussing it with my husband (a detective), we agreed to disagree. As the wife of an officer, I do not expect to get out of ticket for any traffic infraction. I understand it is an unwritten rule, courtesy, etc. but where do you draw the line? Parents, siblings, cousins, friend of a friend of a LEO? Would you expect the same treatment in a different city, county, or state?
    Personally the county I live in and being a former dispatcher, deputies and officers know who I am as well as who my husband is. I see no reason to carry a "badge" or any other form of identification stating that I am the spouse of a LEO. I am not knocking those who choose to do so and understand
    some of the reasons behind it. My peeve is with those who feel they are somehow entitled or blatantly expect this professional courtesy simply because of the occupation of their spouse.
    This was an interesting post and it was also interesting to see the different point of views of LEO wives.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I don't have any expectation...it just IS.
    Nobody is saying that a cop's wife is above the law here...but in a city as big as NYC, that shield means a lot...if God Forbid I was incapacitated, I would have special treatment accorded to me because I am an MOS's wife. Isn't that just about the same thing? It is an unwritten rule here---and I obviously can't speak to other municipalities---that Cop's Wives are treated with a modicum of respect, and that includes not getting a ticket for a minor infraction, or being able to go to a better hospital (not a perp hospital) to get treatment.
    Stella

    ReplyDelete
  10. I carry my emergency contact information with me and my husband is my first contact. The information includes dispatch and his radio id numbers. I know and have experienced how LEO's take care of "their own" and know that extends to family members. In an emergency situation, heck yes, I want people to know who my spouse is and the quickest way to get in contact with him.
    I understand the professional courtesy extended to us as spouses and while it is appreciated, I too do not expect it. I have yet to be pulled over in our 10 years together other than for a tail light that was out on my brother's truck. I didn't know the light was out and the officer just told me to get it fixed. I didn't know why I was being pulled over so I called my husband and kept the phone in my lap on speaker so he could hear what was going on. He told me to let him know if I got a ticket. After three speeding tickets, 11 points on my
    license and going through a driver's training class within a two month period I
    learned my lesson almost twelve years ago.
    It is an unwritten rule in my neck of the woods (Florida) as well and my husband discussed at length why it is the way it is. I understand it but there are those spouses who "suffer" from what I like to call Cop Wife Syndrome that think they are better than others because of the job their spouse does. It is these few whom I have an issue with.

    ReplyDelete

 
Law Enforcement News Powered by PoliceOne.com