DH and I got "pulled over" last night.

[DawnCt1]

We were returning home at 1 am from a house party at DH's cousin's house. They live about 30 minutes from our house. As we were driving through the town across the river from our town we saw the lights in the rear view mirror. We were driving 30 mph, it was snowing and slippery. The officer said; "good morning, where are you coming from"? DH told him and then he asked if he knew why he was being stopped. Of course we didn't. Then he told us the front, right headlight was out and gave us a warning. It must have just happened that day because both headlights were working fine before. I am posting this just to let everyone know, you never know when you will be pulled over, particularly on a traditional party night. Drive sober and drive accordingly.

 

[Laz]

I think you were blessed! It was snowy and slippery, and the police are out doing their job watching out for you.

 

[Shutterbug]

Pulled over for a headlight out? The only time they do that around here is if they are trying to get you for something else which IMO is that he may have been doing with you, to see if you had been drinking.

 

[DawnCt1]

I think you were blessed! It was snowy and slippery, and the police are out doing their job watching out for you.

Absolutely. I am sure there are people however that think that if they drive very carefully, at or below the speed limit, that they can get away with driving "over the limit". You never know what will "appear" or "disappear" on your car to provide "probable cause", enabling the police to pull you over. Never be tempted to drive if there is a possibility that you could be impaired. That's my message.

 

[golfgal]

Dh got pulled over for a taillight being out once and by the time the officer got to his car the light was back on, it was loose in the socket.

Around here they can pull you over for suspicion of being under the influence, they don't need and excuse.

We stayed home last night. I NEVER want to be on the roads NYE!

 

[disykat]

My mom got pulled over on NYE once on the way home from a party. My parents don't drink much but had one glass of mulled wine early in the evening. We had this goofy car that would start to stall out and you'd have to pump the gas causing it to lurch forward. Mom was driving and my Dad sat in the passenger seat giggling hysterically while mom recited her ABC's etc. While they obviously figured out Mom was fine, I'm sure they thought Dad was plastered.

I was in high school and had been at the "kids party" while all our parents were at their own party across town. We all got home before our parents did. That, along with my Mom's drunk driving incident, made for great backchat for the next year if they thought we'd been out too late.

 

[rigs32]

FYI, probable cause = more likely than not

The police do NOT need probable cause to pull you over. That's for arrests and searches.

You absolutely can be pulled over for a broken light - I've been before - as in many states it's a ticketable (is that a word?) issue.

 

[DawnCt1]

FYI, probable cause = more likely than not

The police do NOT need probable cause to pull you over. That's for arrests and searches.

You absolutely can be pulled over for a broken light - I've been before - as in many states it's a ticketable (is that a word?) issue.

I actually do think that they need a reason. They can do "spot checks" and stop everyone going through a specific area but they can't be random. (profiliing). Broken lights, even around the license plate are all reasons to be pulled over. DS 24 (21) at the time got pulled over for failing to lower his high beams, failing to illuminate license plate and received a ticket for $250. None of those charges were true. He had snow tires and rims in the trunk of the 85 Monte Carlo SS so the front end rode 'high'. The lights around the plate go out when the engine is turned off. The officer was definately ticket happy. He plead "NOT GUILTY" and wrote a letter with the plea and his case was dismissed through the mail. He didn't even have to go to court. A $250 fine is unreasonable in the first place, lights do burn out. Most officers give a 30 day warning to repair it.

 

[momx2]

You absolutely can be pulled over for a broken light - I've been before - as in many states it's a ticketable (is that a word?) issue.

Actually, it depends on what state you live in. In Kentucky, the law only requires one working tail light, but two working headlights. Now, you could be pulled over for only having one tail light, but the stop could be suppressed if you were charged with anything resulting form the stop. It just depends on where you live. But the OP is right, better safe than sorry. Don't drink and drive!

 

[rigs32]

I didn't say that an officer didn't need any reason, just not a reason rising to the level of probable cause. Reasonable suspicion is OK, as a traffic stop is considered only a minor intrusion.

 

[Cantw8]

At 1 am in the morning, you didn't notice you had a headlight out?

 

[Pop Daddy]

when a cop pulls me over, I dont know rather admit that I know why he pulled me over, or act like I have no clue

 

[jodifla]

So, he didn't make you guys do any field sobriety tests or anything? I just ask since it was a party kind of night.....

 

[drakethib]

Pulled over for a headlight out? The only time they do that around here is if they are trying to get you for something else which IMO is that he may have been doing with you, to see if you had been drinking.

That is proably what the cop was trying to do.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have had a policeman pull me over on a couple of occasions throuhout my driving career to tell me about a burned out tail-light once, and a burned out headlight another time.

It is easy not to know your headlight is burned out, especially if you are driving in a bright, well-lit area. That's why sometimes you see folks driving without headlights. They can give you a ticket for it, but most police offiecrs will just tell you about it.

They do need some probable cause to pull you over, if you are not driving in a dangerous or erratic manner. However, they do not make something up. I mean, how would they say "Your headlight is out" and then when you go to check your headlight, it works.

In your case OP, I am sure that he saw the headlight out, it was NYE, so he took the opportunity to pull you over to tell you about the headlight and to see if you were sober.

 

[John VN]

At 1 am in the morning, you didn't notice you had a headlight out?

My thoughts exactly. Maybe the wisest thing would be a walk-around before driving off if a headlight being out is not noticed.