So i just got pulled over...[Update: Post 58]

[RadioNate]

In all serious that happened to the car in front of me while going to dinner the other night. Well there was no helicopter. Chicagoans, I was at about 51st and Cottage Grove so I certainly wasn't in the best area. I was scared and it wasn't even me being pulled over. In all honesty, the driver it was happening too didn't seem to phased by it.

 

[sissy_ib]

Not exactly the same situation, but Border Patrol had set up a roadblock in a desolate stretch of 89 between Burlington VT and the Canadian Border a few years ago I got caught in. It was super awkward. We didn't have to get get out or anything but they visually inspected in the windows, us, etc as well as our ids.

When this happens im assuming a dangerous criminal has escaped or is on the loose and they're trying to catch them as quickly as possibly. Does this mean this was the right way to go about it? No. But they did it because it seemed like the best idea at the time.

I am sorry you got stuck in the middle of it, i would've been terrified.

Have you ever been through a regular Border Patrol check point? Because this sound pretty much identical to how they are set up. I have been through them in California and Texas but I have no knowledge of how they are set up near the Canadian border. I would not describe them as awkward at all.

 

[bellanotte10]

Have you ever been through a regular Border Patrol check point? Because this sound pretty much identical to how they are set up. I have been through them in California and Texas but I have no knowledge of how they are set up near the Canadian border. I would not describe them as awkward at all.

yep a bunch times. When its in the middle of a highway and totally unexpected as you're about 20 miles away from the border its awkward

ETA I agree with goofyernmost though, there must've been a tip off of something illegal going over the border that day, and they just decided to stop everyone before the actual checkpoint

 

[sissy_ib]

yep a bunch times. When its in the middle of a highway and totally unexpected as you're about 20 miles away from the border its awkward

ETA I agree with goofyernmost though, there must've been a tip off of something illegal going over the border that day, and they just decided to stop everyone before the actual checkpoint

I didn't mean crossing the actual border. We have Border Patrol outposts that you have to drive through, sometimes 100 miles from the border. Those are permanent though with signs way ahead letting you know it is coming up, to slow down and have your ID ready. They do pull some cars over for random inspections.

 

[MdmMim]

Not exactly the same situation, but Border Patrol had set up a roadblock in a desolate stretch of 89 between Burlington VT and the Canadian Border a few years ago I got caught in. It was super awkward. We didn't have to get get out or anything but they visually inspected in the windows, us, etc as well as our ids.

When this happens im assuming a dangerous criminal has escaped or is on the loose and they're trying to catch them as quickly as possibly. Does this mean this was the right way to go about it? No. But they did it because it seemed like the best idea at the time.

I am sorry you got stuck in the middle of it, i would've been terrified.

This is quite common in northern NY. Border Patrol sets up on I87, and all must stop. They also set up roadblocks on secondary roads. It is not a surprise and is expected. It doesn't bother us at all.

 

[bellanotte10]

I didn't mean crossing the actual border. We have Border Patrol outposts that you have to drive through, sometimes 100 miles from the border. Those are permanent though with signs way ahead letting you know it is coming up, to slow down and have your ID ready. They do pull some cars over for random inspections.

oh nope this was just random barricades that had been set up for a specific purpose

 

[bellanotte10]

This is quite common in northern NY. Border Patrol sets up on I87, and all must stop. They also set up roadblocks on secondary roads. It is not a surprise and is expected. It doesn't bother us at all.

yeah didn't bother us either, we just thought it was weird.

I guess i need to clarify a bit. I think the OP's situation was terrifying and scary and I would hate to have been in that position. Mine was quite tame as roadblocks go it happens. I know why it happens, but if what happened to the OP had happened to me i'd be terrified just the same.

there was a similar situation in the news recently, OP was that what happened to you?

 

[LilyWDW]

A felony stop. Someone driving a vehicle matching your vehicle's description must have just done something really bad.

That is beyond a normal felony stop. It sounds like there was information about a dangerous situation and the OP and/or their vehicle matched a description. As such, they treated the stop as if it was someone dangerous and there was a safety concern.

 

[JessicaR]

What did you do to deserve that attention?

 

[ChrisFL]

Sheesh, the first time I ever got a speeding warning (going 10mph over) I was stopped by 3 police cars.

This is considered routine in Clearwater, FL where I suppose they have nothing better to do.

 

[Albort]

What did you do to deserve that attention?

just happened to be driving the same car and color as the getaway car...

but yeah, full felony stop... so much attention, lol
I originally thought i was being pulled over for drug possession since my friend said that area used to be a hot area for drugs...

gonna see if i can find an article of it...

EDIT: only reason i was in the area is because i was helping my friend jump start her car... thats the last time ill do that... ;P

 

[goofyernmost]

This is quite common in northern NY. Border Patrol sets up on I87, and all must stop. They also set up roadblocks on secondary roads. It is not a surprise and is expected. It doesn't bother us at all.

That is because north/eastern NY and Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are not separated from Canada by a body of water or other natural barrier. Many are tempted and have crossed at places that didn't have any official border crossing stop. So, I'm sure randomly they conduct there own little stops a few miles away from the border to get those that are merging back into more used expressways.

I can honestly say though, that in all my years of living there and traveling there, not once was I ever involved in any Border Patrol stop, ever! Not even one where I was just waved through.

 

[wvjules]

Sheesh, the first time I ever got a speeding warning (going 10mph over) I was stopped by 3 police cars.

This is considered routine in Clearwater, FL where I suppose they have nothing better to do.

They do two car stops here. It's for officer safety though, not because they have nothing better to do.

 

[bellanotte10]

That is because north/eastern NY and Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are not separated from Canada by a body of water or other natural barrier. Many are tempted and have crossed at places that didn't have any official border crossing stop. So, I'm sure randomly they conduct there own little stops a few miles away from the border to get those that are merging back into more used expressways.

I can honestly say though, that in all my years of living there and traveling there, not once was I ever involved in any Border Patrol stop, ever! Not even one where I was just waved through.

That makes a lot more sense! Thanks! Haha it was the first and last for me but I only lived there for 4 years. My friend who lived in the Northeast kingdom for most of her life was just as confused.

 

[mickeyboat]

That is because north/eastern NY and Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are not separated from Canada by a body of water or other natural barrier. Many are tempted and have crossed at places that didn't have any official border crossing stop. So, I'm sure randomly they conduct there own little stops a few miles away from the border to get those that are merging back into more used expressways.

I can honestly say though, that in all my years of living there and traveling there, not once was I ever involved in any Border Patrol stop, ever! Not even one where I was just waved through.

There used to be a regular one on I91, just south of White River Junction. We got stopped once, and DDs were freaked out because we had to roll down their windows in the back. DD11 (about 5 at the time), offered the agent some blueberries.

 

[JessicaR]

just happened to be driving the same car and color as the getaway car...

but yeah, full felony stop... so much attention, lol
I originally thought i was being pulled over for drug possession since my friend said that area used to be a hot area for drugs...

gonna see if i can find an article of it...

EDIT: only reason i was in the area is because i was helping my friend jump start her car... thats the last time ill do that... ;P

Wow! Kinda scary - I would have peed my pants. Glad it ended well. Stay outta those bad neighborhoods.

 

[torinsmom]

Last speeding ticket I got, there were four cop cars there by the end. I was just going 8 miles over, but I guess in my podunk town, it was the most exciting thing happening at that moment It was a little embarrassing, since everyone was slowing down and looking at me like I was a real thug or something.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

just happened to be driving the same car and color as the getaway car...

but yeah, full felony stop... so much attention, lol
I originally thought i was being pulled over for drug possession since my friend said that area used to be a hot area for drugs...

gonna see if i can find an article of it...

EDIT: only reason i was in the area is because i was helping my friend jump start her car... thats the last time ill do that... ;P

Crazy story! I'm glad you were able to handle calmly and go about your business. I would have been terrified.

They do two car stops here. It's for officer safety though, not because they have nothing better to do.

Yes thank you, 2 car stops is protocol here and is for officer safety not because the officers have nothing better. Hoenstly, I hate when people say that about police officers doing their job.

I hope the officers in the OP found who they were looking for and all returned home to their families safely.

 

[denisenh]

Something similiar happened to DH and I years ago, early '80s. We were driving along in the evening and found ourselves surrounded by cop cars, lots of them. I recall that one pulled up behind us, another in front and more on the drivers side and then several cops walked towards our car with their guns drawn and aimed right at us. It wasn't too long before they discovered and told us that it "is clearly mistaken identity" and left us to recover on our own. My husbands brother and brothers girlfriend drove by us as it was all happening and we were able to play a mean joke on him later.......

We drove on to DH's moms house where his brother was headed and I went inside acting really upset and told him that the cops had taken DH and "I don't know whats going on". DH's brother was completely freaked out ...absolutely beside himself that DH was in trouble.
Several minutes later DH scambles in the house pleading "hide me, you have to help me, they're looking for me!"
....we really played it up for a while before telling DH's brother the truth. Those were the days.

 

[BroganMc]

just happened to be driving the same car and color as the getaway car...

but yeah, full felony stop... so much attention, lol
I originally thought i was being pulled over for drug possession since my friend said that area used to be a hot area for drugs...

gonna see if i can find an article of it...

EDIT: only reason i was in the area is because i was helping my friend jump start her car... thats the last time ill do that... ;P

You handled that well. I would've been scared silly. I have a fear of guns. My voice would have squeaked like Minnie Mouse.

I hope they apologized to you for the mistake.