Prince

Sometime during last summer the local police department arranged some sort of telethon-fundraising-thingamabob. A guy called on behalf of the police force and was selling a sticker or something to that effect. The profits of these were going for the Latino Cop Association or something to that effect... Anywho, a few friends of mine have then told me that if you DO in fact participate in these fundraisings and put one of those stickers on your car, you are significantly less likely to get pulled over or given a ticket for parking incorrectly etc.

Is this just a local urban legend, or have you experienced anything of the sort, or heard of it? I'm not saying that cops have some sort of favouritism system, but perhaps they do indeed see this "I Love Cops & Support Them Financially" sticker and figure, well, this person is on our side, perhaps I'll let 'em go easy this time..... What do you think?

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shakran

1) people calling you on the phone saying they represent cops, sheriffs, etc, are usually not. If you're lucky, they'll give a tiny fraction of your money to some cop shop and pocket the rest. The REAL cops have said to NEVER give money to that crap if solicited over the phone.

2) Total urban legend, and i have proof. The guy that owned my car before me had a sheriff's association sticker on the car and it hasn't stopped me from getting pulled over.

Prince

I've never given them any money, but instead I've said that "I support your cause, but instead of donating money, I'd like to donate my time to do volunteer work of some sort for your organization."

Generally, they don't want that. They've no interest in my volunteer work and support. They're only interested in the $. Whoever they are.

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Who is John Galt?

fhqwhgads

The police department sees little actual money outta those fundraisers.

The sticker will not deter police from issuing you a citation. I speak from personal knowledge.

lurkette

Even if (especially if!) the sticker does keep you from getting pulled over, I refuse to participate - the whole scheme smacks of extortion to me. It's disturbing to think of there being two classes of citizens - those with a sticker that gives them extra "protection" from the police, and those without.

The whole thing gives law enforcement a bad rap.

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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

quadro2000

Those stickers - the ones that you get from donating money - generally do little good.

What DOES help at times is the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA) card/sticker. I'm pretty sure you cannot get this card through monetary donation. The reason I know this card can work is because a policeman friend gave me one. He told me that it is NEVER a guarantee that you'll get out of a ticket. There are obviously many other factors - the nature of your offense, your demeanor to the cop (both attitude and physical appearance), whether you have any past offenses...but he told me that if you present it AFTER your license and registration and say "I don't know if this helps, but a friend of mine is on the force in so-and-so and gave me this card..." and told me to present it with his business card.

I have only been pulled over once since I got it, but I didn't use it as I was way out of this guy's jurisdiction (in a different state, actually) and thought it wasn't appropriate. But according to my friend, it CAN help. But I don't think this is the exact same thing that you're asking about.

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You have to laugh at yourself...because you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't. - Emily Saliers

agball

I have gotten those calls, but never sent any $$. I do have a few friends who are cops in the county I live in. They have always provided me with the PBA sticker for my cars. The PBA sticker definately helps against tickets (Parking at the local train station specifically).

I have been pulled over for various offenses (i.e. - speeding, no seatbelt, failure to stop at a stop sign). Generally, when I got pulled over the cop asked where I got the PBA sticker & all I did was throw a few names & they let me go.

The BPA cards work well too!!

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pocon1

I have seen some people put those stickers on the driver side window. If I were a cop, I would be pissed of someone thinks they can get out of lawbreaking with a piece of shit sticker for a lousy 20 dollar donation. If it were on the glass in my face, I would issue them a repair order to have it removed and inspected.

MSD

50/50. Half appreciate the donation, the other half get pissed at the assface who donates a dollar each year to get the sticker that he thinks will get him out of tickets.