Budget , You’re right . There is technology now that it can read your plate number while they are behind you,,,,,run your history,,background,,,,and see much more . Your also right that it is supposed to be used for good purposes,,,but more times than not,,,it is just snooping . I go to work very early in the morning,,,,,,around 2:30 to 3 when I leave the house,,,depends on what day it is . There is nothing going on here at that hour,,,,so they are bored to death . We live in a very rural county . Anyways,,,,,I have had my plates ran 40 to 50 times in a year,,,,,you would think they would remember my old truck ,,,if not the information they read just a week or so before ? Maybe it is a different officer ? I get on Hwy 70,,state 2 Lane blacktop,,,,it parallels I40 across Tennessee,,,,. About once or twice a week,,,There would be a county police car about 6-8 feet off my rear bumper going 55 mph for about 10 miles until I entered the next county . Then he would turn around at the county line and drive back the other way . I have a spotless record,,,never been arrested,,,never missed any bills,,,,never any trouble . It’s just an intimidation thing they do,,,,which In my case has caused me to lose all respect for them . By the way,,,I am a local county commissioner,,,,,We only get paid 25 bucks for our meetings,,,,so I’m not getting rich ! This brings up a funny story . Anyway,,,last year we had an enormous budget shortfall,,,,and were being threatened by people and the police learned our names . So,,,,one morning one guy (deputy ),,got right on my butt as usual,,,,,,he followed me for a couple of miles about 7-8 feet back,,,,,,all of a sudden he hit his brakes and dropped back about a hundred feet,,,then followed as usual to the county line . It surprised me until I realized he got my name back,,,,and said to himself,,,,,” holy crap,,,he’s a commissioner “ ! Like I said,,,I’m not running these guys down,,,,,,however,,,,you must also follow the rules . Even the good guys still have rules,,,,,and I feel sorry for the really good ones,,,,if one looks bad ,,,they all look bad . Tommy
In my book, there is a pretty big difference between running an active license plate number, and looking for a specific vin number. A license plate number should have an owners name, address, and a history of recent police related activity. A vin number should only come back as a vehicle currently in the system, a stolen vehicle, a vehicle currently held by a lean holder, a scrapped vehicle, or one not currently in the system. I understand I'm probably a bit naive, and I'm OK with that. Please don't burst the little protective bubble I wrap my little mind in. LOL! Gene
Bones nailed it back in post 26. A friend of mine is the police chief of a small department. I asked him about running a vin and he said if would not unless he was standing next to it in case it was flagged, and then I'd have a lot of 'splainin to do...... .
Actually, yes I do. Unfortunately I have heard too many loud sounds in my life. Guns, sirens, air horns, machinery, open headers, etc. My hearing is almost gone. That is one reason I enjoy forums, because it’s visual. Even that is going to start giving me problems due to cataracts. But in my world hearing protection is usually just an arm reach away, trying to save what hearing I still have. Thank you, for asking. Bones
It is important. As for cataracts, I had both eyes worked on last year and had excellent results. You didn’t ask for advice, but that hasn’t stopped me before. See a good Opthalmologist (not optometrist) and see what he/she recommends. Deaf is one thing, deaf and blind is a lot to contend with. Best wishes. Ray
Thanks, I started wearing glasses over fifty years ago and have been going to eye doctors ever since. My problems are just starting, progressing slowly, thankfully! But I will be seeking the best medial advise available, shortly! Thanks. Bones
Police, send in inquiries for reasons and need a reason for doing it. Tag agents may be a little different, as they have access to state records at their disposal. Messing with cars for years, I have a good relationship with my tag agent. When my sister ask me for help, locating her first car, I asked my tag agent about it. He just enter the vin and told me it was not registered in my state. Not sure what he would have done if it was registered in my state. But like I’ve said here many times, what an agency “ will” do is sometimes not the same as what they “can“ do. Just my experiences. Bones
Pretty much why I can't find my uncle's 1950 Bonneville hi boy car that was also in the 1957 Hot Rod annual as a Model A street roadster with 1932 fenders.......1950 pic on the salt and 1956 pic in front of the family shop.....
Not quit true. Officers on patrol run plates all the time but they have to have a valid reason. They would have to be running the plate that is in their site and believe the person driving the car has or is about to commit a crime. They've also got cars set up with license plate camera's that can read a 1000 license plates an hour. The cop drives around in parking lots, bars, malls etc. and gets results of cars that are registered to someone with a warrant or other offenses.
The Jalopy Journal
