Waving at the cops (or vice versa)

[ChrisV]

Yeah, here in MD the staters just jump right out in the fast lane of traffic and point at you. Don't know where they learned the laws of physics at, but seems plenty dangerous to me...

As for people complaining about speeders in the neighborhood, I've had people tell me to slow down when I'm already doing the speed limit. I don't think most people KNOW how fast cars are going, or how quick modern ones can stop from under 40 mph... I'd also bet that a goodly chunk of the speeders in the neighborhood are FROM the neighborhood..

[Catman]

Yeah, here in MD the staters just jump right out in the fast lane of traffic and point at you. Don't know where they learned the laws of physics at, but seems plenty dangerous to me...

As for people complaining about speeders in the neighborhood, I've had people tell me to slow down when I'm already doing the speed limit. I don't think most people KNOW how fast cars are going, or how quick modern ones can stop from under 40 mph... I'd also bet that a goodly chunk of the speeders in the neighborhood are FROM the neighborhood..

You would be correct.

[Atomic]

WTF?

I'm afraid to wave at cops thinking they'll see it wrong and think I was giving them the bird.

when i give them the bird, they think that i'm waving  !

[Raza]

Last time I said anything to a cop while driving, he pulled me over and threatened with a ticket for disturbing the peace.   

[SVT666]

Last time I said anything to a cop while driving, he pulled me over and threatened with a ticket for disturbing the peace.? ?

It's about time. 

[SVT666]

My biggest concern now that I'm a parent are the cars speeding through our neighbourhood.  They are always residents and they do 65 km/h down these suburban streets that require 1 car to pull in between two parked cars so that the car coming the other way can get through.  It's insane.  I have almost been run over a couple times myself just walking across the road to get the mail.  The two most common types are teenagers (boys AND girls) and moms in minivans or SUVs.

When I was growing up I would wave at every single cop I ever saw...and it paid off.  I was pulled over 3 times by 3 different RCMP officers in my hometown (including one time when I was 16 and I was doing 105 in a 50 km/h zone) and I got warnings each time.

Here in Canada it's weird.  City cops tend to be pricks about things, and they're rarely ever in a good mood.  I have been told that it's because they're city cops and they really want to be RCMP.

[93JC]

My biggest concern now that I'm a parent are the cars speeding through our neighbourhood.? They are always residents and they do 65 km/h down these suburban streets that require 1 car to pull in between two parked cars so that the car coming the other way can get through.? It's insane.? I have almost been run over a couple times myself just walking across the road to get the mail.? The two most common types are teenagers (boys AND girls) and moms in minivans or SUVs.

I think speed limits in residential areas should be lowered to 35 or 40. I wouldn't go 50 km/h down my street, but I see it done, and it's waaaaaay too fast for the road.

Here in Canada it's weird.? City cops tend to be pricks about things, and they're rarely ever in a good mood.? I have been told that it's because they're city cops and they really want to be RCMP.

City cops are pricks because they actually have to, you know, work. Unlike mounties in Bumfuck, Saskatchewan...

[SVT666]

I think speed limits in residential areas should be lowered to 35 or 40. I wouldn't go 50 km/h down my street, but I see it done, and it's waaaaaay too fast for the road.

City cops are pricks because they actually have to, you know, work. Unlike mounties in Bumfuck, Saskatchewan...

[Raza]

It's about time. 

It's more than what I do; it's who I am.

[TurboDan]

It's more than what I do; it's who I am.

You and your commie Tom Morello avatar.  :P

[TBR]

I never go above 30mph in residential areas. Really it is too fast, but I normally I go through at night when there isn't anyone out anyway.

[Raza]

I never go above 30mph in residential areas. Really it is too fast, but I normally I go through at night when there isn't anyone out anyway.

On two-sided residential streets, I consider 30 the absolute upper limit of what I'll do.  Kids and dogs are stupid, and I'd rather not hit either to shave 8 seconds off my commute.

[SaltyDog]

You should go slower at night.  Though there are fewer people out, it's harder to see those that might be.  Never know when someone will pop out of a line of parked cars or something.

[IrishGuy]

I wave to police if I see them driving down the road and I'm outside - its a small town so it pays to be friendly with them and get to know them.

[rohan]

I f you must wave at the cops just make sure all 5 of yuour fingers go up! 

[rohan]

What the hell?  That pic is cool with my new car!  Who did that?

[Catman]

What the hell?  That pic is cool with my new car!  Who did that?

[thewizard16]

Actually, I read somewhere that waving at an LEO, if done properly, could make him think that you're an off-duty LEO, and might mean that he doesn't bother pulling you over.

That's interesting. Cops wave at me constantly in Mtn. Home, and I've never been pulled over there while speeding, even when I've been blatantly caught. I can't figure out why, unless I look like someone they all know, they know someone in my family (distinctly possible), know who I know (another distinct benefit), or my car just looks like someone elses (unlikely in Mtn. Home, it's not that big, and mine has some distinguishing characteristics). I don't have nearly as good luck over here.

[Tave]

On the dirt roads around my hometown, it's considered a courtesy to wave at anyone who passes you. There is such a dearth of traffic, and everybody driving the road is from the area, that the wave amounts to acknowledging and appreciating another's presence, much like saying "hello" on the street.

Of course, to not wave is almost an insult, but occasionally happens. No one is perfect.

In a city, the only reason I wave is because I like the car. I believe I've waved at a car simply because it was the same as mine.

And then there's always the trick waves. My favorite entails beginning a wave, but then ending with a sunvisor flip. This is a great wave for stopsigns. People act so unsure and embarressed during it. Remeber, to do this you must make eye contact before your arm is in motion.

And that's all the thought I've ever given to the subject.

[nickdrinkwater]

And then there's always the trick waves. My favorite entails beginning a wave, but then ending with a sunvisor flip. This is a great wave for stopsigns. People act so unsure and embarressed during it. Remeber, to do this you must make eye contact before your arm is in motion.

Will have to try that one out...

[JWC]

Officers or not, people wave all the time in the southern states (GA, NC, SC).

I generally don't wave at anyone.

By the time I moved back to NC I had forgotten about people waving at perfect strangers.   No matter what road I was driving, someone would wave.  I kept thinking, I don't know these fucking people.  One day I asked my grandfather about it and he jogged my memory. 

People sitting on porches will wave as you drive by also.  It is really un-nerving at times.

On a similar note (and general info for anyone who may visit the south), when you are visiting someone at their home and say "good-bye" don't take the return comment, "don't rush off, stay awhile" seriously.  It is just a southern way of saying good-bye.   It took me awhile to figure that out also.  I over stayed a lot of visits.

[Catman]

Everyone waves on my street whether they know each other or not.

[dazzleman]

Everyone waves on my street whether they know each other or not.

Mine too.  I know everybody on my street, but we wave even when people we don't know drive by.  If I see a police cruiser on the block, I wave too....

[AutobahnSHO]

You guys are funny.
A weird thread title (doesn't quite match the intent of the thread) but you guys are still running it more than 3 months later...   

[TheIntrepid]

Everyone waves on my street whether they know each other or not.

Same here.

[SVT_Power]

Getting a nod from a cop made me quite nervous for a second

[J86]

Getting a nod from a cop made me quite nervous for a second

Haha I know...I'd much prefer if they acted like I didn't exist.

[SVT_Power]

Haha I know...I'd much prefer if they acted like I didn't exist.

Well that only happened because I was walking to work with my uniform on. I forgot I had it on and when he nodded at me, I almost panicked

[J86]

Well that only happened because I was walking to work with my uniform on. I forgot I had it on and when he nodded at me, I almost panicked

In your case, he was just extending professional courtesy!  Funny how in one instances, a younger guy is looked at with suspicion, but slap some new digs on, and youre respectable.

[SVT_Power]

In your case, he was just extending professional courtesy!  Funny how in one instances, a younger guy is looked at with suspicion, but slap some new digs on, and youre respectable.