Professional courtesy from police at traffic stops

Published

Has anyone else gotten leniency from the State Patrol or Police during a traffic stop? I have gotten many warnings instead of tickets when I am on my way to work or if I manage to mention my occupation. I got stopped last week, I was in uniform and when the officer found out I was a nurse he said that he'd just write down my info really quickly so I could get to work on time. He didn't even ask for my insurance card! :lol2:

One of my favorite passages:

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,

naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'

Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

wow.

God said that???? :balloons:

it sounds like something He'd say.

thank you!

leslie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
wow.

God said that???? :balloons:

it sounds like something He'd say.

thank you!

leslie

Yes it does :)

Matthew 25:35-45

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg.

I understand the professional courtesy stuff. Where I work we give police officers injured in the line of duty a private room, whereas other patients usually don't. I don't mind doing it because they are "one of us". We also give coworkers (all coworkers from the VPs to the one who mops the kitchen floors) and doctors private rooms.

Does this mean they get better care than the homeless guy without insurance in the next room? No.

Does it mean I'm going to neglect my other patients, especially other patients who are more acutely ill and more deserving of my attention. No.

I also don't expect that it's "professionally courtesy" if I'm breaking the law on the highway that I not get a ticket. I've heard of it happening to coworkers. I didn't tell the cop I was a nurse the only ticket I've gotten in the last 15 years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in DIALYSIS, ICU/CCU, ONCOLOGY, CORRECTIONS.
After reading a number of posts about police giving nurses a break on a traffic stop, I am curious. To those who have enjoyed the benefit of professional courtesy, some of you several times, do you reciprocate the favor? I mean do you treat your police patients extra nice, or quicker, maybe just do an all around more compassionate and caring job? What goes around should come around I would think, perhaps as a way of saying "thanks, you guys looked out for me, now I am going to look out for you."

I have never asked for courtesy. Since I work corrections, which I never tell the LEO, unless they ask, I really can't recriprocate. They are on the other side of the fence.:lol2:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho, Case Management, blabla.

I'm a 27 year old male, I'm also blessed/cursed with the fact that I still look like I'm 18. I have always been pulled over a lot, sometimes for no reason (getting stopped, asked for my license/reg, not getting a reason for the stop, and then simply getting let go). I've never ever been let off in my life - except once. As a matter of fact I've always had the police ticket me for everything they possibly can. One time I got a fine for driving without a seatbelt, even though I had only taken my seatbelt off when I got pulled over so I could reach my wallet.

A couple of months ago I was driving home from work in the morning. It was my first or second day of midnights, and I was still adjusting. I was zapped. I have a 10 mile drive home and there is this spot by a freeway onramp where the speedlimit drops from 60 to 45. I was more or less on autopilot and didn't adjust my speed when it dropped down (it's a rural area, and the road gets a little curvy). Anyways, I looked in my rear view mirror and there was a cop right there almost bumper to bumper with me. I realized I was speeding right then and before I could say, "Oh sh-" he had flipped his lights on. I pulled over. He got out and walked up. I was wearing my scrubs, namebadge, and even had my steth around my neck still.

Cop-"License, proof of insurance, and registration please?"

Me-"Oh...uh..it's in the trunk"(realizing my wallet was in my bag in the trunk). I rooted around for the registration and insurance papers but couldn't find them.

Cop-"Don't worry about it. Do you know the speed limit reduces back there?"

Me-"Yes I know. I'm just coming off a 12 hour shift at City Hospital X. I'm pretty tired." That's where I did my clinicals...not where I work. I don't know why I said that it was just an automatic response.

Cop-"City Hospital X? That's the other way!"

Me-"I meant City Hospital Z, sorry."

Cop-"Okay. Your headlight is out too, I don't know if you noticed. You might want to take care of that. And slow down on these curves. Have a good morning."

Me-"What the devil?!?!?!?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry about your experience woody! Ithink the officers behaviour was terrible he should have explained the situation to you and your daughter. I do still believe that sometimes when people realise you'r a nurse their thinking does change and the way in which you are treated is affect by this sometimes this can work in your favour or go against as you may be made an example of. Nurses or any other professionals should not expect special treatments especialy when it comes to the law. We always complain when celebtaties are given favours so why should we expect to be any different from the rest of the world.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, ER.

I don't expect a courtesy warning instead of a ticket just because I'm a nurse. An unsafe driver is an unsafe driver.

I was also horrified to read the post about the nurse asking the cop in the ER joking about if he'd give them a ticket (much earlier in thread). There was a cop in my nursing class who told me he is constantly badgered by people to get them out of tickets, even people he's just met. For instance, he tells them he's a cop and the first thing out of their mouth isn't "what a rewarding line of work" or "how interesting" but "oh yeah? I have this speeding ticket on my license...". (Similar to the way people always have to mention poop when I tell them I'm a nurse.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't expect a courtesy warning instead of a ticket just because I'm a nurse. An unsafe driver is an unsafe driver.

I was also horrified to read the post about the nurse asking the cop in the ER joking about if he'd give them a ticket (much earlier in thread). There was a cop in my nursing class who told me he is constantly badgered by people to get them out of tickets, even people he's just met. For instance, he tells them he's a cop and the first thing out of their mouth isn't "what a rewarding line of work" or "how interesting" but "oh yeah? I have this speeding ticket on my license...". (Similar to the way people always have to mention poop when I tell them I'm a nurse.)

I know!! ' you must wipe a lot of bottoms all day!:lol2: What is wrong with people!
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
of course you would give faster tx, if the acuity level warranted it...right, tom?

Higher acuity always get faster treatment.

I give faster admission to ER for fellow nurses and I include cops in this also. I consider it as taking care of our own.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
agree.

there are many "facts of life".

racism, discrimination, endless improprieties, abuses, judgments, and the list goes on.

but still, they're facts of life.

and let the apathy continue.

leslie

Im trying to figure out where the racism through to the apathy come into play

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
wow.

God said that???? :balloons:

it sounds like something He'd say.

thank you!

leslie

Certainly isnt anything I would say.But for me to say otherwise would be a lie.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Sorry about your experience woody! Ithink the officers behaviour was terrible he should have explained the situation to you and your daughter. I do still believe that sometimes when people realise you'r a nurse their thinking does change and the way in which you are treated is affect by this sometimes this can work in your favour or go against as you may be made an example of. Nurses or any other professionals should not expect special treatments especialy when it comes to the law. We always complain when celebtaties are given favours so why should we expect to be any different from the rest of the world.

One Im not a celebrity

And yes I believe we should also get special Treatment, when it comes to the traffic stops

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion