ummm, well here is where reality collides. First of all, you might or might not have success with filing a formal complaint.
Our local sheriffs dept has a bad history of issues. BUT if a deputy gets more than 3 complaints in a time period they have a formal review of his conduct and often have training scheduled and peer reviews, sometimes probation.
BUT, some depts,, they roundfile your complaints, and laugh about you, maybe even put on the Hotsheet for "known trouble maker"
Its universal in any LE situation is you ALWAYS back up a fellow officer. And usually your complaints go nowhere.
YES, it IS illegal to pull you over without "probable cause" also look up "Preponderance of evidence"
But i can tell you with first hand knowledge that any experienced cop will also tell you,,,,,,,,,
"If you cant find a traffic violation in 3 city blocks distance you need remedial training"
over the yellow line, headlights not bright enough, following too close, improper lane change, etc etc...
I can put the supreme court justices of my state behind the wheel and can find a probable cause to pull them over very quickly, So,,,,,,,,, pick your battles. As I said, in court, Cops rarely lose.
I have a very clean record these days,,,,, but some years back I had a traffic case and i had maps, diagrams, traffic safety studies, photos, 2 witnesses and a lengthy presentation. I was cut off very quickly and told by the Judge........
"I dont care what you say, as far as Im concerned, you are guilty" I filed a complaint with the Chief judge and the Oregon Bar association. My understanding he was reprimanded, but i still had the ticket on my record. Most traffic court judges are "Pro tem" meaning they are lawyers making extra money sitting as judges for small claims and traffic court, and most of these "Pro Tem" judges are losers at their profession, so they resort to easy money doing petty case law as a judge. You really dont have much of a chance in front of them.
As I said,,, its a dispute you will almost always lose,. So,, it pisses me off for bogus pull overs, and might be worth a formal complaint, But the whole idea is avoid the tickets.
I WANT a surveillance system that can read my dash and interactions, rewrites itself onto a DVR, but has a record and little placards i can place in view. (You are subject to video and audio surveillance) you HAVE to have this warning if used in court. (each state is different) but so MANY times i have had cops lie on the stand or in court. My wife says arent you worried about documenting you speeding or other violations im actually guilty of? yes, that is to be considered, but Im tired of cops who lie in traffic court. And the issue being decided is the citation, not how may times you sped over the speed limit and not gotten cited.
