Jurisdiction

Brandon, Vermont

Speed Trap Location

Route 7

Nearest Reference Point

n/a

GPS Coordinates

n/a

Time of Day

Late night

Level of Enforcement

Some

Type of Enforcement

Unknown

Date

6/2003

Driving south through Brandon on Route 7 at 11:30 PM. Went around the sharp left turn in town at about 25 mph which is a little fast for that turn but I did not have a problem with the speed. I then see the local cop on the right in a SUV type vehicle. He leaves parking lot nearby and follows me for a while. He finally turns off his headlights while following me and then pulls me over. Says my light over my license plate was out. Seems he did not like my car, an old Honda but in good shape, and figured there has got to be something he could get me for.

Comment (03/2008): Like it or not, the police are there to defend inoccent motorists from unsafe and possibly intoxicated operators. Taking a turn to fast, especially a 90 degree corner, is usually a sign that an operator is having difficulty maintaining control of his/her vehicle and/or has a reason (ie., alcohol) that there is a lack of attention to the operation of there vehicle. Something as simple as a plate light out warrants the officer to perform a motor vehicle stop to 1, inform you of the defective equipment, and 2, ensure that you are not, in fact, under the influence of drugs or alcohol. May be a minor inconvenience to the innocent, but the last drunk that officer took off the road was probably the one that may have drove 70 mph into your front bumper had he continued to drive. Don\'t piss and moan cause there are officers out there doing there job and taking the innitiative to remove these extreme hazards from our highways and byways. I am a civilian who has lost loved ones and friends due to alcohol related crashes, so I say Chris, tell your officers they\'re doing a great job and to keep up the good work. Obviously the bone head complaining about one of your officers isn\'t exactly the law-abbiding type and feels he\'s constantly being harrased.