Coming soon to a Cop near you. License Plate Scanner

[CAP1]

How is this any different than when I call in a plate during a traffic stop?

Just curious.

because if you stopped someone, you suspected them of something, or they did something.

this system, is checking out EVERYONE.

[CAP1]

You don't need probable cause to check a vehicle's registration.  You need it to make an arrest.

to the best of my knowledge, in nj, you do. police are not allowed to run a tag, until they've stopped a vehicle. of course, this doesn't mean that they don't.

[CAP1]

Much ado about nothing provided that the conditions that cause the alarm are tightly controlled, and that is where vigilance will be needed.

I wouldn't want to see the alarms going off for tag owners who had previous criminal convictions, lived out of the area, ID put into the system by locals for grins, CCW holders etc, but overall its a tool that can be effective if used properly.

Catch a guy abusing it and he is subject to prosecution, civil damages and immediate loss of all pension benefits.

shamus    

alarms go off for tags associated with a suspended license. sooo....suppose my girlfriend is suspended, and i'm driving her car? i have to put up with the cops bs because of this?

[Obie303]

to the best of my knowledge, in nj, you do. police are not allowed to run a tag, until they've stopped a vehicle. of course, this doesn't mean that they don't.

Cap, even though NJ is a planet all on its own...     All kidding aside, the person that has a vehicle registered in their name owns the vehicle.  They do not own the registration plates, the RMV does.  Police don't need any probable cause to check a vehicle's registration nor is there any expectation to privacy.  Therefore there is no 4th Amendment violation.  If a police officer stops a vehicle for a legitimate purpose, they cannot search the vehicle unless the owner/operator gives them permission or if the person is arrested or probable cause exists to search (i.e. the odor of narcotics).  The vehicle is searched as part of the motor vehicle inventory laws.  This prevents the arrested person from saying that there was anything taken from the vehicle prior to it being towed. 

alarms go off for tags associated with a suspended license. sooo....suppose my girlfriend is suspended, and i'm driving her car? i have to put up with the cops bs because of this?

Good question.  The answer is yes and no.  If the vehicle is registered to a female and the police cannot identify the operator as being a male or female, then they can make the stop.  If the operator is clearly not the registered owner (in the scenario you described, a female with a suspended license),  and the police officer can clearly, see the operator, then no.  There is no probable cause to support the operator, being a male, is suspended. 

And is it really "bs" as you descibed it?  They are just doing a job.

Hope that explains your question.

[john9001]

They are just doing a job.
collecting revenue.

[sluggish]

And is it really "bs" as you descibed it?  They are just doing a job.

Hope that explains your question.

Seems a lot of things these days are explained away with a shrug and a "just doing a job" comment...

[CAP1]

Cap, even though NJ is a planet all on its own...     All kidding aside, the person that has a vehicle registered in their name owns the vehicle.  They do not own the registration plates, the RMV does.  Police don't need any probable cause to check a vehicle's registration nor is there any expectation to privacy.  Therefore there is no 4th Amendment violation.  If a police officer stops a vehicle for a legitimate purpose, they cannot search the vehicle unless the owner/operator gives them permission or if the person is arrested or probable cause exists to search (i.e. the odor of narcotics).  The vehicle is searched as part of the motor vehicle inventory laws.  This prevents the arrested person from saying that there was anything taken from the vehicle prior to it being towed. they may not need probable cause, but they do need a reason. they can't just run your tag, simply because they're sitting behind you in traffic, and they're bored. BTW, that happened to me coming home from mcguire afb at 2am. no reason whatsoever, he ran my plate, and pulled me over. said my reg was expired. thankfully, i was in dress blues, and he let me off. it was in talking to a friend, who's personal friends with one of the local judges, that i found out that that ticket(had he issued one) would've been thrown out, because he ran my tag BEFORE he stopped me. once he stops me, then it's ok.

Good question.  The answer is yes and no.  If the vehicle is registered to a female and the police cannot identify the operator as being a male or female, then they can make the stop.  If the operator is clearly not the registered owner (in the scenario you described, a female with a suspended license),  and the police officer can clearly, see the operator, then no.  There is no probable cause to support the operator, being a male, is suspended. 

And is it really "bs" as you descibed it?  They are just doing a job.

Hope that explains your question.

now...don't get me wrong, i respect the hell out of most police. the problem is that some of them seriously abuse the tools given to them. most of them are forced to do things they hate....such as setting up speed traps locally to generate revenue.
 somerdale nj is notorious for the local pd stopping you for minor things, and ticketing you when other municipalities would hand you a warning.

 ooo...and yes, it is bs when someone gets stopped for something like that.

[Obie303]

I've never heard a citation (ticket) being thrown out because the police officer conducted a registration check and then stopped the vehicle.  As long as the stop was justified or the police officer was acting in good faith.  But, NJ motor vehicle laws can be different. 

Seems a lot of things these days are explained away with a shrug and a "just doing a job" comment...

Ever do a job or something you didn't like but were required to do so? 

[WilldCrd]

IIRC I saw a news report a year or so ago that said some departments  already using something similar. they drive down the street and scan the plates of parked cars to find the ones who's owners have unpaid traffic tickets or out of date registration. then they tow it

[Rich46yo]

Boy now hes posting to himself and spitting all over his screen again.

I sure wish that copper would have given him a pass on that commercial registration ticket. Cap1 is about to flatline on us again.

Questions? See below.

[sluggish]

I've never heard a citation (ticket) being thrown out because the police officer conducted a registration check and then stopped the vehicle.  As long as the stop was justified or the police officer was acting in good faith.  But, NJ motor vehicle laws can be different. 

Ever do a job or something you didn't like but were required to do so? 

One that I didn't like or one that I felt was wrong?  There's a difference.

[CAP1]

I've never heard a citation (ticket) being thrown out because the police officer conducted a registration check and then stopped the vehicle.  As long as the stop was justified or the police officer was acting in good faith.  But, NJ motor vehicle laws can be different. 

Ever do a job or something you didn't like but were required to do so? 

yes, i have. i do it all the time. remember? i have my own shop. i've been fixing cars for 20-some years. when i get a customer that has a car that's not worth the bill(got one right now) i friggin HATE takign their money for it. i do, because it pays the bills, but i'd soo much rather see them but a better car, and maintain it. got a lady that just dumped $500 into a geo metro, that's falling apart around her.....after me almost pleading with her to get rid of it.

 as for new jersey laws.....yes, they can be screwy. after all, we are our own little republic here.  

running a plate for no other reason than being bored is not in good faith.

people accepting this, is just another bit of privacy/freedom being given away.

another little step.

[CAP1]

Boy now hes posting to himself and spitting all over his screen again.

I sure wish that copper would have given him a pass on that commercial registration ticket. Cap1 is about to flatline on us again.

Questions? See below.

uumm......i DID get a pass on that. it pays to know people that know the judges.

and why would i be spitting on my screen?

[SmokinLoon]

Uh... probable cause!

Just guessing.

Probable cause is anything any LEO wants it to be.  The only thing that matters is if that LEO can articulate that probabl\e cause in court and I have yet to hear of any case that didnt move on due to lack of "probable cause".

If I am on patrol in rural IA or SD and come across a car (and obviously not Gpa and Gma inside) with CA, FL, TX, AZ, or NY plates... regardless of their lack of doing anything wrong I will be running their plates.  It isnt typical that is all I have to articulate in my paperwork.  LEO's call in plates far more than one realizes.  All it takes if for something to catch our eye and 20 seconds later comm center is giving us the info on the car.   

BTW... when I was working in IA I busted a stolen car from TX that had a single driver.  He met me at an intersection in the middle of nowhere on a gravel road.  I just happen to get a glimps of the plate, guessed the state, and called it in.  Five minutes later I had this guy in custody and comm center was notifying the owner in TX.  The driver admitted that the car was stolen and that he was in IA to pick up some meth to transport it back to TX (NW IA is a hotbed for meth producers).

Probable cause?  You turning you head too quick or adjusting your mirror can be probable cause.   

[LCCajun]

That would be nice to have in my unit. Maybe I can talk the chief into buying it lol.