Police shields in car windshields (live, law, drivers license)

[ansky]

Why do so many cars in NJ have those gold police shields in the windshield. What does that represent? Do you have to be a police officer to have it, and what is the point of putting them in civilian vehicles? Seems like every other car has one so they can't possibly all be police officers. I have not seen this anywhere outside NJ.

[exhdo1]

If it looks like a Police shield chances are it's a police officer or family member (I've seen some officers give the to friends) and they are a PBA or FOP member. If the shield is oval in shape then it's most likely an associate FOP member. I've seen FOP shields all over the country.

[andrew.mensch]

Seems to me that these and the PBA cards should be illegal.... do some people get to speed and have a "get out of jail" card?

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by andrew.mensch

Seems to me that these and the PBA cards should be illegal.... do some people get to speed and have a "get out of jail" card?

You obviously wouldn't say that if you had 1 or 2 in your wallet!

[GoYanks34]

Originally Posted by andrew.mensch

Seems to me that these and the PBA cards should be illegal.... do some people get to speed and have a "get out of jail" card?

Depends on the officer who pulls you over. Some will give you a pass but take the card, some give a pass and let you keep the card and some get pissed that you are trying to get a break by giving them a card. I have a PBA card and a leather drivers license holder thing with a metal police shield with the badge number in it from one of my best friends who is a cop in NYC but I've never actually used either of them when I've been pulled over. Never gotten a ticket either *knocks on wood* so I think it entirely depends on the cop. It also depends where you have the card from and where you get pulled over. For example, if you hand them a PBA card from NJ in Alabama they'll probably write you an extra ticket

It also depends what you get pulled over for - they're not letting you off the hook for any major offenses with a PBA card.

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by GoYanks34

Depends on the officer who pulls you over. Some will give you a pass but take the card, some give a pass and let you keep the card and some get pissed that you are trying to get a break by giving them a card. I have a PBA card and a leather drivers license holder thing with a metal police shield with the badge number in it from one of my best friends who is a cop in NYC but I've never actually used either of them when I've been pulled over. Never gotten a ticket either *knocks on wood* so I think it entirely depends on the cop. It also depends where you have the card from and where you get pulled over. For example, if you hand them a PBA card from NJ in Alabama they'll probably write you an extra ticket

It also depends what you get pulled over for - they're not letting you off the hook for any major offenses with a PBA card.

IF YOU HAND A PBA CARD TO MOST POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE OF THE NJ AREA, YOUR PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET A BREAK. MOST P.D.'S in the country are FOP. In fact, if your a police officer in the NJ metro area and get stopped down south, your chances are pretty good that you'll get a summons.

[GoYanks34]

Originally Posted by exhdo1

IF YOU HAND A PBA CARD TO MOST POLICE OFFICERS OUTSIDE OF THE NJ AREA, YOUR PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET A BREAK. MOST P.D.'S in the country are FOP. In fact, if your a police officer in the NJ metro area and get stopped down south, your chances are pretty good that you'll get a summons.

Story my friend (the cop in NYC) told me:
A NYPD officer was pulled over for speeding in Florida and the cop gave him a ticket, knowing he was cop. When he got back from vacation he sent the info of the officer who gave him the ticket to all the surrounding units. Every time they pulled over a cop from Florida they said "thank officer so and so for this ticket". Needless to say the Florida ticket was dismissed pretty quickly.

Now, is it right that as a cop you get a pass? No, but it happens and I thought that story was quite amusing in regards to how they stick together.

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by GoYanks34

Story my friend (the cop in NYC) told me:
A NYPD officer was pulled over for speeding in Florida and the cop gave him a ticket, knowing he was cop. When he got back from vacation he sent the info of the officer who gave him the ticket to all the surrounding units. Every time they pulled over a cop from Florida they said "thank officer so and so for this ticket". Needless to say the Florida ticket was dismissed pretty quickly.

Now, is it right that as a cop you get a pass? No, but it happens and I thought that story was quite amusing in regards to how they stick together.

I was in law enforcement for 30+ years. When I first got on the job the "THIN BLUE LINE" and "PROFESSIONAL COURTESY" was alive and well. As the years progressed, "NOT AS MUCH". Am I saying that there is no longer professional courtesy? Absolutely not. Am I more likely to get a summons now than 35 years ago? Absolutely! Is it more likely for another police officer to write over one of my PBA cards now? Without a doubt.

[sas0814]

It helps you get off from receiving a ticket. I had one around 10 years ago and I got stopped. The cop let me go, but took my shield.

In the mail police depts. send you donation mailings and they promise to send you a shield if you donate the $$$.

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by sas0814

It helps you get off from receiving a ticket. I had one around 10 years ago and I got stopped. The cop let me go, but took my shield.

In the mail police depts. send you donation mailings and they promise to send you a shield if you donate the $$$.

You will absolutely, positively "NOT" get a shield for donating to the PBA. You may get a decal with the the PBA local number on it with the word donor, but never a shield. By the way, where did you get the shield from?