Last October my husband and I went on a weeks vacation to Texas (San Antonio). We were driving from our home in central Florida - we like to drive and stop at different places and see the sites etc. I was driving and my husband was sleeping. I was cruising along (not speeding) I look in my rearview mirror and this car is right on my bumper so I immediately pulled over into the other lane - the car follows...the unmarked car lights up with police lights and pulls me over. I wake my husband up...swear I wasn't speeding. Two officers get out...one in the back of the car and the other comes to my window and asks me to step to the back of the car. I did. He looks at my license...asked where I lived, what I did for a living, where I was going and why. Then my husband sitting in the car rolls down his window...the officer has a fit telling him to roll up the window. The original officer asked if I knew why I was stopped and I said no. He said when I changed lanes I didn't signal...and in Texas you have to signal so many feet ahead of a lane change. He asked for the registration and insurance...I told him it was in the glove compartment...so he goes to the window by my husband...I am still in the back now making small talk with the other officer. When the original officer comes back he gives me my license..said this was just a warning...and to enjoy my visit in Texas. When I told my husband all that they asked me...he said the officer asked him the exact same questions. I guess since our stories matched and we were articulate and calm we were "ok". Are those typical police procedures? Maybe. But I believe I was stopped because I am black my husband is big and black and we were driving a nice car with out of state plates. I just wonder how many cars were stopped that day for "failure to signal a lane change"
|