Even worse than driving around a small town at night is walking on foot. I was recently in a very small community out in Rhea County, Tennessee. I was staying there overnight with my father, who was supposed to put on a golf tournament the following day. Towards evening, I got it in my head to go out and take a walk. I walked this way and that, discovered there are no sidewalks or walking paths in the area, but generally had a good time. Shortly after nightfall, as I was making my way back to the AirBnB where we were staying, a sheriff's deputy pulls over gets out of his car, and starts asking me questions. This in short order is followed by no fewer than 5 other vehicles from the sheriff's department, one of which I later learned contained the sheriff of Rhea county himself. They had apparently received MULTIPLE calls from concerned citizens about some stranger out walking around in the evening. Nevermind that I hadn't done anything illegal. Then because I was staying in an AirBnB which my father had rented, I couldn't recall the address, they didn't seem to believe me when I explained my story of how I came to be there, and it all dragged on far longer than it had any right to. Eventually they did drive me back, we found the house, they woke up my father and the property owners and spoke to them, and let me go, but man it's WILD how just walking down the street can earn you detainment by the police.
About 25 or so years ago, in the State of Western Australia, there was an initiative to reduce overnight car thefts. So for folks who were NOT shift workers, driving home late at night etc, and who seldom used their car during the wee hours anyway, A sticker was available for free, for sticking on the back window. It said something like "Stop car theft", (and the line underneath) "12 midnight to 3am". This was an invitation for police to pull over that car "for no reason" during those hours and just check that the side window hadn't been busted out, and there wasn't some toe-rag driving, using a screwdriver in the ignition. For some people, that sticker would have been a good idea, at deterring a car thief. Because of the mild climate, actual locking garages are rare there, most cars being parked outside in the open, or just under a roof Sun-shade "car-port". Before the newer generation of theft resistant computer coded keys, car theft was a bit of an issue there.
Been there and done that working for newspapers. 2:30 was closing time for bars. They suspected everyone out at that time had been drinking. When they found out I worked for a large regional newspaper they returned to their cars fast. They didn't want an article about them in the paper. Not that I would write it but once I told the manager a different story. I will say I was stopped and bullied more from police when I was 19-20 driving a Mustang with graphics. They would even make me late for work. Always a bogus claim. Traded it for a regular looking car which was just as fast and no one stopped me after that.
Came home from vacation and my book was waiting for me, thanks! Interesting enough, we visited one of the houses in the book on my vacation. The very first house in fact, the LaLaurie mansion. And the story we were told on our tour was basically all the things you said has been embellished and exaggerated over the years. So thank you for clarifying the story.
When I first moved from Detroit to the west side of the state I was working in South Bend, but living in Mattawan, MI. Occasionally I would be driving home at 2:00 AM. I had to drive through Decatur, right passed the local bar. Got pulled over twice by the local police. Had nice conversations and was let go.
@@avengingemmapeel yes, it was. About 1 hr, 15 minutes, 1 way. I eventually moved to Niles. I now live in St. Joseph and work in Benton Harbor. MUCH less commute time!
The first time I ever got pulled over I was driving through Lorenzo, Texas. I got pulled over because “my license plate light was out” and the one cop had nothing better to do. Also, my lights all worked.
Last time I was pulled over I was driving a borrowed vehicle that had a horrible vibration when it went over 50. Cop claimed I was doing 70 im a 55. Awkward part was we knew each other. I played the polite role, we chatted family and life and no ticket issued.
I once lived in part of Helsinki, Finland where cops would routinely have a DUI check setup on almost all Sunday or Monday mornings in spesifiic direction. I guess they had a good catch rate there even though the area had an ok reputation in general. Outside of that I have been pulled over for random DUI check stops maybe less than 10 times in my life and I've had my license for 25 years now. I've never been pulled over for random check by a police car on patrol. I've always been driving non descript cars though.
My books got here fast! I sent the email request 21 April, received and paid the invoice 22 April, and the books arrived 27 April. Both "American Murder Houses" and "Death's Door" are on my Amazon wish list, so the chance to get signed copies was too good to pass up. These will go on a shelf with books signed by Alan Shepard, Jim Lovell, Hampton Sides, and Sebastian Junger, among others.
I remember the story of a lay going late at night to the hospital of a small town in Manitoba in the 70s to breastfeed her baby and pulled over every night until the husband called the RCMP to explain what was happening.
Figured you would have kept some bumper stickers in the car. Hello officer, I work at the radio station. Ill play a request tomorrow nigh Been pulled over for nothing. City cops aren 't too bad. Mounties or Park Police will tear the engine apart to make sure your ignition timing is correct to find something to ticket you for.
I grew up in a small town. I know what Steve's talking about. If I remember correctly, Locust Grove, Georgia, was a town of about 1,500 in the 80's. We probably only had one cop on dayshift. I distinctly remember that singular blue light on top of the car.
The only time I've been pulled over was on US93 between Wickenburg AZ and I40 en route to Las Vegas. NV, in a tour bus full of potential merrymakers. I was doing at least 65 in a 55. I received a warning that could have turned into a ticket if stopped again in that county. Of course, the smokers got off to smoke. Circa 1989.
Yep, I was pulled over in small towns as a teenager. I never got any tickets until I was a OTR driver, and most of the tickets I received I didn't deserve. But yep, as a teen I was pulled over many times for simply being a teen out driving at night. Happily and maybe oddly, never got any tickets. I certainly deserved one I can think of, I was accidentally speeding, a lot, down a very nice road that had a very low speed limit. The road was built like an interstate highway where you'd expect the speed to be 65 or 70, but had a speed limit of only 30. Looking back, I'm sure the road was built that way because it was leading to and from a factory, but there was nothing but trees on either side of the road, so it wasn't like I was speeding through a neighborhood. Still, probably should have got one there, but am very glad I didn't as it was an honest mistake. I was also blamed for two accidents for which I was the victim in both. I'm not saying I was incapable of having an accident, my first time driving in the rain I went right through a stop sign and had there been another car stopped at the stop sign ahead of me I would have slid right into their rear end. I'm so glad and fortunate that there was not another car in front of me so I could learn how to stop a car on a rain slick road without hurting anyone, or worse if someone had been walking on the road in front of me, I wouldn't have stopped in time, it horrifies me to think about. As mentioned before, I was accidentally speeding, at least once. I'm no saint, but I stand by the only two car accidents I was involved in as a driver, I was the victim in each and since I was a teenager I was blamed for both by the police and ultimately by the insurance companies. It upsets me so much, more that the other people 'got away with it,' than the fact I was blamed, now. Before, it bothered me more that I was blamed when I know it was 100% their fault. I wasn't even moving for one of them, I was an immobile car, but the cops wrote up that I backed into the other car in the report.
I would never agree to a search of the car today. Back when you were a kid cops were generally honest. Or at least I believe so. Now I have seen a dozen or more body cam footage where the cop planted the drugs. One older woman I think in Florida spent 18 months in jail over planted drugs.
On the other hand, they know you and sometimes they will be friends instead of police and get you home safe. I live in a small town . My experience is good except knowing everyone.
Steve, Thank You for singing each of the 6 books 😊 They arrived today 😊
Even worse than driving around a small town at night is walking on foot. I was recently in a very small community out in Rhea County, Tennessee. I was staying there overnight with my father, who was supposed to put on a golf tournament the following day. Towards evening, I got it in my head to go out and take a walk. I walked this way and that, discovered there are no sidewalks or walking paths in the area, but generally had a good time.
Shortly after nightfall, as I was making my way back to the AirBnB where we were staying, a sheriff's deputy pulls over gets out of his car, and starts asking me questions. This in short order is followed by no fewer than 5 other vehicles from the sheriff's department, one of which I later learned contained the sheriff of Rhea county himself. They had apparently received MULTIPLE calls from concerned citizens about some stranger out walking around in the evening. Nevermind that I hadn't done anything illegal.
Then because I was staying in an AirBnB which my father had rented, I couldn't recall the address, they didn't seem to believe me when I explained my story of how I came to be there, and it all dragged on far longer than it had any right to. Eventually they did drive me back, we found the house, they woke up my father and the property owners and spoke to them, and let me go, but man it's WILD how just walking down the street can earn you detainment by the police.
In small towns, strangers stick out like a sore thumb
You lived what Ray Bradbury wrote about in 1951's The Pedestrian. Worse for you because not in your neighborhood.
About 25 or so years ago, in the State of Western Australia, there was an initiative to reduce overnight car thefts. So for folks who were NOT shift workers, driving home late at night etc, and who seldom used their car during the wee hours anyway, A sticker was available for free, for sticking on the back window. It said something like "Stop car theft", (and the line underneath) "12 midnight to 3am". This was an invitation for police to pull over that car "for no reason" during those hours and just check that the side window hadn't been busted out, and there wasn't some toe-rag driving, using a screwdriver in the ignition. For some people, that sticker would have been a good idea, at deterring a car thief. Because of the mild climate, actual locking garages are rare there, most cars being parked outside in the open, or just under a roof Sun-shade "car-port". Before the newer generation of theft resistant computer coded keys, car theft was a bit of an issue there.
Been there and done that working for newspapers. 2:30 was closing time for bars. They suspected everyone out at that time had been drinking. When they found out I worked for a large regional newspaper they returned to their cars fast. They didn't want an article about them in the paper. Not that I would write it but once I told the manager a different story. I will say I was stopped and bullied more from police when I was 19-20 driving a Mustang with graphics. They would even make me late for work. Always a bogus claim. Traded it for a regular looking car which was just as fast and no one stopped me after that.
"with graphics" ...Flames? Or did I just admit advanced age?
Came home from vacation and my book was waiting for me, thanks! Interesting enough, we visited one of the houses in the book on my vacation. The very first house in fact, the LaLaurie mansion. And the story we were told on our tour was basically all the things you said has been embellished and exaggerated over the years. So thank you for clarifying the story.
When I first moved from Detroit to the west side of the state I was working in South Bend, but living in Mattawan, MI. Occasionally I would be driving home at 2:00 AM. I had to drive through Decatur, right passed the local bar. Got pulled over twice by the local police. Had nice conversations and was let go.
South Bend, Indiana? Whew! That was a commute!
@@avengingemmapeel yes, it was. About 1 hr, 15 minutes, 1 way. I eventually moved to Niles. I now live in St. Joseph and work in Benton Harbor. MUCH less commute time!
The first time I ever got pulled over I was driving through Lorenzo, Texas. I got pulled over because “my license plate light was out” and the one cop had nothing better to do. Also, my lights all worked.
My book came in today, can't wait to get started on it!
Received your book yesterday, thank you for taking the time to sign my copy.
Last time I was pulled over I was driving a borrowed vehicle that had a horrible vibration when it went over 50. Cop claimed I was doing 70 im a 55.
Awkward part was we knew each other. I played the polite role, we chatted family and life and no ticket issued.
Just finished the book! It was very interesting, I absolutely loved it!
Thank you for the book, Steve. I'm looking forward to reading it!
Thanks for the book, Steve. I'll be taking back to Thailand with me.
Got my copy in the other day, thank you Steve!
I once lived in part of Helsinki, Finland where cops would routinely have a DUI check setup on almost all Sunday or Monday mornings in spesifiic direction. I guess they had a good catch rate there even though the area had an ok reputation in general. Outside of that I have been pulled over for random DUI check stops maybe less than 10 times in my life and I've had my license for 25 years now. I've never been pulled over for random check by a police car on patrol. I've always been driving non descript cars though.
LOL, N. Branch Mi... They gotta stay awake somehow !!!
Have a great day,
Ride through a small southern town in the 60's or 70's on a Harley and watch the games begin.
Have long hair to turbo charge the stop.
I got mine a couple days ago. Thanks Steve.
I got my book two days ago. Thanks again.
I have had a couple of red cars and I was pulled over a lot! Never got a ticket.
Kind of a bummer to not be able to get this from overseas... it is the year 2024 after all...
Ah well... thanks as always.
My books got here fast! I sent the email request 21 April, received and paid the invoice 22 April, and the books arrived 27 April. Both "American Murder Houses" and "Death's Door" are on my Amazon wish list, so the chance to get signed copies was too good to pass up. These will go on a shelf with books signed by Alan Shepard, Jim Lovell, Hampton Sides, and Sebastian Junger, among others.
Ben in front seat of cobra looking over windshield .
Well done with the books
I received my copy and have been reading it. Pretty interesting read so far.
EB Friday! 🎉🎉🎉
I remember the story of a lay going late at night to the hospital of a small town in Manitoba in the 70s to breastfeed her baby and pulled over every night until the husband called the RCMP to explain what was happening.
"story of a LAY going late at night to the hospital" ...Was that a Freudian Slip?
Figured you would have kept some bumper stickers in the car. Hello officer, I work at the radio station. Ill play a request tomorrow nigh Been pulled over for nothing. City cops aren 't too bad. Mounties or Park Police will tear the engine apart to make sure your ignition timing is correct to find something to ticket you for.
Ben trying to rest on the blue car.
Got mine last week.
I grew up in a small town. I know what Steve's talking about. If I remember correctly, Locust Grove, Georgia, was a town of about 1,500 in the 80's. We probably only had one cop on dayshift. I distinctly remember that singular blue light on top of the car.
Got my copy two days ago. Thanks
The only time I've been pulled over was on US93 between Wickenburg AZ and I40 en route to Las Vegas. NV, in a tour bus full of potential merrymakers. I was doing at least 65 in a 55. I received a warning that could have turned into a ticket if stopped again in that county. Of course, the smokers got off to smoke. Circa 1989.
Yep, I was pulled over in small towns as a teenager. I never got any tickets until I was a OTR driver, and most of the tickets I received I didn't deserve. But yep, as a teen I was pulled over many times for simply being a teen out driving at night. Happily and maybe oddly, never got any tickets. I certainly deserved one I can think of, I was accidentally speeding, a lot, down a very nice road that had a very low speed limit. The road was built like an interstate highway where you'd expect the speed to be 65 or 70, but had a speed limit of only 30. Looking back, I'm sure the road was built that way because it was leading to and from a factory, but there was nothing but trees on either side of the road, so it wasn't like I was speeding through a neighborhood. Still, probably should have got one there, but am very glad I didn't as it was an honest mistake. I was also blamed for two accidents for which I was the victim in both. I'm not saying I was incapable of having an accident, my first time driving in the rain I went right through a stop sign and had there been another car stopped at the stop sign ahead of me I would have slid right into their rear end. I'm so glad and fortunate that there was not another car in front of me so I could learn how to stop a car on a rain slick road without hurting anyone, or worse if someone had been walking on the road in front of me, I wouldn't have stopped in time, it horrifies me to think about. As mentioned before, I was accidentally speeding, at least once. I'm no saint, but I stand by the only two car accidents I was involved in as a driver, I was the victim in each and since I was a teenager I was blamed for both by the police and ultimately by the insurance companies. It upsets me so much, more that the other people 'got away with it,' than the fact I was blamed, now. Before, it bothered me more that I was blamed when I know it was 100% their fault. I wasn't even moving for one of them, I was an immobile car, but the cops wrote up that I backed into the other car in the report.
I got mine.
Nothing more dangerous than a bored guy with a gun.
And the addendum, "There is NO incident that can't be made worse, with the arrival of Law Enforcement."
I'd like to know how you got the book to me so fast. I'm in Central Florida. Got the book in just a few days.
I would never agree to a search of the car today. Back when you were a kid cops were generally honest. Or at least I believe so. Now I have seen a dozen or more body cam footage where the cop planted the drugs. One older woman I think in Florida spent 18 months in jail over planted drugs.
I would like to get one but alas I'm in Canada
Orange 69 charger hm. Is one of the cops enus? Or roscoe?
Can you send them to Canada
It's best to write an email to Steve, with the Subject, "Book to [town/province] Canada". Probably some extra postage.
On the other hand, they know you and sometimes they will be friends instead of police and get you home safe. I live in a small town . My experience is good except knowing everyone.