If you're rude to or insult a police officer, can they fine you or otherwise penalize you for it?

Jim A

Yes, badgering police officers can get you in some trouble. Nothing serious, but yes some fines probably.

Ray J

There was a woman in Vermont who was charged with cruelty to a police animal and resisting arrest after making faces and staring at a police dog. The charges were dropped thankfully (for her).

P.S. I happen to live in the only state with out a mandatory seat belt law for adults.

No Magpie Without Chance

He could theoretically beat you to a bloody pulp and then arrest you for resisting arrest.

I'm only half kidding--there's a video floating around the web of some bright spark who decided to have a friend film him telling a cop to "f*** off" because "there's nothing he can do to me...". He looked pretty stupid when the cop responded by pulling out his nightstick and beating the crap out of him right there on the street.

Kelly + Eternal Universal Energy

No there is nothing they can do unless you utter a threat or verbally assault a police officer. If you are sarcastic, biting or just plain whipping them intellectually there is nothing they can do.. I know I have done it before in my youthful days of arrogance. Be careful though if you do because some of them hold a grudge and will mercilessly hound you looking for any chance to make your life hell. It's worth it though.. really it is when you give them what for.

Magaroni

It wouldn't get you out of the citation, so what good would it do? Keep in mind, police officers are often on site at fatal accidents: if you had to pull a few mangled bodies out of tree trunks, you'd want to be sure everyone wore their seatbelt, too.

shafi0247

they can prosecute

TedEx

just for that no. . But if they were considering giving you a break and letting you go with just a warning, you just blew it.

He'll write you up for anything that will stick..
He'll be laughing, not you. And I promise, you he will show up in court.

Loathing

20 dollars! only 20 dollars! poop where do you live?
my sister in law was just pulled over for this reason last month.
she was fined 250 dollars!
my brother in law was driving with his father and both got pulled over for this reason, maybe about 6 months ago, and got finned 450!
(i guess people on my partner's side of the family doesn't get it, lol)

and i have SOOOO wanted to say something like that once too... i once saw some police officer pulling an entire family out of a van, because he was reprehending their vehicle. (i dont know for what reason mind you.. but i do live in an area that is known to occasionally harbor illegal aliens, and based soully on appearance, i would suspect that this was the case) but it upset me, so much. i mean here is this cop taking a family's car, when there are so much more important things to be doing....

but im not really sure if you could say anything like you wanted to... i would think that they could do something.. and i think most would.

dehbee

your an idiot. the cop is only doing their job and is helping you live longer just in case you get into an accident. and yes the cop can fine you more for being rude to him/her...and if your being a real pain and not doing anything the cop is telling you to do they can take you to jail for resisting an officer.

joeanonymous

$20?! You are lucky.

Here in Ontario, Canada the fine is $110 and 3 points on you licence.

He didn't stop a murder but he may have saved your life.

You won't be arrested for that, but the officer can become suddenly very interested in other aspects of your safety.
Is your horn working? Is your emergency brake working? Do you have an expired insurance slip? Was your passenger wearing a seatbelt? See where I'm going? There is absolutely nothing to be gained by being rude to someone who is doing their JOB.

FRAGINAL-NOYPI

Verbal assault is the offense committed by someone who insults a police officer. You can be arrested then imprisoned or fined for the offense. If you have a complaint against a police officer, file a written one and send it to his superior for appropriate action.

richie

no you cannot. but keep in mind that he has your car's license plate number. he can have his cop buddies make your life hell. they will pull you over for any reason and fine you. i know this because my friend in cali is a cop. just shut your mouth, and drive. besides, he could have saved your life that time. why don't you wear a seat belt anyway?

Laptop Jesus 3.9

It was really interesting to read peoples reaction to this. And how much they read into your character!!

I like the guy who gave you the 1,2,3,4 rules of mouthing off. I wish he'd given some examples.

Snark

I don't think it's illegal, no, but as others have said, a cop can find things to cite you for if he really wants to.

I see some of the answers have said that violent criminals *are* caught for minor traffic violations/seat belt violations.

That's all nice a dandy, but here's the thing - the question should be, "Should not wearing a seat belt be your choice or the choice of the law?"

It's your life. Yours. No one else's.

Just because criminals might be caught by making something less serious illegal doesn't mean that less serious something should be illegal.

I'm sure plenty of criminals would be caught if cops could just pull people over for no reason whatsoever, randomly. That doesn't mean it'd be right to give them that power.

As long as it's adults making their own choices with their own lives, I'd say I'd have to agree with your sentiments that police could be better employed worrying about other crimes.

I just wouldn't advise you to lose your temper :p

It depends. It depends on the type of officer he is and how leninant he would be in situations like that. Police are allowed to make their own decisions, they can choose if they want to enforce a law or now. But you know what, not wearing a seatbelt is a pretty big deal. It's dangerous, you or someone else can cause an accident and the seatbelt can safe a life. It's a shame most people think nothing of it, but it's the police officer's job to enforce the law. But just saying that to him is completely rude and disrespectful. I bet if you taken hostage by someone you would really need to depend on the police at that time.

Asha

yes they can...its against the law...

j.c.

i'm sure they would find a way to arrest u or fine u, but i would think it would fall under freedom of speech. u should be able to say anything u want to them.

Sam

its only a seatbelt...life will go on

Crimson

anythings possible but here is a piece of information that you may want to know... do not piss off a police officer, they take your license plate number and tell all the other police officers to watch you like a hawk and you will be pulled over for every thing that you can imagine.

Jaroo

i don't think so, but you'd probably get a citation. I don't really know. but if you ever get pulled over and a cop asks you if you know how fast you were going tell her/him that you are not oblagated to answer that. better chances if you want to fight a speeding ticket.

ucla bruin fan!

AHAHAHAHA
We'd all like to say something like that to them but
if you act up they can arrest you for not cooperating with them and in most states thats a felony.

Shawna P

I'm not sure, I think the laws are different in every state but would you really want to risk a big fine or possibly jail time just to be a smart@$$?

pocketpicker

No

You can say anything you want, however "no seatbelt" tickets in my state are $105 and he could give me a lower price ticket but my smart mouth might increase this to the maximum.

I have done this..........not too severe, but asked to see the radar, said I didn't believe him, wasting our time, etc., every time I got the maximum penalty. When I apologize and act like I am totally wrong, regretful, and sorry, I got no or little ticket. It just depends how I'm feeling and how much cash I have in the bank.

Being rude is not a crime!

GorgeousTx Vote the fundies out

I don't know if it is illegal but it is not too smart to antagonize a policeman. Just remember, they are there to help you and one day you might need one.

star_gazer

YOU could. AND you could be arrested too. And they can slap the book at you.AND you could end up with a criminal record the rest of your life. And it maybe, effecting you finding a good job the rest of your life. IS it really worth risking?

ace_of_spayeds

No, you can't be punished for being rude, exactly, but they can and probably will look for other things to be nit-picky about. They won't cut you a break, and will probably give you the biggest fine possible for whatever offense they pulled you over for. Just don't push them too hard, or else they can arrest you for being uncooperative.

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