Washington State Patrol

I was pulled over on I-​5 in fife for speeding but everyone was going the same speed 70. I said something about going with the flow of traffic and the officer practically shoved his face in my car window and yelled at me something about «mob mentality» I’ve never even heard the term before. I’m a white 46 year old woman driving a new VW Jetta. Why the need to disrespect me?
Another time I was going south on 167 on a Sunday in a BMW just got in a fight with hubby and was just sad driving in the slow lane. No cars around me. But felt lazy. Looked ahead and saw the WSP had a car pulled over. Officer was at the passenger window. I decided I was too depressed to use my signal and move to the other lane. He proceeded to run to his vehicle and chase after me. Pulled me over. Proceeded to literally SCREAM at me the it was the law I go in the other lane. I didn’t say a single word the whole time. Not a peep. Then in his screaming he realized I was just staring in his eyes not moving or talking he finally calmed down. Asked for my license and registration, no ticket. What the heck? I’m literally afraid to be pulled over now.

Two experiences with the WSP. Here is one: My car was towed. Officer on scene wrote am inventory list of what was in my car including $ 300 cash money and brand new $ 300 sunglasses during the tow. i literally just bought them and got in an accident on my way home.
Picked my car up two days later. Nothing is in my car. Tow office is saying there was nothing in the car to begin with and the officer report is a mistake. WSP and officer Briar Stanley will not return my calls or answer my questions. Where is my stuff? did officer stanley keep the sunglasses for herself? Sunglasses do not walkaway. The car was not broken into. Sometime during all of this, someone has committed a crime and WSP is not bothered..

I am a retired fire department chief officer from a mid-​sized city in Washington, and have several family members in law enforcement (my children). I’ve had my professional dealings with members of WSP – meetings, accident scenes – and I’ve been pulled over for speeding twice by WSP (cited for 60 in a 55, my favorite). As a whole, the culture in their organization seems to breed an almost robotic, authoritative manner. One that suggests you better cooperate, or find yourself in handcuffs just for disagreeing with them. I, for one, do not appreciate that approach – that attitude. Maybe it works for them; maybe an intimidating posture helps keep them safe out on the road, but they are the only law-​enforcement I’ve encountered that makes me feel threatened (Germany 1939?). When you are standing there wearing a gun, draped in police authority, holding all the cards, at least give me the impression you are a breathing, compassionate human being. Some behave like real humans, but there seems to be an inordinate number who do not. Is it a class they take in their academy?

The few run ins I’ve had with WSP have been pleasant enough. I was pulled over on my way home one night after work and was speeding about 20 over. I admitted I was just wanting to be home after a long day. The patrolman noticed my WSU sweat shirt and asked what year I graduated I told him I was class of 92. He said he was 93 and told me just to slow down and have a nice night. Go Cougs!
One thing that gets me though is less focus on HOV violations. I drive 405 frequently and see countless blantant violations just to avoid traffic. It use to be you could find WSP patrolmen on motorcycles in the shoulder waiting for violators during morning commutes, but now I never see them. Maybe it’s due to budget cutbacks with the state being in debt and all, but it’d sure be nice to see them out there again. If I have to be in traffic like everyone else then so should the rest of the single drivers. Just sayin.

I’m an out of state visitor driving a rental car with Nevada licensee plates on highway 2o on Whidbey Island. I have traveled to Washington 6 times over last few years and the Island 4 times. Nice place to visit until I was stopped for speeding on highway 20 approaching Deception Pass where the speed limit changes from 50 miles an hour to 40. I was in a long string of cars and everyone was slowing as required by the change in the limit. I saw the the State Police car turn on his lights and make a u-​turn to pull in behind me. I couldn’t believe he was after me and when I looked at my speedometer it indicated 42 MPH, my wife also looked and confirmed I was not doing 50. The officer, Norman Larsen badge number 889 pulled me over and sited me for going 10 mph over the posted limit. I was courteous in challenging his assertion that I was speeding to no avail. Larsen proceeded to his car and wrote the ticket for 124 $. So if I was speeding Larsen could have sited anyone in line as we were all going the same speed. I feel I was singled out because of the out of state licenses plates on the car. It would be nearly impossible for me to travel from California to challenge the charge. Safe for him as he has had other problems in traffic stops with one being challenged all the way to the Washington Supreme Court, he lost. As for me I have not been detained by law enforcement in over forty years with one only speeding ticket that I received in when I was in my twenty’s for ten over the limit. I am a very safe driver and never had any intention to break any law. Larsen indicated that Its a violation even if I travel only a short distance over the limit. To me its the same thing as if he reached into my pockets and took 124 bucks, robbery. As for me I will never set foot in the state again.
If you visit watch your speed because the State needs the money.

They confiscated my motorcycle… which sucked but really they suspected it of being stolen and were just doing their jobs. They held onto it for a while gathering evidence, but when their results were inconclusive they decided to give it back to me with a new VIN instead of crushing it like they could have. :-D Very nice of them!

How many times have they gotten me for speeding? Man, must be at least half a dozen in the time I have been driving. And, no, I am not a fast driver. I have always driven trucks, and never driven trucks near the high end of the engine spectrum. I generally stay out of everybody’s way on freeways, and still these guys find time to nab me.
Can you really say they’re not doing their jobs? No. Each and every time, I was speeding. And all these guys enforce is traffic laws – that’s why city and county cops always say you shouldn’t confuse WSP with real law enforcement.
So why review them? Well, I have had plenty of on-​duty (as well as off-​duty) interactions with officers from other agencies as well. Sometimes casual conversation, sometimes hiring them for crowd control, sometimes visiting friends and family who work in the business, sometimes, yeah, getting pulled over. And guess what? WSP consistently seems to have a knack for hiring the least pleasant people in the industry. They pop for going ten over, and the exasperation and condescension reminds you of a princess-​y teenager who wants her babysitting shift to consist of nothing more than talking on the phone to her friends – so, when she actually has to interact with the kids, she harps on them. It’s a bit of a mystery why someone who gets so hysterically annoyed by speeders would want a job with the WSP. That must be a really, really bad recipe for job satisfaction.

I believe the WSP is a two edge sword, a nessicary evil in our state. For the most part I’m not a member of the speeders club so I don’t have anything negative to say on that part. If I am a speeder I’ll fess up and pay the ticket or take it to court depending on the ticket. but, thats not why I’m writing this review
I was on my way to get back on the freeway at I-​5 Federal way HOV lane off ramp using the round about. As I was coming back around to go northbound on the free way the WSP trooper then pulled me over and proceeded to give my a ticket for having a window tint violation. My tint is not even THAT bad .2 over the legal limit. I took the ticket to court, judge told me i have 60 days to take off the tint and he would reduce my fine to 86 dollars. the state min. limit for tinted window violations… :/​So, I pay 45 dollars to have a tint removed from my windows then pay 86 dollars for the ticket… oh and the ticket is only 126 dollars…
not cool wsp not cool.

LOL I didn’t know we can review them. — This one is definitely long due! Way too many tickets for the stupidest reason! Our tax dollars is going to waste and they want more by writing us up for ding butt reasons.
*Tip: get a good traffic lawyer and shake them off, don’t pay for dumb tickets that you shouldn’t be getting and netting you the long-​term effect of hiked up insurance bill! WSP+Insurance Co=Evil

You guys suck!!!
Why did you pull me over, and automatically ask me to get out of my car!!! Do I look like a freaking felon? whatever, they are freaking cops that no one likes, and no one respects… parking on the side of the road with speeding radar’s; is this what our tax dollars are going towards!!!
Whatever!!! Freaking overzealous assholes!

So Friday morning I am in a rush to pick my buddy up and get to Seatac for our flight to Vegas. Running a bit behind as can be expected, I get on 167 south from Rainier Ave S. Being a friday morning there were quite a few of the classic Seattle drivers going 45 mph on the high way. As I pull away from the stoplight I start looking for my opening and as soon as I can squeeze by I drop the hammer and shift into second gear.
I accelerate upwards of 75mph and jam into the beginning of the carpool lane, continue accelerating to pass 3 cars and jam back into the normal lane of travel approaching 90 mph. I exit the freeway and am right by Valley Med Center when a State Trooper comes flying up behind me with lights and siren blaring. So I pull over and roll down my window and the trooper approaches my driver side window and says «Whats the rush honey?» So I briefly explain I was picking up a buddy and heading to Vegas for the weekend for his Bachelor party. She then looks up at me with a big smile and says «Vegas will still be there later.» I then give her my license, registration and insurance knowing I had a pretty hefty ticket coming my way.
She returns to my car a few minutes later with ticket in hand. She says «I decided to not write you up for the speed, 93 in a 60 zone, but I do have to write you up for the HOV violation.» Estatic I take the ticket and actually thank her! She told me to have a good trip and good luck gambling and that hopefully I would win enough to pay the ticket. She was probably one of the nicest cops I have ever dealt with. So 5 stars to the WSP today.

It’s like we’re in a constant battle between good and evil, and I’m not quite sure what side I’m on!
Sometimes you save me… sometimes you hurt me!
… um… thanks… maybe.