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My experience with traffic police in different cities

I make it a point to smile, wave and acknowledge them in the hope that it makes a small difference.

BHPian astrodex recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I have learned that being courteous goes a long way in making interactions with law enforcement much more easier. I always tell them to check whatever they want and let them know that I appreciate them in doing their jobs and keeping us safe.

Karnataka

Often have to drive across the Goa-Karnataka border and back. Have been flagged down multiple times for checks for liquor, especially if you are in a non Goa license plate vehicle. When stopped I often tell them I stay in Goa, do this route frequently. Most of the time they waive me off with a grin. P.S., I never carry liquor across the border anyway.

Maharashtra

During election season there was too much checking and this time I was in a GA vehicle. On my third stop I was tired and I genuinely asked him that with so much cops on the highway does he not feel I would have been checked 3 or 4 times before I reached Pune. Told him that my documents were checked so many times I have it in order and he was just wasting his time. He agreed and waived me through.

Goa

Was coming out of a traffic bottleneck to open highway and got promptly flagged down by cops standing in the middle of the road. Some cars swerved away and sped off while I slowed and stopped. A fuming senior cop signalled me over. When asked what was the emergency, I said there wasn't any, it was just a sunny day and the traffic had improved, the road good and it just happened. He asked me how fast I was going and I told him I am sure I was fast and if he had to risk his life to stand on the road to pull me over, I was definitely overspeeding. He took my license, came back after 10 mins and said he was leaving me with a warning just because I was truthful.

Kerala

It wasn't as much as a challan as I was a the sabarimala parking where I saw the poor cop working hard to manage the traffic. He came to take a break as I stood there and I just walked up to him and thanked him for his work, I did genuinely feel sorry for the relentless work and vehicle fumes he was suffering for the pilgrims. Didn't think much about it until when I was coming back after the darshan and the guy noticed me in the car and gave a big smile and salute and guided the car out. Felt like a celebrity!

I have had my fair share of shouting matches with the cops and instances where they ask for money for the most frivolous reasons but these days when I see them in the hot sun and pollution, working a rather thankless job, I often feel that if I was in their shoes, I would also be cranky. So if nothing, I make it a point to smile, wave and acknowledge them in the hope that it makes a small difference.

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