Got stopped in SC and had to pay cash to the Cop

[elisesile]

In South Carolina Saturday morning doing 90 in a 70 in a rental car with Louisiana plates. The highway patrol pulled me over and when I showed him my CA license he said I would need to provide a "bond card" or pay cash to him right there. I don't even know what a "bond card" is so we explored the second option.

The gentleman was kind enough to reduce my "bond" from $185 to $100 cash. He filled out some paperwork and gave me a copy, but said I didn't even need to keep it, that I was done unless I wanted to come back and go to court. I then counted out $100 in to his ticket box in front of the cruizer camera and was on my way.

Now, everything seemed pretty official, but isn't it strange to pay a patrolman cash on the side of the road? There is evidently no record of the stop on my license, so I'm not unhappy about the deal, just wondering if anyone else had experienced this.

[CosmosMpower]

That sounds incredibly fishy, are you sure it was even a legit cop?

[chapster5]

Yeh i was thinking that... Ive never known of anyone have to pay any cash to the cop...

[Vexige]

Originally Posted by chapster5

Yeh i was thinking that... Ive never known of anyone have to pay any cash to the cop...

I had to do it quite few times, but it was in another country.
Sounds very fishy to me. Was the camera even on?

[AnsisK]

I remember that some states require cash on-the-spot if you're running out-of-state plates because people from afar just don't pay up. I'm pretty certain that your case is the same with the rental registration.

[elisesile]

It was a real highway patrolman, but I was wondering myself if the camera was on. He had me get out of my car and stand with him in front of his so the camera could see the transaction, but maybe that was all to convince me it was legit and the camera was actually off. I forgot the document he gave me in the rental car, but it was not like a normal ticket I have recieved in CA, MI, TX, or NJ.

[elisesile]

But $100 for doing 90 in a 70 is not a bad deal so I'm not complaining...

[RoadDad]

These are the reasons we have cell phones. Call the highway patrol directly (*HP in most instances) and ask that another officer respond. Tell the dispatcher what your concern is so that it is recorded. Even if it is legitimate they should not be offended. It is for their protection as well.

From here: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR POLICY DIRECTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE: FEBRUARY 10, 1997 NUMBER: 16

"When an out-of-state motorist is not a resident of a compact member state,
the officer shall explain the procedure of accepting cash bond and court
proceedings and may request bond be deposited."

Look at IX. Citing the violator, section C.

It appears that he did this instead of taking you to jail. It also appears that he "disposed of the case" by not requiring you to come back for a court date.

[chapster5]

The weird thing is, why did he drop it from $180 to $100? surley a fine would stay the same even if the cop was in a generous or non generous mood?

[pla_time]

Just for future reference, if you have an AAA card, it can be used as a "bond card" for up to $1,000 for "any motor vehicle law violation EXCEPT violations involving driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquors, drugs or narcotics, failure to appear for violations, driving on a suspended/revoked driver's license, hit and run, failure to present evidence of insurance, illegal use or falsification of license or registration, engaging in a felony, attempting to elude/eluding police, or while driving a vehicle used for commercial purposes. For bail bonds or to obtain payment in the event of non-appearance, contact AAA Auto Club South. Member agrees to repay AAA or GICA for any losses."

It is as close as you can get to a "get out of jail" card....

[apk919]

Originally Posted by pla_time

Just for future reference, if you have an AAA card, it can be used as a "bond card" for up to $1,000 for "any motor vehicle law violation EXCEPT violations involving driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquors, drugs or narcotics, failure to appear for violations, driving on a suspended/revoked driver's license, hit and run, failure to present evidence of insurance, illegal use or falsification of license or registration, engaging in a felony, attempting to elude/eluding police, or while driving a vehicle used for commercial purposes. For bail bonds or to obtain payment in the event of non-appearance, contact AAA Auto Club South. Member agrees to repay AAA or GICA for any losses."

It is as close as you can get to a "get out of jail" card....

Great info... thanks for posting this (and I'm feeling better about having an AAA card).

[Cali]

Hey, I'd pay $100 any day to get out of a ticket... Good deal.

[serpent]

Originally Posted by Cali

Hey, I'd pay $100 any day to get out of a ticket... Good deal.

exactly!!

[biffster10]

Originally Posted by chapster5

Yeh i was thinking that... Ive never known of anyone have to pay any cash to the cop...

I had to pay cash to a cop in Ohio. Unfortunately, I was only guilty of being from out-of-state. It was 3am, driving to FL, and my options were pay up or spend the night in jail and see the judge in the morning. I still owe some damage to an Ohio State Trooper car for being robbed, but the risk is probably not worth the satisfaction.

[kestrel74]

Originally Posted by Cali

Hey, I'd pay $100 any day to get out of a ticket... Good deal.

+1

[25psi_Elise_Killer]

I paid a cop $25USD while in Mexico and the problems between us were gone immediately

[Rob T]

Originally Posted by chapster5

The weird thing is, why did he drop it from $180 to $100? surley a fine would stay the same even if the cop was in a generous or non generous mood?

Exactly, seems very odd. Would a patrolman actually have the latitude to do something like that? I have serious doubts.

[JoshS]

Totally normal happened to my buddy when we drove across country. They just want that cash, if you chose Jail they lose money. We were contemplating it. They'll also take credit cards, and world series rings.

[evomind]

Originally Posted by RoadDad

These are the reasons we have cell phones. Call the highway patrol directly (*HP in most instances) and ask that another officer respond. Tell the dispatcher what your concern is so that it is recorded. Even if it is legitimate they should not be offended. It is for their protection as well.
From here: SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR POLICY DIRECTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE: FEBRUARY 10, 1997 NUMBER: 16

"When an out-of-state motorist is not a resident of a compact member state,
the officer shall explain the procedure of accepting cash bond and court
proceedings and may request bond be deposited."

Look at IX. Citing the violator, section C.

It appears that he did this instead of taking you to jail. It also appears that he "disposed of the case" by not requiring you to come back for a court date.

yeah....good idea if ya wanna get the crap kicked outta ya.
after the beating he will ask, "do i seem real enough now, MF?"

[RoadDad]

Originally Posted by evomind

yeah....good idea if ya wanna get the crap kicked outta ya.
after the beating he will ask, "do i seem real enough now, MF?"

That's pretty funny. They're a bit meaner in Chitown, huh?

Our local HP and county offices advocate anyone being pulled over by an unmarked car lock their doors and call before even rolling down their window. They also advocate calling if you have any suspicion that the person pulling you over is even remotely not a cop. I think around here it stems from a few years ago a (non-cop) guy wearing a "police" uniform pulling people over in an old Crown Vic police interceptor that he had put blue bar lights on the top of .