12/18/24
April 12, 2011
Iverson: 'Take The Vehicle, I Have 10 More': After his Lamborghini was pulled over in Atlanta March 30 while he was a passenger in the car, former NBA All Star Allen Iverson got into an argument with police who discovered his temporary drive out tag was fake and his tags were expired. "Take the vehicle. I have 10 more," Iverson told the officer, according to a police report. "Do you know who I am?"
posted by rcade to basketball at 05:15 PM - 13 comments
Yeah, he definitely needs to practice making nice with the police.
posted by NoMich at 07:19 PM on April 12, 2011
I really don't like cop. I read this story and think failure to signal is one of those driving while black excuses. I never make nice with the po po. I'm not trying to get the Rodney King treatment, but I don't go the "yes suh" route either.
posted by bperk at 08:28 PM on April 12, 2011
I'm not trying to get the Rodney King treatment, but I don't go the "yes suh" route either.
There's a lot of area in between those two options, one of which includes properly using your signal, paying your tag fees and not swearing at cops.
It's as likely the cop pulled them over because they were in a Lamborghini as it is that it was racially motivated; a Lambo who darts in/out of lanes is pretty much getting pulled over every time.
posted by dfleming at 08:51 PM on April 12, 2011
"Do you know who I am?"
Uhh, a guy who wants to go to jail?
posted by wfrazerjr at 08:58 PM on April 12, 2011
I read this story and think failure to signal is one of those driving while black excuses.
I thought that was a dubious reason to pull the car over, but the fake tag problem renders that question moot. People who are committing a serious motor offense don't get to bitch when they were pulled over unfairly.
posted by rcade at 09:08 PM on April 12, 2011
driving while black excuses
That may have been a part of it. But if I cursed at a cop after being pulled over, I'm assuming that I'm gonna spend the night in jail after he tazes me.
So all in all, I think Iverson made out OK.
posted by cjets at 12:56 AM on April 13, 2011
I is a whitey that's been pulled over, and ticketed, for the failure to signal offense.
Where was I turning? Why, into my own f---ing driveway, but hey, the officer was correct in that I didn't signal. It was 1:30 AM, I'm sure the cop thought he had a DWI candidate, I disappointed him as I was coming home from a night of serving drinks, not drinking them.
Anyway, back to Iverson, the "do you know who I am" line is ill advised and I think he knows that. Given that he's now apologized, I hope he takes care of his tags and moves on. $10,000 for tags? Is that right? I know some states tax according to vehicle worth, but that seems crazy.
posted by dviking at 01:05 AM on April 13, 2011
I try to be realistic. Cops have a lot of discretionary authority. They don't always use it as well as they could or should.
They are trained to size up a situation quickly. That includes putting individuals in categories: compliant, bullshitter, unstable, asshole, etc.
Their initial categorization may be inaccurate or unfair, but that's what they roll with.
My goal is usually to be placed in one of the more desirable categories. Like competent and cooperative. That doesn't mean ass kissing. But combativeness is not productive.
Every time I've told a cop that I'm not going to waste their time or insult their intelligence by making up stories, I've been let go with a verbal only. I save the stories for the hearing officer at the courthouse.
Of course I'm white, have enough relatives in the military to where I can say Yes Sir and No Sir with believability, and if they want to pull me over in my 8 year old Ford pickup for doing god knows the fuck what at the limited speeds my creeping senility allows me to aspire to, god bless 'em.
What else is new, Smokey Bear, women have been telling me I had a taillight out for over ten years now...
posted by beaverboard at 01:19 AM on April 13, 2011
NoMich, Practice? We're talking about practice?
Also, the only correct time to use the "Do you know who I am?" line is when you're suffering from amnesia.
posted by apoch at 06:27 AM on April 13, 2011
My goal is usually to be placed in one of the more desirable categories. Like competent and cooperative.
Yep...but that can be a lot harder if you're in the wrong demographic.
(note also that "wrong" is somewhat situational...young, white and male in a college town late on a Saturday night is definitely edging into "wrong")
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:44 AM on April 13, 2011
Yeah, he definitely needs to practice making nice with the police.
My bad. I didn't notice apoch already got to this before I could.
posted by BornIcon at 10:22 AM on April 13, 2011
In my town the cops only shoot poor people. Driving a Lamborgini would have gotten you a police escort.
posted by THX-1138 at 03:20 PM on April 13, 2011
It's difficult to believe at this point that any celebrity/athlete believes pulling out the 'do you know who I am' is a good idea.