populated areas and police

[Ready]

I was talking to some guys and they mentioned that they had some negative experiences with police when traveling through populated areas. Is this common?

 

[KeikoOka]

Sometimes. I live in a populated area and the police are pretty harsh. You have to understand the kind of crimes, lies and other things they deal with in high crime areas. Usually, once a policeman runs your license and sees you're not a criminal, they lighten up.

 

[Lamebeaver]

There aren't many police in unpopulated areas.........

I suppose backpackers might be confused with vagrants and homeless people.

Personally, I don't backpack in populated areas.

 

[catspa]

That's what I was thinking too, LB. When I go backpacking, I try to get out where nobody else is (including police).

Parker

 

[Grandpa]

That's what I was thinking too, LB. When I go backpacking, I try to get out where nobody else is (including police).

Parker

About a mile from a coffee/donut shop and you should be safe:tinysmile_fatgrin_t

Sorry, my apologies to good officers everywhere but I have been passed by State police going all out with toplights flashing only to reach town and see them walking into the coffee shop to meet with the local leo's.

 

[Lamebeaver]

I suspect this may have to do with through hikers along the AT who stop into town to pick up supplies, etc. This kind of surprises me, as I would think they get a fair number of backpackers and would be used to it by now.....plus, I'm guessing a lot of local businesses benefit from these customers.

 

[outwest]

I have not noticed negativity from any police but I have noticed more when its around a large holiday. Even the parking lots of our local stores get busy with 2-3 cop cars stationed there (esp. during NYE). Now out in the woods unless its a park that is having a large event its not too much of a problem.

 

[Theosus]

I am the police.

I will dispense my knowledge forthwith, so as to hopefully reduce your less than stellar interactions with my brothers.

1. Don't get an attitude. Even if the officer does. It usually goes downhill from there. Yes sir, no sir go a long way. And no, I'm not defending officers with attitudes, they need to lighten up too.

2. Often an officer isn't bothering you just to bother you. It's the nosy neighbor or the town busybody calling 911, and the cop (who might otherwise just drive past) now has to come talk to you.

3. Explain what you are doing. "I'm a backpacker hiking through". Once they find out you aren't A. A bum, or worse B. One of the Occupy Wall Street people, they will probably leave you alone. Well, I would.

4. Carry and present ID. Do you have to? Not unless state law or a local ordinance says you do. Is it going to hurt if you do? No. If he is like us he probably has to write a report saying "I talked to the guy and found he's not a wanted criminal nor is he planning on camping under the bridge".

 

[FreeWilly]

I don't think the ideal backpacking location is the ghetto or anywhere in a populated area as others have basically stated. When I think of backpacking, I think of out in the wilderness on trails or something to that effect. And if you ever run into police anywhere, just be polite and cooperative and there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Pathfinder1]

Hi...


Boy, the things you see when you don't have a camera handy...!!

I once saw a uniformed police officer in a marked police car...making a purchase at a drive-in liquor store in MD...!!

In my county here in NY, we've got LOTS of police. State Police, Sheriff's Department, Town Police, Village Police Departments, Town Constables, Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Conservation, and I'm sure I left a few out.

But they're a pretty good bunch overall, and tend to treat you right.

 

[catspa]

Likewise, the officers I know personally are mostly decent guys doing a crappy job. In every profession (even carpenters, though it pains me to admit it) there are a few bad apples, and thanks to living in the information age, news of them spreads faster than ever before.

Parker

 

[Geezer]

Back in the 70s I was escorted out of a county in Utah. I had been backpacking in the High Uintahs and I came down for supplies and the police literally drove me and my buddies out of town for vagrancy. I'm sure things may have changed since then but it did happen to me.

 

[Lamebeaver]

In every profession (even carpenters, though it pains me to admit it) there are a few bad apples, and thanks to living in the information age, news of them spreads faster than ever before.

Parker

Carpenters? They're all boozers and potheads.

(just kidding) :tinysmile_fatgrin_t

 

[Newanderthal]

Did a backpacking/hitching trip a couple years ago. Most cops didn't care. In Mobile, AL and Knoxville, TN they were complete jerks (threatened to arrest me for public intoxication in Mobile).

Smile and wave when you spot a cop. That usually does the trick. And wear bright colors. That identifies you as a traveler, not a hobo.

 

[WinterWolf]

About a mile from a coffee/donut shop and you should be safe:tinysmile_fatgrin_t

Sorry, my apologies to good officers everywhere but I have been passed by State police going all out with toplights flashing only to reach town and see them walking into the coffee shop to meet with the local leo's.

Slightly off topic, but while there are plenty corrupt cops, that's just one of the things I think cops should be able to do, they put their lives on the line every day for us, they've saved my ass a few times actualy, so perks like that don't bother me at all.

now on topic, in my experiences cops are only a pain to you when you're a pain to them, if you see a cop wave and smile, don't look like you're up to no good.

 

[Pathfinder1]

Carpenters? They're all boozers and potheads.

(just kidding)




They're not boozers...!!

 

[Hikenhunter]

Never saw a cop in the woods while I was backpacking although I was tenting on Bake Oven Knob one night and a couple of game wardens came through our camp about 10:00 that evening. I never could figure out what they were doing out there at 10 PM. They did check on us to see if we were ok as it was in the middle of a nasty heat wave and then they headed back out toward the parking lot.

 

[Fox & Hounds]

There are a few towns that I have had to hike through while section hiking the AT so far. In a small town in MA I got a slow down and a look over by a passing cop. When I got to the parking lot at the northern end of the road walking I stopped and talked to a gentleman (I had paused to pet his two pugs). Anyway, he was a local and he told me that hikers frequently stop on their way across town. They plunk their butts down in what ends up being someone's front yard, the cops get called, and there you go... fun times for everyone.

I figure the cop giving me the hard look was probably thinking along the lines of "oh boy, get ready for another call from Mrs Nasty-old-lady"

 

[TDale]

All good advice in dealing with LEOs. Except for one thing: We live in a free country. You have no right to accost, detain, arrest, harass or otherwise interfere with me and my goings without due cause.

Walking through your town is not due cause.

This is not and will not be a police state.

I admire, respect, and love our peace officers. Knowing that you will step between me and an assailant is peace of mind of the highest order. You also need to know that I am not the enemy.

I am the police.

I will dispense my knowledge forthwith, so as to hopefully reduce your less than stellar interactions with my brothers.

1. Don't get an attitude. Even if the officer does. It usually goes downhill from there. Yes sir, no sir go a long way. And no, I'm not defending officers with attitudes, they need to lighten up too.

2. Often an officer isn't bothering you just to bother you. It's the nosy neighbor or the town busybody calling 911, and the cop (who might otherwise just drive past) now has to come talk to you.

3. Explain what you are doing. "I'm a backpacker hiking through". Once they find out you aren't A. A bum, or worse B. One of the Occupy Wall Street people, they will probably leave you alone. Well, I would.

4. Carry and present ID. Do you have to? Not unless state law or a local ordinance says you do. Is it going to hurt if you do? No. If he is like us he probably has to write a report saying "I talked to the guy and found he's not a wanted criminal nor is he planning on camping under the bridge".

 

[ChadTower]

Most of the time I have had no problems. When I have had problems it has been in areas surrounding a reservation or Native community where the Police are not on good terms with those residents. Yeah, I look like them, but I don't live here. I'm just passing through.