truTV: Not Reality. Actuality.

A: A female admitted to have just started her period and she didn't have the proper "equipment" to pull into a gas station.

A: "I have to go to the bathroom."

A: "I'm late."

A: It was a woman who failed to stop at a stop sign. The sign was new and we'd been doing warning stops, but it was time for citations. She insisted that she didn't run the stop sign and that, in fact, she was instrumental in having the stop sign put in. She was beside herself, she was so angry and vulgar. She was shaking. If she'd only accepted the possibility that she did not stop, she may have saved herself some grief and a ticket.

A: I chased a speeder on the freeway at 130 mph, but there was no one else on the road. It is exciting to be in a chase. It's a very unique experience, especially when you are involved with other officers, and everyone has their lights and sirens on.

However, I can't really say it is "fun." When I'm in a pursuit, I am constantly thinking about my surroundings, innocent people and the fact that something real bad may occur at the end. There is also a higher chance that I won't be going home to my family.

When all goes well and the bad guy is in custody, there's a real sense of accomplishment that I suppose you could translate that into "fun."

A: The primary reason is to be sure that the trunk isn't ajar. An assailant could attack the approaching officer from there.

It's also so the approaching officer [remembers to] stay close to the vehicle while still keeping his or her eye on the driver in the event that the officer has to move quickly to avoid an attack.

A: Both laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) or lidar (LIght Detection and Ranging) determine speed based on the how long it takes for the beam to return to the gun after striking a target.

Radar, however, is based on a broad microwave beam that changes frequency when striking a moving target. The change in the frequency indicates the speed. It requires that the operator pay close attention to traffic to accurately determine that the speed clocked on the radar is the speed of the target vehicle.

A: Driving another car at the same speed as the target car and determining how fast the target car is going by comparing the speed on the pace car.

A: Being able to see the device is under the discretion of the officer. It's usually my practice to allow it, since it adds to my credibility in court.

A: The odor of an alcoholic beverage, bloodshot and watery eyes, flush complexion, slurred speech and poor coordination.

A: Not necessarily. No one thing will ensure you won't get a ticket. One way that will ensure you will get a ticket is by having such a poor attitude about the stop that forces the officer to write the ticket.

A: I rarely give breaks above 15 mph over the speed limit and I don't bother stopping motorist unless they are at least 13 mph over. There are exceptions.

A: You should see our underwear.

A: "I have to get to my dog show." The road was closed ahead due to a fatal collision. This woman just had to get to her dog show fast, because she was running late. Didn't seem to matter that someone died. Just that she was inconvenienced.

A: While working for the sheriff's office I stopped a woman as she pulled into a gas station. She had been speeding. When she stopped her vehicle she immediately jumped out and started screaming at me. Asked me what she did and why I was stopping her. I had to return volley to get her to sit back in her vehicle. This was no drug-crazed idiot either. A woman in her forties, well-dressed, in a nice vehicle. As it turned out, she knew someone with my department and had the nerve to still ask me for a warning. That didn't happen. Surprisingly, she did not blow a gasket when I gave her the ticket.

A: "I'm late," or "I wasn't paying attention" or "I have to go to the bathroom." Probably in that order.

A: Once I had a woman tell me she was on the way to see her physician about her terminal illness. I am the kind of person who does not like to be tricked. This means I don't like [when speeders] "accidentally" flash body parts, flirt with me or cry. All those will almost always get you a ticket.

Not to mention lying about medical problems. In this case, I called her physician, who confirmed her story. I felt bad, so after a brief conversation on speeding and safety I let her go with a warning.

A: It depends on the speed zone. Lower tolerance for violations in slower speed zones, especially school zones!

But above 15 mph over will increase your chances for a ticket from me.

A: If there is a medical emergency.

A: The smell. The odor of alcohol is very obvious, even when the driver or occupants are smoking. Bloodshot eyes and slurred speech are usually present too.

Some drunk drivers speed or make really wide turns or weave from lane to lane. Or they don't have their lights on when it's dark.

A: No!

A: I stopped a doctor for speeding. He told me he was en route to the hospital, that one of his patients was having a heart attack. I asked him what kind of doctor he was, assuming he was some type of heart specialist. He told me he was a dermatologist. He got a ticket.

A: I stopped a young driver for going 72 mph and in 25 mph zone. He said he was late for class, although he was just six blocks away from school.

I also stopped a driver for 120 mph on an interstate. He was driving his girlfriend's car and said he needed to get the vehicle back to her house by a certain time.

A: "I was going with the flow of traffic."

A: I do not iron my shirts, they are dry cleaned. I would probably burn a hole in them.

A: It would have to be when I gave this guy a ticket and he grabbed it from me, crumpled it up and threw it down on the passenger side floor-board. He then said God was watching me. I said "Have a safe day."

A: There are so many. I think the bathroom excuse is pretty lame. Also, when you deal with the younger drivers, they always seem to say "I'm late for curfew and my mom will kill me."

A: The rudest would have to be a female who continued to chat on her cell phone as I spoke to her after the stop. I explained the reason for the stop to her and she said to me, "Excuse me, I talking on the phone." I asked her for her driver's license and she ignored me. I waited a few minutes and then she finished her conversation and gave me her info and stated that I needed to "hurry up" because I was "inconveniencing" her.

I wrote her a ticket. When I went back to the car she again ignored me for a couple of more minutes while talking on her phone. When she was finished she asked me why I took so long.

A: They were just "going with the flow of traffic" or they were "trying to keep up" with the vehicles in front of them.

A: A 25-year-old female I pulled over explained that she was being followed by another car and had to get away. She stated she feared for her life.

I asked her if she had called 911 and she said she didn't know she was able to do that. I asked her why didn't she pull off the freeway and seek assistance from anyone and she stated she thought it was better to race home. She also said that she had called her mother because she was so scared.

A: It all depends what shift you work and the traffic conditions. Officers take many things in consideration when pulling over someone for speed. For example, you're going 75 mph in a 65 mph zone at two in the morning, the officer probably won't pull you over. But if everyone around you is going 65 mph and you're going 75 mph and passing them, you kind of stick out like a sore thumb.

A: Weaving between lanes or driving all over the road. Driving at a very slow rate of speed. The headlights being out. Crashing is definitely a sign!

During the traffic stop, I look for glassy or bloodshot eyes, a strong odor of alcoholic beverages of course, slurred speech or someone who is unsteady on his feet; falling on your ass while a police officer speaks to you during field sobriety test gives it away.

A: I don't know anything about any stickers.

A: I think officers will generally look for 10 mph over the speed limit, but that is just a guess. Officers are different and some may stop for anything above the limit.

A: "I have to go the bathroom."

A: "I was following the car in front of me."

A: A woman who tossed the "F bomb" like she was getting paid each time she said it. She also gave the usual, "I'll see you in court" speech. She drove away at a high rate of speed and I stopped her again and wrote a second citation.

A: It was about 70 mph on secondary roads. I don't know the exact speed because I wasn't looking down. The suspect struck my cruiser. Then he lost control trying to get away and hit a parked pickup truck and a house. He bailed and was caught by another officer on foot. It was intense.

A: My uniform is pressed by a tailor, although I sometimes do it.

A: There were no seats inside the vehicle. The driver was sitting on a milk crate.

A: Doctors seem to have the biggest issue with being stopped and given speeding citations. One, in particular, insisted he was en route to an emergency room to provide a life-saving surgery. This was verified not to be true when I asked dispatch to call the E.R. and ask. I am sure that there are circumstances when this might be true. Just not this time.

A: California lifestyle is all rush, rush. People are generally upset just to be stopped by an officer, let alone taking the additional three minutes it takes to write up a citation. By the time you get back to the offender, some people are quite upset. The rudest generally ask why I am not out looking for violent offenders or terrorists. Or they simply ask, "Don't you have anything better to do?"

A: "I was just following the vehicles ahead and going with the flow of traffic."

A: "I have got to get my child to the hospital," one motorist told me after I finally caught up to the vehicle traveling in excess of 80 mph in a posted 40 mph zone. It turns out he had an injured teenager in the back of the vehicle and we escorted him the remaining mile to the E.R.

A: Generally 15 mph over the limit, which I believe is more than fair, unless it is a school zone, when 5 mph over the posted 25 mph deserves a citation.

A: To make sure the trunk is closed; that way nobody can jump out from behind the vehicle and attack you during the traffic stop.

A: The laser uses Light Emitting technology as opposed to the radar, which uses sound technology. The lidar (laser) is much more accurate.

A: None. However, officers are reasonable and use good judgment when making decisions on traffic stops.

A: No. But the officer may show the radar if he feels it would be appropriate.

A: Lane straddling, speeding, swerving, following too close or driving with one hand covering one eye.