It happened way back in 1998, but the experience came back to me as I read Theo Douglas’ account — a few items down in this column — about getting pulled over last night by a cop who told him his license-plate light was out … when it wasn’t. With me, it was a tail light. Well, that’s what the cop told me, anyway, when he pulled me over a half-block away from the home of a high school buddy – a very successful Irvine attorney, with a wife, two daughters and a multi-story house behind the automated security gates Newport Ridge Estates. We’d just returned from an Angels game, where we’d sat in his expensive Diamond Section seats in the first row behind home plate. I’d gotten out of his luxurious SUV, said goodbye, and gotten into my scruffy 1988 Volkswagen Fox and begun to drive away when the cop pulled me over, interrogated me, informed me I was a loooong way from my home in Downey suggested that I get home. Before I did, I asked if I could check my tail lights, to see which one needed replacing. They were both working perfectly. If you want to read my story about it, click here.

Tags: cops, Dave Wielenga, Theo Douglas

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Dwight K. Snider 9 months ago 1 point
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Dave, I'm not sure but I suspect you were stopped for being PPIRT --Presumed Poor In Rich Town.

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Dave Wielenga 9 months ago 1 point
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That's EXACTLY why, I think. If you read the story I wrote about it, you'll see how that issue kind of came to a head with the cop, who denied it of course....it was a strange feeling. As I also wrote in the story, I was just grateful I also wasn't pulled over for Driving While Black, which I think would be an offense with even greater consequences.

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Chuck W. 8 months ago 1 point
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Life in the OC. Glad I moved just passed that line into Long Beach. For you next trick, try riding a motorcycle of the sport type thru HB on PCH. You'll get followed stopped and checked out just because you dared to roll thru town on it.

On a Harley or other cruiser with loud exhast? Please, do as you wish, we're busy with these annoying sportbikers.....

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