Letters | The tale of a traffic stop

AM I WRONG for liking nice things?

I have a nice car with rims, and I get pulled over at least once a week. Why is this? Is it wrong for me to like nice things if I can afford them? It was amusing in the beginning because all of my papers are legal, and I have a valid license, so there was no reason for me to be nervous.

Now I can count on being pulled over all the time.

I was recently pulled over by officers from the 22nd District on my way to work as a security guard. Usually, the officers see my uniform and let me go, but this time was different.

One officer went to the passenger side of the car and proceeded to shine the light in my 7-year-old daughter's face. I looked in his direction, and he gestured for me to look the other way. When I looked the other way, another officer had his light shining in my face.

I asked him if there was a reason for pulling me over. He said I didn't put my turn signal on when I pulled over! (With all the homicides in Philly, they harass me for that?)

I asked if he wanted to see my license and registration. He asked if I had one! I gave him my paperwork, he looked at it and gave it right back.

I was dropping my daughter off at her grandmother's so I could go to work. Her grandmother came to the door and told my daughter not to be scared. The officer asked, "Why should she be scared?"

Then he asked if I had any weapons. I said no and asked if my daughter could go with her grandmother. He replied that I had to wait until they left, which I understood. But when they got into their car, they just sat there!

Why, in the midst of all this crime, chaos and murder, did Philly's finest decide to harass a mother dropping her daughter off on her way to work? I know they have a hard job, but this was unreasonable.

I respect officers because of the work I do. I'll continue to show respect and teach it to my daughter because I know not all officers are like this.

Nikki Carter, Philadelphia