Real Drivers Who Were Pulled Over For Completely Idiotic Reasons

49: Just Making Sure

Drivers today will never understand the struggle that came with learning how to drive a stick shift. Manual transmissions have pretty much gone the way of the dinosaur at this point. You’ll still see one on the road now and then, but nothing like how it used to be where the stick shift was standard.

This Reddit user was pulled over after stalling at the stop light. The officer wasn’t rude or anything but wanted to know if the driver knew how to drive a stick shift. Definitely, a teachable driving moment if there ever was one (via Reddit).

48: An Encouraging Moment

Once again, learning to drive a stick shift is a challenge for many new drivers and the new generation of drivers won’t learn on one. This driver detailed the time when a police officer took to the loudspeaker and said “Keep it up, you’ll get better!” Needless to say, this was a strange experience for the driver (via Reddit).

Driving a stick shift vehicle was a badge of honor, but nowadays few automotive manufacturers are even offering the stick shift as an option. Many of us will remember where the stick shift was the go-to option if you were a new driver.

47: Dad Had To Take Over

Sometimes parental guidance is important when it comes to driving. This Reddit user got stuck on the highway, and a certain someone was there to save him from embarrassment. You never know when a car will break down, but you don’t want to get stuck there. Luckily, Dad was there to jump into the driver’s seat and get them moving again.

This was also related to the stick shift fiasco that the other drivers were going through. Indeed, modern drivers will never have to learn the challenge of getting stuck in traffic while piloting a clutch (via Reddit).

46: Not Really Drunk

Would it be possible to be pulled over just for being a bad driver? Yes, it happened to this Reddit user. Here was yet another person who couldn’t drive a stick shift. A police officer got behind him and lit him up in anticipation that he was an intoxicated driver. The end result, he was not a bad driver, just couldn’t drive a stick shift.

The manual transmission was for a long time about the only way you could drive a car. For most drivers, the stick shift was like second nature but nowadays has gone by the wayside (via Reddit).

45: Thought I Was Slick

Nothing’s worse than doing something stupid in your car only to realize that there is an officer right behind you. That has happened time and time again to drivers who do burnout. Reddit user Scottwax exemplified this statement when he talked about doing a burnout in his Chevy Cutlass (via Reddit).

Everything was all sunshine and roses until he looked in his rearview mirror and saw a police officer. He was pulled over and the officer had a few choice words for him. Next time, they should pay a little attention to who’s riding along behind you.

44: Just Wanted To Do a Donut

The Mini Cooper S is one of the most fun to drive cars on the road. Its compact design coupled with a decent power plant gives the car stellar performance. A Reddit user who was in college decided to see what the Cooper S could do after a fresh batch of snow had fallen. He proceeded to spin donuts for about 10 minutes until being stopped by a police officer (via Reddit).

After giving a bluntly sad excuse for why he did what he did, the police officer let him off the hook and told him to find a more secluded parking lot. Just goes to show you that even a cop can appreciate the honest fun of doing a donut in the snow.

43: The Underpowered Moped

For people who drive in a big city, a Moped can be an excellent mode of transportation. Most mopeds are great on gas mileage and are relatively easy to work on. But this Reddit user had a run-in with the police, who undoubtedly wondered why the tail light wasn’t working. The little moped could not put off enough power to keep the brake lamp lit up (via Reddit).

Upon further inspection, the officer saw the Moped rider wasn’t lying and the rider was sent on his way. These little mopeds can have all kinds of problematic issues that are minor but will still result in a ticket.

42: A Questionable Test Drive

It is not uncommon for a sheriff in a rural area to work a second job to make extra income. This Reddit user made friends with a sheriff’s deputy who would also sell used cars on the side. One day while test-driving a Ford pickup truck, an officer stopped him for driving with no plate on the vehicle (via Reddit).

The officer decided to follow the driver to the sheriff’s home where they all had a good laugh. You can often turn a bad situation into a good one with a little humor.

41: The Milkshake Defense

It’s summertime and driving down the road sipping on an ice-cold milkshake is just plain fun. That was the case for this driver, who had it spilled in his lap. If you’ve ever had a milkshake spill when you are driving, then you know it’s not a pleasant experience. When the milkshake spilled on this driver’s lap, he didn’t think twice, because the car behind him only had one headlight (via Reddit).

Well, it was indeed a police officer and he was promptly pulled over. Of course, once the cop saw the mess in his lap, he was let off the hook and told to keep his drink in the cup holder.

40: The Things We Do As Teens

Remember driving with the iPod hooked up to the cassette player? A lot of us had that same configuration. It was a fun way to listen to music when you first got your iPod. But this was also the start of distracted driving. Many of us wrongly looked down at the iPod instead of the road (via Reddit).

That happened to this Reddit user. He crashed into a police barricade but was luckily let off the hook. Nothing is worse than feeling like an idiot after you just hit something.

39: A Decent Work Excuse

Few drivers like waking up late for work and rushing out the door to make it. That happened to this Reddit user, who was lucky enough to work on a weekend. Cruising down the freeway, he was about to make it on time until a cop was standing there with the speed laser. He was pulled over and couldn’t come up with an answer (via Reddit).

After telling the cop the reason he was speeding so fast, the police officer casually says “I will write up your excuse”. A great way to start the work day.

38: A Saturn Sky?

When the new generation of Camaro was announced, everyone was excited to see the car. This driver thought he got lucky and saw a test mule on the road. After flying up to the car, it was a Saturn Sky, the roadster made until the brand went defunct. A police officer pulled the driver over to see why he was speeding (via Reddit).

Needless to say, the Camaro excuse didn’t work and the driver was stopped for peering at a Saturn Sky roadster. This is probably the least favorite ticket that any driver has ever gotten.

37: High Beamed A Cop

Have you ever made a bad mistake and then looked back and wondered just why? That’s what happened to this driver, who high-beamed a police officer as he was driving down the road. That happened to the driver of a Volkswagen GTI, who flipped the wrong switch and flashed a cop (via Reddit).

He was pulled over and asked if he was under the influence. After a quick sobriety test, the driver was left on his way, but needless to say, he will probably be more careful next time.

36: Pulled Over By An Ex

Driving through a yield roundabout can be quite hard to do, especially if it has changed over the years. This Reddit user was visiting his hometown and drove through one of the new yield areas. He got pulled over, low and behold, by his ex-girlfriend. Pleasantries aside, she showed this driver no mercy (via Reddit).

He was not given a ticket because he lives out of state, but she did tell the whole town about his incident. Next time, he will be a bit more careful when it comes to driving through one of these.

35: Not A Friendly Misunderstanding

Getting into any kind of altercation with an officer is not a smart thing to do. But sometimes you will legitimately get pulled over for no reason. That is what happened to this driver when he was behind the wheel of a classic F-150. The officer accused him of kicking the clutch, which is impossible because it was automatic (via Reddit).

After a long safety inspection and damage to the paint job, he got a ticket. Needless to say, this officer was definitely in the wrong, but how will you argue that? It was during a time before body cams.

34: Shift Kit

That same driver was stopped again a few months later, this time because of his shift kit. The officer was confused when they saw that it was an automatic. The driver went through a wet patch in the road and that caused the tires to chirp. The officer on this stop was a bit more understanding than the last one (via Reddit).

The driver got off with a warning and there was no paint damage to the car this time. Needless to say, it often depends on the mood of the officer you encounter.

33: Gotta Catch Em All?

Pokemon Go was once a worldwide phenomenon and one that millions of players still enjoy today. The game made it to where you had to get out and move around to play. This is how the driver in this Reddit post was stopped by a cop because they were at the park playing Pokemon Go late at night (via Reddit).

The officer thought that they were hotboxing the car, only to find out that they were simply trying to catch Pokemon. This was not a fun way to finish an evening.

32: No Auto Lights

It used to be required that you pull a knob to turn your headlights on, but 1990s cars started to get automatic headlights. That is what happened to this Reddit user on a road trip in a Subaru BRZ. The friends noticed the road was darker than usual and then an officer stopped them (via Reddit).

He asked why they were driving with no headlights, and it turned out the friend had bumped the headlight switch with his knee. This wouldn’t be the first time this has happened to a driver.

31. Nervously Pulled Over

Doing donuts as a teenager is foolishly enjoyable but the worst part is when you get pulled over. The teenager in this Reddit post had that happen when he was behind the wheel of a 240SX. The car is well-known in the drifting world, so they thought it would be fun to swing it on some donuts (via Reddit).

But when the driver was pulled over, it was actually because one of his headlights was out. This was a close call and the driver will probably remember it forever.

30: An Embarrassing Fist Bump

We have all gotten up to business in our cars and this Reddit user was no different. After spending some “quality time” with his girlfriend in the car, he had to rush home. Once those red and blue lights appeared in the rearview mirror, he knew something was up. The police officer had a big smile on his face as he knew what was up (via Reddit).

The driver was let off the hook with a fist bump and a smile, and that is how you do good police work. Sometimes you just have to let someone enjoy the night.

29: Honking and Waving

You should honk and wave at someone, right? That is at least what this driver thought when he saw that his cousin was pulled over. He was surprised to find out that the cop turned right around and pulled him over. When he asked if it was due to the honking and waving, the police officer said no (via Reddit).

It was because there was no front plate on the vehicle. In most states, you must have a front plate on the vehicle so this driver was shocked, to say the least.

28: It’s All In The Self Image

Remember when you were driving and you were older than your siblings? You were like a big-timer compared to them. That happened to this Reddit user who was pulled over for doing donuts. He had his younger sibling in the car so naturally, he had to embellish the story a bit. The officer asked why he was driving like that (via Reddit).

He told the officer the clutch was bad and he was going to fix it. He was let off with a warning. But as you can see, that wasn’t the story told when he got back into the car.

27: The Milk Went Out The Wrong Side

Have you ever drunk something that ended up going out the wrong side when you coughed? That was the case of what happened to this person when they were driving. After drinking a bottle of milk, the bottle was violently displaced during a sneeze. When the driver pulled into the service station, things were a bit embarrassing (via Reddit).

The driver was embarrassed over what had happened and they never drove with milk in the car the same way again. There is nothing worse than making a mistake like this and soiling yourself.

26: No Drinking Or Drugs Here, Sir

It’s never a smart idea to yell out the window of a car at a police officer, but this driver did just that. He yelled out the window of the car at the campus police, and the result was being pulled over. Immediately, the driver told the police officer there was no alcohol or drugs in the car while everyone was wearing Hawaiian shirts (via Reddit).

You couldn’t be more suspicious on a college campus but the result was just a ticketed warning. The college students were let off the hook and most likely would not make this mistake again.

25: Ribbed By The Mother In Law

Nothing is more entertaining than taking a cross-country road trip with family. But that is what happened when this couple was pulled over on their way through Montana. Driving a cool 80 MPH in the suburban would usually go unnoticed until they pulled up alongside a Montana state trooper and everything changed (via Reddit).

Luckily they were sent on their way with a warning and a pleasant experience with the officer. You never want to get pulled over, but if you do, it always helps to have a good experience.

24: Pulled Over By A Mall Cop

You can get pulled over just about anywhere, even in the mall. This person had a different experience when a mall cop pulled over them on a segment. The mall cop pulled the person over while riding a bicycle, as he was on an unused sidewalk instead of the street. In most jurisdictions, you cannot ride a bicycle on the sidewalk (via Reddit).

You might have thought mall cops were just confined to inside the mall, but that isn’t the case. Instead, you can get pulled over anywhere on the property, even in the parking lot.

23: Well, You Got Me

Imagine getting pulled over and it’s completely your fault. That’s what happened to someone who rushed out of a party on his own. According to this Reddit user, his friend left the party completely torn up. After puking on himself, he pulled over to a rest spot where an officer walked straight up to the car (via Reddit).

The friend didn’t have any excuse for his actions and was charged promptly with a DUI. Just goes to show that friends shouldn’t let friends drive while under the influence.

22: An Agonizing Turn

Even if you aren’t doing something wrong, there’s no doubt that you get nervous when a police officer is behind you. You could get pulled over for anything (via Reddit).

This is why this Reddit user got nervous when he pulled out in front of a cop. The stop resulted in him ultimately being let go, but it was still an experience nonetheless.

21: Cop Liked My Ride

There are plenty of reasons that you could get pulled over, but testing out a new car and doing a burnout are the most obvious. That is what happened to the Reddit user in this post. He wanted to try out his new Hyundai Genesis G80 and decided to do it in rush hour traffic. A cop was waiting around the turn (via Reddit).

Luckily the cop ended up enjoying the car and told him to just take it out on a back road. You’ll seldom find an officer who will let you off the hook like that, but when you do, it’s certainly great.

20: The Compassionate Stop

This driver was caught going through a construction zone at a high speed. When the officer pulled up to the window, he let him know he was going to see his wife while she was at the end of life care (via Reddit).

The officer told him his wife wouldn’t want him to be driving like that, and he was let off with a warning. The officer’s words have stuck with him ever since.

19: Seeing What Her Accord Could Do

If you have a girlfriend who has a nice car, it can be fun to drive hers every once in a while. That’s what this Reddit user was doing when he decided to take his girlfriend’s Accord out for a race (via Reddit).

He was stopped in a suburb where you regularly get pulled over. The ticket in question was going 70 MPH in a 40 MPH zone. There’s a good chance that she wasn’t too happy when he got home.

18: Lucky Break

The time when you go out to a street race can be a risky proposition, because not only could you crash, but the cops might get stopped from you. That is what happened to this guy, and he saw the red and blue lights through the cloud of smoke (via Reddit).

Luckily, the other person got hemmed up, because he was the aggressor and he happened to be drunk. Needless to say, it was a happy night for this driver.

17: The Mazda GLC Rally Car

Few things are more fun than flying down a gravel road in a compact car. It’s why so many people enjoy rally driving. That’s what this driver thought that he was doing in an old Mazda GLC. He immediately saw red and blue lights flashing in the distance, and the police officer was unhappy when he caught up with him (via Reddit).

He wanted to know if he was trying to outrun him in that car? The driver was apologetic but the cop was visibly salty for being outrun by such a minuscule ride.

16: Husband & Wife Combo

You almost forget the older that you get how cool it can be to hang out in the back of a car. That is what this husband and wife did when they were hanging out one night at the park. The police rolled up and were aggressive at first until they realized these two had the same last name (via Reddit).

The cop had a complete attitude change when he realized that both of the people had the same last name. He said he wished his wife would hang out with him more.

15: Speeding In A School Zone

Sometimes you just get caught red-handed, and that is what happened to this driver when they were caught speeding in a school zone. He was pulled over for doing 60 MPH in a 25 MPH zone (via Reddit).

The officer asked if he knew that this was a school zone and he replied that yes he did because he works there. There were probably parents who would not be too pleased reading that statement.

14: Remember To Use Your Blinkers

Honestly how many of us use our blinkers when we are driving? Not very often unless it calls for it. But that is why this Reddit user got pulled over, and he had a pretty astonishing reason (via Reddit).

He simply told the police officer that he was lazy, the cop looked stunned and went to his cruiser. The officer came back and told the person not to ever tell a cop that you were being lazy. He got out of the ticket.

13: Confusing Traffic Stop

Getting pulled over in another country is never a fun experience. The Reddit user in this post got pulled over in Canada, and the officer who pulled him over spoke French (via Reddit).

He didn’t speak English and let the officer know, the officer came back to the car and said “drive safe” in English. That was it and the person never knew why he was pulled over.

12: Radar Malfunction

Some people use radar detection as a way to avoid being pulled over by the police. But sometimes, these radar devices malfunction and you will get pulled over anyway (via Reddit).

This driver had his radar device malfunction, and he was pulled over for doing 40 MPH in a 30. The ticket didn’t cost anything, so that was good.

11: Urgent Restroom Needs

Sometimes you just gotta go to the restroom and you have to speed to get to it. The driver in this Reddit post had that problem when he was on the way home (via Reddit).

The officer pulled him over and asked what the rush was, and he let him know. The result was still a speeding ticket but it was not as bad as it could have been.

10: The Embarrassed Mustang

Two guys pull up to a light, one in an LS1 Camaro and the other in a 6Cyl Mustang with straight pipes. The driver in the Mustang tries to take things up a notch but embarrassed himself (via Reddit).

The cop pulled him over right after doing a burnout, the response was just laughter. He told him not to do that again, meanwhile, the Camaro got away.

9: Dark Window Tint

Drivers tend to forget that extremely dark window tint is illegal but we still push the envelope quite often. That was the case when this driver was pulled over right in front of the insurance company (via Reddit).

The police officer told him to get it fixed meanwhile all of the employees inside the insurance place were laughing. It wasn’t a good afternoon for this guy and his car.

8: Breaking Bike Laws

Contrary to popular belief, you can be pulled over for riding a bicycle as well. It happens more often than you’d think, especially on college campuses (via Reddit).

This Reddit user was pulled over on his bike for blowing through a stop sign. He ended up getting a ticket, even though no one used the intersection very often.

7: Fast Subaru

This driver was having a great time blasting through the mountains in his Subaru. He pulled to the front of the line, only to realize that it was a Sheriff’s deputy at the front of the line (via Reddit).

He got a hefty ticket as the Sheriff wasn’t too happy that he was speeding like that. You never want to voluntarily rush to the front of the line or it may not be pretty.

6: Mistaken Identity

It is never a problem to look younger than you are, which happened to this driver when he was pulled over. He looked 12 but was 16 with his first license (via Reddit).

The cop pulled him over for joyriding only to realize that everything checked out. He was let go without a ticket and the two had a good laugh after the stop.

5: Speeding Next To A Trooper

Sometimes you get caught red-handed in the act and that is what happened to this driver. He sped up to pass up a car until he realized it was a state trooper (via Reddit).

The driver got pulled over and clocked at 88 MPH, he took his ticket in stride. The trooper wasn’t thrilled with what had happened, but he let the driver go after that.

4: Out Of Date Tags

One of the most common things that you’ll get pulled over for is expired tags, but this driver took things a bit further. He sped off in front of the police officer and got pulled over immediately (via Reddit).

The driver had the new tags ready he just hadn’t installed them yet. The officer said to do it when he gets home and sent him on his way. This was not a bad experience.

3: A Chevy Celebrity With Power?

You probably will never equate a Chevy celebrity to something that has performance, but that is what happened when this driver got pulled over in his (via Reddit).

The police officer said he pulled out of the parking lot going pretty fast. You’d probably never equate a Celebrity with a car that could go fast but he got a ticket nonetheless.

2: Going Too Slow

You can get pulled over for going too slow as that’s exactly what happened to this driver. He was pulled over for going too fast and then too slow at the same time. The car of choice was a Peugeot 505, which is not the most exciting car on the road (via Reddit).

The officer gave him a ticket for driving over the speed limit although he was trying to show off how slow the car was to his friend. The lesson of the story is not to show off to passengers.

1: Rookie Error

One of the worst things a driver can do is forget to turn your lights on when you are driving. Unfortunately, that’s what happened to this driver. He got a coffee and filled up his tank only to take off down the road (via Reddit).

You can get pulled over for not turning on your headlights when it is raining or there are questionable weather conditions outside. The ticket he got was not his proudest moment, to say the least.

Also Read: 20 Eye-Catching Cars Likely To Get Drivers Pulled Over.