Are the authorities generally nice in your area, or are they mean?

[TravelingMaaike]

Updates

2 mo

I find Dutch police reasonable.

[Staximus]

That depends on the individual cop in question. Cops are given a lot of latitude to operate and make judgement calls, but not as much as they used to. Back when I was a teen and in my early 20's, there were a lot more shady police officers but most have been weeded out. For the most part I have had good luck with the cops because I don't run my mouth like a fool. About 25 years ago one tried to frame me, but I was too smart for him and just made him look stupid in front of the other cops. I've had a lot more interactions with the police than most people. I got about 30 tickets in the first 3 years of driving.

When I was about 18 the neighbors would always call the cops on us for smoking weed in the garage. It wasn't legal then. This one cop would always show up and knew we weren't hardcore drug addicts. He would say "the neighbors are complaining about clouds of marijuana smoke coming out of your garage, close the door" and then he would just drive away. One time a few cops showed up. The cool cop came up to the garage first and warned us, he said "hide your weed" and then went back to talk to the other cops. Then they all came up to the garage at the same time and the cool cop said "ok, where's all the weed?" I held up a bag of seeds and stems and said "we just smoked all of it". He took a look at the bag and said "that's it?" I said "yeah". He says "ok guys, let's get out of here" and they left. Another time I was riding my bike late at night down the street and got pulled over by a cop. I had weed and a knife. I was 18, weed was still illegal. The cop asked me if I was a tweaker (on meth) I said "hell no". He searched me and put my weed and knife on in the hood of his car. He talked to me for a minute to make sure I wasn't a tweaker, and then said "take your knife and your weed and put them back in your pocket, and get the hell out of here". I said "yes sir!" and rode my bike home and smoked my weed hahaha

[EricSummer]

Here in Switzerland they are much nicer than in neighboring Germany. I know as I have lived in both countries.

When asking for our tax declarations they regularly thank us for our support (!) and point out what the money will be used for. During the Covid crisis we had signs reminding us: "Please all wear masks here. Everyone. Really. ❤️" - complete with the heart. In Germany they say "infractions will be punished".

[A_Bell]

I try to avoid authority. Probably my libertarian streak.

[genericname85]

never had a problem with them. ironically it seems to be the people who struggle with adhering to the law that scribble "ACAB" on every wall. almost as if to proof why they constantly get in trouble with the police and why we should not take their opinion on the police seriously.

[BoopBoopBeep]

What is ACAB?

[genericname85]

@BoopBoopBeep All Cops Are Bastards.

[BoopBoopBeep]

hmmph... never heard that before. thansk for the knowledge... now i'll be looking for it

[msc545]

They are unpredictable. They can at times be helpful and kind, and at other times be abusive and very dangerous. My interactions with them have always been friendly, but I am trained to create and maintain positive interactions with people and with police this is absolutely essential to avoid being arrested or injured.

[DryGermanGuy]

German police are usually very professional and reasonable. It’s rare to meet an asshole cop, rather they always try to cut you some slack. And it’s relatively hard to get arrested, unless you drop a „key of Colombian pure“, of course. 😬👍

[BCRanger10]

On the rare occasion that I deal with them, they're usually good.

[AviatorTom]

One of my neighbors is a policeman. He's a serious guy, but nice. Most in authority are good, there are a few "bad eggs".

[exitseven]

I know all the local cops. 99% are good people. They want to serve their community

[bowenw]

I've never had any interactions with any of them. The ones I see appear to me normal.

[bowenw]

*to be normal

[Anonymous]

They've been great in my experiences with them.

[Lowiu]

I would say they are nice

[sheenagwapa]

in my country people are nice in general

[DerekC321]

Mean... one way to describe it.

[TallAnon]

Depends why you're encountering them, haha

[Elinnnor]

Somewhere in between...

[purplepoppy]

If you don't break the law they leave you alone.

[Mansearching]

Depends.

[eagle1951]

depends on while they are meeting you