Gender and Geriatric Profiling in North Carolina

Gender and Geriatric Profiling in North Carolina

 

For the purposes of this article I define profiling as any action undertaken for reasons of safety security or public protection that relies on stereotyping based on race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, age, gender, religion or place or origin.  It is quite different from criminal profiling in that criminal profiling is based on actual behaviour, or on information about suspected behaviour based on someone who meets the description of a potential suspect.

 

The call had crackled over the radio that a grey Outback with out of state licence plates from the province of Ontario had been seen driving erratically leaving Kitty Hawk heading north to Duck and Corolla.  Officers were advised to pursue, follow and apprehend suspects before they entered Duck.

 

As the driver of the Outback I noticed that a car had been following me for sometime and I found that quite annoying, but I also knew on this winding twisting road leading into Duck it was difficult to pass .  

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The radar at the side of the road told me I was actually going too slow so I sped up, but on approach to Duck the speed limit was only 25 so I slowed down again.  It was then that the car close behind for so long flashed its glorious blue and red lights indicating that I should pull over.  This I did as soon as possible.

 

There was a long pause before the officer emerged from his unmarked SUV cruiser and walked to Cheryl’s side of the car.  He was very imposing in his grey uniform with every conceivable belt, pouch, flashlight that a man could carry.  His service revolver was in plain sight across his chest and could come into quick play if needed.

 

He bent down with an air of authority and familiarity gazing in and noting our Starbuck’s cappuccinos, the navigational screen indicating our route, the rear of the car loaded with suitcases, then looking at my wife and I certain that he took in the details of our grey hair, our age and defenceless unassuming natures.

 

All this in three seconds and then in a masculine also authoritative voice he said, “May I have your licence and registration.”

 

I gave them to him without comment.  My fight or flight response long deactivated.

 

Officer Warren, he had a convenient name tag, said in his second exchange.  “I’ll just check these out on my onboard computer and be back shortly.”

 

I was hyper-ventilating slightly so Cheryl offered to do all of the talking when the officer returned.

 

“Yeah, won’t that look suspicious, what if he sees the out of date handicapped sticker? Is that a felony misdemeanour punishable my death in North Carolina?”

 

My attempt at humour failed as constable Warren returned and in a very chirpy friendly demeanour returned my documentation and proceeded to tell me why he pulled me over.

 

“It was really your erratic speed. You were slow than drove fast, then slow again so I got a little nervous about your driving ability and cognition, but then after I stopped you I noticed you were drinking Starbucks and your GPS show the Hilton; so I think we all all good to go here.  Have a good day, a good rest of your trip as I can see you are nearly at your destination.”

 

I paused for a moment thinking of my good fortune with not getting a ticket but the outrage of this blatant example of profiling just because we were old, white and middle class was no reason that a white cop should just let me off the hook for low speed erratic driving. This was an outrage!

 

I was thinking if any black or latino driver tried this shit he would probably have a citation or worse by now.  Confused and angry at the injustice of it all I drove off at low speed erratically showing my wild side, but Constable Warren was long gone, probably chasing down some other crazy geriatric driving slowly and erratically in the other direction.