I went to university at New Paltz, NY, which is a college town with a reputation for parties, though nothing horrific. Around the town, there were huge numbers of police (especially compared to the small population of the town) all seemingly trolling for petty drug arrests. They would pull college kids over for stuff like this all the time and use it as an excuse to search the car. While I never got the lane change excuse, I have been pulled over for not coming to a full stop at a stop sign multiple times, when I was either sure that I did come to a full stop or brought the car to a barely perceptible crawl for a long time while checking for other vehicles. When the officer would realize there were no drugs to find in the vehicle, they'd often become belligerent.
I'm white and have been pulled over twice in North Carolina for having NJ plates on Route 95. It's a major drug corridor and being out of state had to mean we were running drugs.
I was with my brother both times. We were shouted at, separated, patted down, and questioned repeatedly, trying to find some disparity in our stories and an excuse to search the truck.
I imagine it would have been much worse/more aggressive if we were minorities.
My wife and I have occasionally entertained the thought of moving from rural NJ up to New Paltz. Seems like a cool town when we visit. Not interested in bringing my family and my tax dollars up to a town with an overly large police force with not enough to do though, so thanks for the comment.
I have to say though that New Paltz and its environs are a place whose loveliness far outweigh the dickish-cop and puking-frat-boy problems. I think if you're white and don't look student-age, you'll mostly be left alone. If amazing nature (the Shawangunk ridge), tight-knit community, lots of small businesses, a tiny walkable downtown core surrounded by what feels more rural than suburban, and vocal lefty-but-not-too-lefty culture mean anything to you, then do give it some thought.
And the locals will tell you where the trick half-mile-long speed limit drops that you'll never notice until you're pulled over are.
> amazing nature (the Shawangunk ridge), tight-knit community, lots of small businesses, a tiny walkable downtown core surrounded by what feels more rural than suburban, and vocal lefty-but-not-too-lefty culture
Yes, exactly that. We like those things. We have almost all of those things in Sussex County NJ, and a good job to boot, but it's a really nice town to visit. Reminds me of where I went to school in Boone NC.
