Rod, mike, and Bing…in my opinion, you guys are discussing relevant factors and what IS important in deciding when to write a ticket. Knowing that some cop might not give one guy a ticket because he had a better “line” then you, would tick me off as a motorist. A rolling stop through an intersection stop at 1am in the morning with no obvious traffic is a lot different then trying to fly through same intersection and wedge yourself bettween cars in a snow storm. These factors plus you being classified as a habitual offended with enough priors…that tells if you are contrite and sorry…not the word game. It’s the old “actions speak louder then words” adage.
When making a stop, a cop’s first objective is keep everyone safe, including the offender while in traffic on the side of a busy highway. Evaluating stories because it’s safe to do so, and not another time because it’s too busy is a joke. You as a cop, run the plate, look at priors off the computer, evaluate the offense in context and 90% of the time, a decison can be made before you even step out of the car, though maybe for the second time. Written warnings can be put into the computer as well. They can be an effective way of not writing a ticket and altering behavior for some.
.but " gee, yes I was drinking, and I’ll never speed and cause an accident again, I’m so sorry…" will get you off ? Think about it. 06speed6, that’s what some may hear by your rational. The side of the road is no place for cognitive evaluations. POs are not licensed therapists.