So this morning I’m driving casually on the Gulf Road (not speeding) and suddenly I see a cop car with the flashers on racing towards me in the rear view mirror. At the speed he was going I thought he was responding to an emergency and was expecting him to pass by my side but instead he slowed down and started tailgating me while yelling over the speakers to pull over. I was thinking Jesus wtf did I do now? I double checked my speedometer and I wasn’t speeding but the way he pulled up quickly behind me I figured it was a lot more serious, like maybe he mistook my car for one of a serial killer on the loose or something.
So I pull over into the McDonalds parking lot on the Gulf Road and roll down my window. The cop comes up to me and asks for my car registration and my license in Arabic which I hand over and then he mentions something to me in Arabic about my car being lifted. So I reply in English saying “Sorry what did you say?”. He looked at me, looked at my license which has my nationality listed as Canadian, then in a state of panic quickly hands back my papers and says sorry sorry go go. So I was like “Is everything ok?” and he responded in broken English that he didn’t speak any English and apologized again while stepping backwards. The whole thing looked so bizarre, like he had just seen a ghost or he had accidentally pulled over the chief of police.
I was thinking to myself wtf just happened here? I mean I always talk to cops in English because 90% of the time they find it too much of a hassle to communicate back with me and just let me go, but I’ve never had a cop apologize so profusely while backing away as if he was in fear of his life.
Now the annoying part is how some cops keep making a fuss over my lifted car. I’ve got an FJ Cruiser with a 2” lift (which is really not much as you can see in the photo up on top) and I’ve had the car for 6 years and it’s passed 3 car inspections. I’ve also stopped at countless check points without any issues yet every now and then a cop has to bring up the fact that my car is lifted. I don’t mind rules/laws as long as they’re consistent and I haven’t been able to find any law/rule regarding lift kits. But, if they were illegal I would assume I wouldn’t be able to pass my yearly car inspection which I have been for years even with my previously lifted car which was a Wrangler. So it’s frustrating some cops are making an issue out of it when they let more serious issues pass like people running red lights.
Anyway, if anyone can shed light on what the law is regarding lifted cars I’d appreciate it. What I’d love to have is a printout of all the car related laws and just keep it in my car so when I do get stopped again for having a lift kit I can say “So what?” and then pull out the sheet and have them try and find the corresponding law.
59 replies on “Cops vs English vs Me”
“90% of the time they find it too much of a hassle to communicate back with me and just let me go”
#kuwaithack
Also, stop spilling our secrets.
hahahahahahahaha
Nice so talk English and act foreign enough.
Probably had more to do with the nationality than the english though
+1
I once stopped at an inspection point and handed the cop my Texas drivers license… He responded “This Taxi?”
I just laughed so loud!
Hahahahahahaha
+ ∞
What if.. Someone was Canadian but looked South Asian? *DAN DAN DAAAAAN*
+1
+10000000000
my problem more or less. Treat you like shit till they see the passport. then they kiss your ass!
Strange, I always think a Canadian passport is pretty much worthless if you’re not white, because like everybody is Canadian.
I think it’s a display of common sense, rather than a spilled secret.
I know right?? Sheesh! LOL
They’re pretty much like that with all foreigners.. except for Asians. Poor Asians..
I am an Asian and in Kuwait since 25 years, not even once been mistreated by police. ever. its all how you react.
i don’t even know what you mean lol. okay tell me how are we supposed to act when cops stop us and fine us all of a sudden for a no reason and then if we ask them what the issue is they insult us and tell us to sit back in the and drive away in an extremely rude way?
I’m just saying if it hasn’t happened to you dont just go saying that “its all how you react.” cause you sound dumb as hell
feel free to call me dumb if that satisfies your ego or makes you feel any better of your miserable life. the cops aren’t mad who simply stops anyone and do whatever they want to without any reason and logic. its not a Banana republic, if one does their are departments where you can go and file a complaint.
before you tell me how i am not suppose to say it because that haven’t happened to me, go and read the comment above it. it says “except for Asians” which covers all of us, so tell me again Mr/Ms. Genius!
Agree with Malik, but sometimes things just don’t really make sense like what happened with Mark, and rarely does anyone bother explaining due to the language barrier.
Thanks Asmaa, .there are some black sheeps, Everywhere. i don’t think there’s ANY country in this world where such incidents don’t happen (not supporting it in any way, nor justifying). i am not denying the fact that there are some cases like the one Mark mentioned.
considering the number of expats in Kuwait cops here really need to be bilingual and some young ones need a coaching too that how to behave. things are getting better everyday. lets hope for the best.
asmaa and malik. your experiences are your own – not necessarilythe same for the TONNES of asians in this country. Assuming you are asian in the first place.
just saw this. so u do agree with me kinda lol.
look “genius” first of all I wasn’t refering to the comment by Xtina and I understand what she is saying and i totally agree with her and i do understand that it covers all of us.
Now refering to your comment “the cops aren’t mad who simply stops anyone and do whatever they want to without any reason and logic.” if thats the case then why did they stop Mark for no reason at all? there is not a single law regarding the vehicle’s height.
Saying that “not even once been mistreated by police. ever. its all how you react.” is such a stupid statement. its like saying “I havent been to mars therefore mars doesnt exist. It is all your perception” lol. so the point is if they stop a person for no goddamn reason obviously that person will be worrired, surprised, etc. and how do you not expect them to act normal when they don’t reall know what the problem is and on top of that they if you are an asain and not good in arabic they are extremely rude. It has happened not just to me but to alot of people i know.
Depends on your profession. If you’re an engineer/doctor etc the usually never talk to you and just issue a citation for whatever your traffic offense was.
Totally agree. Been there so know that very well.
all I know that any modifications not documented in your lisence or official papers is considered a violation.
basically he has the right to just pick on u 😉
“I’d love to have is a printout of all the car related laws and just keep it in my car”
Please make sure it is next to a poster of MC Hammer dancing to the tune of “Can’t touch this.”
I just shrug my shoulders and say ‘huh? a lot.
Seems to work well enough.
Not just car related laws.. I wouldn’t mind having a list of every single (ridiculous) law here. TBH, I’ve never been this clueless about my rights in any other country.
you should visit this page “Know Your Rights in Kuwait ” of DesertGirlKuwait: https://desertgirlkuwait.blogspot.com/2016/07/know-your-rights-in-kuwait-re-post-from_90.html
MIMIIIIIIIIIIIIII YOU ARE AWESOME LOVE YOUR BLOG LOL
+1 .
The lack of transparency here is appaling
He actually wanted a lift with your highness to the new Tavola but then quickly realized he needs to barf.
.. when the smell of Pot from your car got to him.
The pot then made him forget why he pulled over Mark!
Canadians are feared throughout the world, for killing with kindness.
+1 I laughed so hard
I’ve tried that only once and the cop responded with “kallam arabi”. Guess only Canadians get special treatment 🙂
it was the nationality that made a difference that’s all there is to it. had it been any of the “Asian” nationalities i reckon the cop would have taken the other route where he demonstrates his skills of teaching #arabic101 & then further writing a lovely ticket with endless irrelevant charges all written in Arabic. n top it all of ask u to sign on it without explaining a word of what is written on the damn ticket.
Here`s a link to Kuwait Traffic Law (2015).
https://www.filedropper.com/trafficlaw_1
Unfortunately, is only in Arabic language.
Wow.Apology from a Kuwaiti cop.
Why wasn’t I born as a Caucasian from a developed country? Instead I was born into this stupid Indian body in Kuwait. Can’t even get a driving license!!! The citizens of countries dominant with Caucasian people literally get their license handed over to them with almost no paperwork. Curse my brown skin and heritage. Aaaaaaarrrghhhhh
i feel ya bro. My dad didn’t get a license till I was 19 …and only then cus of some wastha.
Consistency in the Middle East ? you’re kidding mate ?
Wow.Apology from a Kuwaiti cop.
Why wasn’t I born as a Caucasian from a developed country? Instead I was born into this stupid Indian body in Kuwait. I have been spat in and hit (separate occasions)while minding my own business and standing at a bus stop.Can’t even get a driving license!!! The citizens of countries dominant with Caucasian people literally get their license handed over to them with almost no paperwork. Curse my brown skin and heritage. Aaaaaaaaaarrrghhhhh
An American friend of mine bought a Wrangler here and it came with a 4 foot LED light bar mounted on the hood, just below and in front of his windscreen. It’s low profile is enough that it doesn’t obscure any vision while driving the car at all.
He was pulled over and had his licence confiscated and told he’d get it back once he had the light bar removed. the car came with it! I don’t care.
Oh and the retarded, “stickers on your window,” law is also ridiculous. Having Maash’allah (however you spell it,) and other religious and political stickers ALL OVER the back window is ok, but have small ‘other’ types on there is a licence confiscation and fine. If it doesn’t block your view, let it go, I say.
stickers will get your car impounded not just your license confiscated
I’m assuming your friend bought used… Big difference
I got pulled over in my almost blacked out GTI, and when I handed my Danish stamped license, he gave me a blow kiss as he walk off.
I never felt so confused in my life…
😂
Maybe he saw the name of your sponsor
Similar story a month or so ago. My wife (egyptian) and I (english) at the airport waiting to pick someone up. Cop comes and starts asking my wife for her car licence which was (we hadn’t realised until that moment) 3 months expired. The back and forth was in arabic, and i sat in silence. After 20 mins he says that someone is coming to collect the car, and he wont make any exceptions. I asked her to translate a communication for me, whereby i basically said let us continue our pick up, then we will go home and park up until we have renewed the licence. He listens to her translation, and asks her where i am from. She tells him UK, and suddenly we are off the hook.
That’s my first experience 2 years in Kuwait of having my nationality work FOR me, but I still don’t understand why it happened.
white privilege buddy. No need to resent you for it – but sometimes it turns white folks into Kuwait into complete entitled assholes.
Yeah, i really don’t like it. I don’t have any issue with the cop (or anyone) reasoning with me because i spoke in a pleasant and respectful way, but i really hate the idea of being treated differently (even if it is in my favor) because i’m white/from the UK.
Its the nationality thing. most of them wont tangle with westerners unless its something serious like drugs or booze.
On the flip side as mentioned in the comments easterners are screwed.. Kinda like damned if you do damned if you dont. Its doesnt matter.
Ofcourse ive personally never had any such issue. never got pulled over or whatever but i would actively stay away from having to deal with cops here. simply because we are worth less than the paper our names are on for them.
Just the other day on my way to work, opp bayan palace jabriya side someone got pulled over and the cop car was infront of the guy. I saw the cop get into his car, put it in reverse and rammed the fellow. Obviously it didnt look like a mistake. Bet the guy is in serious trouble for hitting a cops car…
another time at a check point they made my dad stand in the hot sun for over 2 hrs coz his car was “old” and it should be scrapped. I had no idea an 8 yr old car is considered old. And the sad part was there was nothing wrong with the car. no dents, tints, “lift”, lightbar, smoke or whatever.
Racism is the word you are looking for.
Any,, any type of changes to a stock car is illegal ! And it all depends on the cop himself if he wants to pull u over or not.
Inconsist ridiculous traffic laws, and arrogant officers, they give me hardt time with my 1978 bone stock Trans Am
When I dropped my wife off at the airport last month a copper on his lights after I passed him going 130. I pulled over and he got out and approached my door. I said, “can I help you” and he yelled at me, “go go” and walked back back to his car. My mom was actually with and she said, what an a-hole”. I told her it’s typical with me sine I look Arab.