Huh - in my limited experience with da law, the Sheriff’s Dept was the most easy going. One time I pulled off the road to climb a large bank to look for fossils, and a Sheriff pulled over to see if I was OK/what I was doing. When it was all squared away he said something like “Good thing I didn’t notice your expired tags,” as he left.
ETA:
Actually cops are under no legal obligation to protect you.
