during a traffic stop can you continue driving until you feel safe?

Answer 1

Yes, you can.

But, only if there was reasonable cause for not feeling safe.

In other words, you cannot bypass shopping centers, police stations, etc. to go to your house claiming you didn't feel safe.

Reasonable is the key word.

Additional comment:

Fr. Chuck (below) is correct regarding procedures.

Refusing to stop is considered an additional charge and you must be prepared to demonstrate that you had a good reason for not stopping. "Safe" is a subjective term, so a person who refuses to stop better have a very good reason (and evidence) to justify refusing to stop. Discarding incriminating evidence (drugs, alcohol, weapons, etc.) while you are fleeing will only result in other charges and negate your claim of "not feeling safe."

Answer 2

The first thing that comes to my mind is why you wouldn't feel safe pulling over for a fully marked patrol car. Granted there are times when an unmarked unit will attempt to stop you, at which time you can always contact the police department and ask for a marked patrol car. 99% of the time they can advise you by phone that a police officer is really behind you.

I'll give a recent example of someone that didn't immediately stop for me, including my thoughts and his, and what almost transpired. The other day I received a call regarding a vehicle that shot a small handgun out of the window several times and then drove off. As I and other officers were arriving in the area I spotted the car, at which time the other officers and I attempted a felony traffic stop on the car. The car failed to immediately stop, ultimately began to drive into a gas station and started to turn his vehicle back towards our cars. Needless to say both the driver and passenger were taken from the vehicle at gun point. Turns out it was a couple of kids with fire crackers. They didn't immediately stop because they didn't want to stop in the middle of the roadway and thought that they were being stopped for a traffic violation, but as you can see things could have gone down hill for them VERY rapidly.

And regarding the post about demanding a supervisor on scene. I always deny those requests. If they want a supervisor, they can call one. Besides a fake cop wouldn't really call for a real one anyways.

Answer 3

Yes, if you indicate to the officer you acknowledge his presence, slow down, and get off the road in a relatively short period of time.
If the officer is fussy that you didn't stop on the road itself, you can always tell him you saw a video where the policeman was hit during a traffic stop and you were worried about him. I'm sure he will understand. There is no set guideline for this unfortunately and wether or not the officer who stops you appreciates you driving to a 'safe' spot or not will largely depend upon that officer.

To note, sometimes other drivers get so interested in what's going on during a traffic stop they plow into the policeman and the car being stopped. It's NUTS!

Answer 4

Yes, you need to stop you car where it is not a danger to yourself or other drivers. If it's an unmarked police car, you can pull into an area where there are other people to feel safe. If it's an unmarked car and you have a cell phone, call the police and make sure that they are the one's pulling you over. My daughter was being pulled over last year and it was dark out. She called her local police (its in her phone) and was told it was a real officer stopping her and she pulled off the highway into a 711. She drover slowly so as not to be charged with evading. Yes the officer was mad because she had kept going till she got in a lit area with people, but when he saw how scared she was, he understood. If it was me I would have done the same thing. If I had been ticketed for not stopping, I sure as hell would have told the judge about it and raised enough cane.

Answer 5

Yes it is allowed, only you need to have a justifiable reason to do so. Even then you need to get to a safer spot and stop immediatly. You also shouldn't do anything that would make the offficer think you are trying to escape. If you still don't feel safe after you have stopped you can roll down your window part way. You still must comply with the officer though on providing him with adaquit information on you and your vehicle. You may however request another officer or a supervisor to respond as well.

Answer 6

you should understand that if you don't stop you will most likely be charged with an additional traffic charge ( but you may be able to get it dismissed in court)

Next if the police officer in the car trying to stop you does not understand your diving on, and believes you are refusing to stop, you may expect two or three police cars at a final stop and that the officers may well have thier guns out to do a formal felony stop. ( you would be ordered out of your car and onto the ground)

But you should only stop in areas you feel safe about stoping, if you are talking about a traffic area, normally the police on his loud speaker will tell you to pull over in certain areas.

If you are talking about not trusting the officer who is stoping you to be a real officer, and drive to a populated area, it should be no problem if you try to communicate this to the officer.

If you have a cell phone try calling 911 and tell them what is happening and what you are going to do.

Answer 7

Chances are an experienced police officer is not going to attempt to stop you in an unsafe area. They will follow behind you and run your tag on NCIC and wait until it is a safe area (for them as well as you). Then blue light you and initiate the traffic stop. My advise stop when you are blue lighted. If not there are not one but several charges that will be stacked on you for refusing to stop. Even if these are dismissed in court they're felonies so you'll spend time in jail until your court date. Not worth it in my book. If you're stopped in a bad area and the officer notices it he'll get on the intercom and advise you to pull to a different location.

Answer 8

Drive to a safe spot for you and the cop. I don't think they like standing in the middle of a lane of traffic.

Answer 9

Yes. Put your emergency lights on and continue driving.

If you have a cell phone, you should call 911 to verify that an officer is indeed trying to pull you over and has radioed it in.

Answer 10

In maximum aspects, at the same time as taking a street try, the regulation states you may come to an entire end a) proper this second in the previous the right line (the massive line) b) if no end line then proper this second in the previous the nearest line of the crosswalk c) if no lines, then proper this second in the previous the nearest fringe of the sidewalk area d) if no lines or sidewalk, then interior 10 ft of the sting of the different street. you may end at a form of aspects, no longer on the right signal.....inspite of the actual undeniable truth that usually the area the position you end would line up with the right signal. you may end thoroughly, with out ROLLING in any respect, test Left, proper, Left, and then proceed at the same time as secure to succeed in this. Many drivers imagine they have stopped, yet they are rolling. also be conscious no matter if you're drawing close a one way end, a 2 way end, a three way end or a 4 way end. i desire that enables you reliable success on your next street try!!