Okay, so last night I'm driving along... I see this county police car come speeding up from behind going at least 65+ MPH in a 45 MPH zone, he cuts over into the left lane about 10 ft. from my rear bumper, cuts back into the right lane about 20 ft. in front of me, then slams on his brakes and makes a right hand turn (all with ZERO turn signals). THEN... he goes down that road to the right maybe... 500 yards, pulls a U-turn in the middle of the road, comes back up the road and turns right (again no signals of any kind). So now he's behind me again in the right lane and of course he gets over into the left lane again (with no signal) and then must have just floored it because he got up to like 70+ MPH easy. And so as he's speeding off, I flash my bright lights at him for about 2 seconds and then he flips on his red and blue lights for about 2 seconds and then back off, which seemed to me almost to say "I can do whatever I want". Don't the police have to obey normal traffic laws?
2006-10-12 22:51:52 · 15 answers · asked by Lloyd 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
@ Lucianna: It is my understanding that you seem to think I did not yield to this emergency vehicle? Where did I even have an opportunity to yield or not yield? I think you need to re-read my post and have your facts straight before you reply. And I do not think its "rude and uncalled for" to flash my lights at ANY vehicle which I observe disobeying the law and performing unsafe acts. Have a nice day!!
2006-10-12 23:19:36 · update #1
Yep, I'm just complaining. You're right!!
2006-10-13 11:16:54 · update #2
I bet you wouldn't be complaining a bit if that cop was looking for someone that just broke into your parents house. Guess what, he was looking for someone, that much is obvious. In the performance of their duties they are exempt from traffic laws. Suck it up, or go find Wanda and cry on each others shoulders about how unfair life is.
2006-10-13 01:36:01 · answer #1 · answered by Judge Dredd 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You don't say if you yielded to the emergence vehicle or not. Did you?
He was probably on a call, got the wrong directions and had to back track to get where he was supposed to be.
YOU are supposed to yield the right of way when emergency vehicles are showing lights and/or using a siren. That's the law.
While going to a call, I'd guess that they don't have to use a signal light when turning, after all, they're pressed for time and trying to control the car. Under normal driving, they're supposed to use one. If you yielded the right of way like you were supposed to, then it shouldn't matter if the officer used signals or not, because you wouldn't have been in a dangerous situation.
They are not limited to a certain speed when on a call.
He flashed his blue and reds to let you know he saw what you did, which by the was not only uncalled for, but rude.
They can also be on a "silent call' which means no lights no siren so keep that in mind.
When on a call, they only have to use common sense and not drive 100 mph on the icy roads. Otherwise, they can do what they feel necessary to get to the location as quickly as possible.
You don't know what they've been dispatched to, some one could be threatening some one with a gun, or it could be some one is beating the crap of some one and they need to get there five minutes ago to stop it.
You should ask your local department if you can do a 'ride along' one night and see for yourself what they have to go through. Then, I think, you'd be a little less judgmental and a little more understanding.
Have a good day!!!
2006-10-12 23:11:49 · answer #2 · answered by Lucianna 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I've been wondering the same thing recently. I haven't seen something like what you saw, but just the daily average police car and how it speeds down the street.
I see them break the limit almost every day. They're not chasing anyone, they're just abusing their position.
I wonder about their off-duty time. If you drive like that all day at work, then it must creep into your personal time too. I would guess that it would just be a matter of flashing a badge if ever pulled over by an on-duty cop, and then a few chuckles, nothing reported, no demerit points, no fine.
2006-10-12 23:01:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There could be at least a million reasons to justify his actions, or he could just be one of those bad seeds.
Officers are held to the same laws as everyday civilians. They get tickets for speeding, tickets for drunk driving, etc... When you become an officer you take an oath to uphold the law, when you break it you pay as everyone else.
TO justify his actions when dispatched to a call, you get about 4 sentences on a computer screen in your squad. It could read for example,
"1212 Eagle Lane St. possible burglary in progress. RP (reporting party) is in the area and on the line."
When you head to this call, you know nothing. YOU have no idea how many suspects are there if you are being set up by someone. Scary feeling... not quite knowing what you are about to walk into.
BUT THEY DO IT TO PROTECT AND SERVE!
Just be lucky he didn't ticket you for flashing your brights, since that is illegal. Obviously he had bigger fish to fry.
2006-10-13 02:02:54 · answer #4 · answered by razzyrascal 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No the police can not do whatever they want. Even if they're on a call.
what yu should do is make a complaint to the nearst police barracks. While you may not have the officer's name, you can let those in charge know what Road and route number you were on and at what day and time and it should be quite easy for them to determine who it was. I can bet that you were not the only one who witnessed this irresponsible behavior.
2006-10-13 17:22:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Indeed police officers are obligated to obey the very laws they enforce. Some may think that they are above the law, but if proof can be provided, they can be prosecuted for traffic violations. It is rare, but there have been cases of police officers ticketed by other officers for traffic violations. I admit this is an exception, and not the norm.
2006-10-13 00:54:18 · answer #6 · answered by WC 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like he was looking for someone or something and didn't want to draw attention by using lights.... I can understand why you feel this way because you couldn't get away with it but you don't know what's going on in his world. He could be after a rapist or murderer. Him flashing his emergency lights to you for a few seconds could have been his way of telling you this is an emergency. You just don't know. I wouldn't loose any sleep over thinking about it.
2006-10-12 23:01:42 · answer #7 · answered by noobienoob2000 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I only know about the state of Texas. In Texas there is no legal speed limit for a marked police vehicle. Each department has guidelines for the conduct of its patrol officers. It looks to me like this officer was clearly out of bounds on even the most liberal of guidelines. Check with your county sheriff's department, citizens affairs department, for the guidelines.
2006-10-12 23:51:40 · answer #8 · answered by Preacher 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In certain emergency situations, the police do not activate lights and sirens because they do not want to tip of the offender that they are on their way. Maybe that is what was going on here?
2006-10-13 05:58:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They should follow the law they claim to implement.
In order to have the authority to ensure the laws are followed, the police themselves should not undermine their own authority by disregarding them. Its sure to backfire when the general public catches on and starts showing the same disrespect for traffic regulations.
If he was on duty at the time he should have had the siren the entire time.
2006-10-12 23:42:39 · answer #10 · answered by stj 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋