Can police cars pull you over on the highway for speeding?

Question

I've always wondered...who has jurisdiction...I imagine since 9-11 they can but usually won't/don't?

Hah, amazing how awesome people are. Actually I'm 26, and let me clarify. I live in California - we don't have "state troopers" we have local cops and highway patrol. I frequently see, and frequently pass cops on the highway atleast 10 mph over and no one get's pulled over. I'm wondering about jurisdiction. That a local city cop can pull someone over on a highway. Hope that helps.

And for the obviously uneducated crowd that failed to read the question I'm referring to local police officers vs. highway patrol.

Answer 1

Police officers, deputy sheriffs, highway patrol officers and all peace officers defined under California Penal Code 830.2 have jurisdiction anywhere in the state. Generally, city police departments have primary jurisdiction over all criminal offenses - including traffic offenses - that occur within their cities. City police departments often have a traffic enforcement division to fulfill this role. County sheriff's departments are generally primarily responsible for non traffic offenses that occur within unincorporated areas of a county. The California Highway Patrol is the agency primarily responsible for traffic enforcement on all roads and highways within the unincorporated areas of the state. That being said, a peace officer retains law enforcement authority anywhere in the state. For example, an LAPD officer could theoretically stop and ticket you in San Francisco. Would they...unlikely. Could they legally....aboslutely.

FYI - I am an 11 year police veteran with a Southern California sheriff's department.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

A certified law officer can detain and cite a civilian motorist for speeding or other moving violation anywhere in the state in which he or she is certified. That is, a city police officer from Elgin IL who has been to a meeting in Springfield IL and is driving home in uniform can pull you over and give you a ticket on Interstate 55 outside Bloomington.

The same applies to any certified officer, including sheriffs and their deputies. This sort of thing doesn't happen often, because as a general rule city officers are in their city and sheriff's deputies are in their county. A state trooper can be anywhere, anytime.

In fact the city officer from Elgin would probably try to call a local officer or state trooper if possible, rather than detain you on his own outside his own town.

It doesn't carry outside the state, though. A New York City police officer can't give a speeding ticket in Idaho, and a South Carolina state trooper can't give a ticket in Kentucky.

Answer 4

Police can pull you over anywhere. However, if the highway falls under the State Police's jurisdiction and it is a local police agency that pulls you over, they can detain you at the scene until the State Police arrive.

Answer 5

Yes city police and the county sheriff can pull you over on the highway or freeway, just as the highway patrol or state trooper can pull you over on a city street.

Answer 6

No not the car but the person that driving the car.What kind of dumb question it this .The police can pull you over for what need to and speeding is breaking the law.Hope you dont drive with questions like that you want be able to find your way home.

Answer 7

If you are asking can city police pull you over on the interstate that run though thier town ??

The answer is yes, some departments have rules that allow it, others don't want thier officers doing it, but want them on patrol in thier city.

But yes the city police has jurisdiction within thier city limits.
** a few exceptions as to military bases, Indian reservations and the such,

Answer 8

Of course they can and it can be -city police, county sheriffs, or state police.Any officer that works in a particular area has jurisdiction. I work at an impound yard, and trust me, they do pull ALOT of people over on the highways here.

Answer 9

Are you asking about local law enforcement vs. Highway Patrol? Highway vs Interstate?

Yes, the HP can and will pull you over ON THE INTERSTATE, especially if you're driving dangerously fast... which, under certain conditions could be as slow as 35mph (think "Black Ice"-- I asked that one in driver's ed)

Yes, county sheriffs can and will pull you over on the highways, back roads, street NOT INSIDE city limits.

Yes, city law enforcement can/will pull you over INSIDE city limits.

Outside their jurisdictions, I don't know who can or will do what....

Answer 10

Absolutely not! You can only be pulled over for speeding while parked in a parking lot. Duh! Yes of course you can be pulled over for speeding on the highway. Why do you think there is such as thing as a speed limit? New to driving are we?