I am sitting here watching "U.S. Marshalls" on the television and Tommy Lee Jones just stepped out into the road, in front of a moving, brand new Cadillac, flashed his badge and took the car to chase the bad guy.
In real life, are the police actually allowed to do this or is this just in the movies?
2006-12-12 11:28:02 · 16 answers · asked by Lubers25 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
yes they can :P
2006-12-12 15:04:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course not, this would be stealing. Cops are not above the law. Only under marshal law declared by the government would a law enforcement officer be allowed to take you private property. The police can not even search your car without your permission or without a search warrant so do you really think they can just take it?
2006-12-13 12:27:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes they can commandeer a car.
The closest true story I have ever heard of, was an officer who had a suspect in custody and in the back of his cruiser on the side of the freeway. The suspect managed to get his cuffs in front of him, climbed into the driver's seat, and drove off. The officer was basically running down the freeway after him, when a VERY GOOD citizen pulled alongside him, threw open the passenger door and yelled, "Let's go get him!" They stayed close enough to the stolen cruiser to give it's location to other officers in the area, who got the suspect pulled over and back in custody.
2006-12-12 12:41:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes but it rarely happens. And in chases (like what's seen in movies or on tv) other officers/vehichles would be involved. So if ONE cop car is disabled, others would continue the pursuit. NOT just them, if it's large enough, there are copters overhead. Oh, my and radioes... In some states, car chases are discouraged to minimize damage and/or risks taken. Criminals are chased overhead or calls are radioed to cops where the chase is headed.
For ONE cop to hold his badge up in front of a civilian and say "I need your car" is the same as saying, "I'm super cop and no one can catch this bad guy like I can catch him b/c I have no faith in my brothers or their skills."
2006-12-12 11:43:34 · answer #4 · answered by Mark T 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I guess in real life they could, but no department would allow them to. it would open them up in way to much liablity, since in a non police car they could not have lights and siren, so they could not be in a legal pursit.
2006-12-12 14:29:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Only in Hollywood
2006-12-12 13:46:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OMG, I was just watching that too and thought the same thing! Weird. Well, my husband says nope, can't do it. At least not in our state. Don't know about them big city fellers...lol
2006-12-12 17:00:57 · answer #7 · answered by BrutalBaby 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In exigent circumstances, situations relating to dangerous felons, dangerous substances or life and death situations... yes, they can. You are compensated for the gas and any damages to the vehicle.
2006-12-12 11:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by ihave5katz 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Dude that's just the movies not reality.
2006-12-12 11:55:36 · answer #9 · answered by wenwen 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, just watch "So I Married an Axe Murderer."
2006-12-12 11:35:22 · answer #10 · answered by Phat Kidd 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In exigent circumstances, (i.e. escaped gunman) they can commandeer a civilian vehicle...
2006-12-12 11:36:48 · answer #11 · answered by nj_coastguard_man 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋