My friend was driving in town A (I dont remember the names, it was a while ago) and it was close to town B, but it was not in town B. There was a cop driving in town A, but he was from town B. My friend was speeding in town A, and the cop from town B pulled him over and gave him a ticket. Is that legal? How does this jurisdiction thing work exacly. Thanks.
2007-03-25 21:18:19 · 4 answers · asked by The HSA Guy 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Most towns or cities have jurisdiction in all neighboring towns. Most can go into whatever town their town shares a boundary with. So if Town A shares a boundary with town B then police officer from town B has every right to cite your friend in Town A.
If that doesn't make sense, think about it this way. Lets say the cop from town B was in town A and saw a lady get mugged in town A. Is he not going to try and assist her and try to prevent a crime because its not in his town? Of course he will assist her, because she needs help after someone committed a crime.
Someone stated that police can have jurisdiction throughout the state. That's false. There would be no reason for a cop to be patrolling in a town 50 miles away from the town he is employed in unless he was sent to that town as a request. Maybe I'm babbling on now, but to get back to the question, most have jurisdiction with whatever town is touching their town.
2007-03-25 22:51:24 · answer #1 · answered by smartazboy7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Concurrent jurisdictions? Maybe the town line isn't exactly at the last house in town?
2007-03-26 08:04:56 · answer #2 · answered by dude0795 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the state. In California a on-duty police officer has jurisdiction anywhere in the state.
2007-03-26 05:52:06 · answer #3 · answered by r_77_p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Police officers have jurisdiction within the entire state.
2007-03-26 04:43:10 · answer #4 · answered by Jessica S 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋