Can a police officer get a speeding ticket while driving a patrol car?

Question

I don't mean like speeding when in pursuit of something, I mean just for speeding. Yesterday I was driving and a police officer sped right past me. I was doing 50 mph, so he had to have been doing 65. The speed limit was 50 mph. He wasn't in pursuit because he stopped at the light.

Answer 1

i know of one case where a Mississippi state trooper pulled over and ticketed the driver of a gulf port police unit for speeding. i have no idea what the background or history may have been between the two officers. normally police officers (quite unlike the general public) have better sense than to try and second guess why a police car is exceeding the posted speed limit. the officer discussed in this posters question could have well been responding to a call and been told to disregard/cancel en-route, the call could have been downgraded by a supervisor or other first reponding officers on the scene or else he could have discovered that there were now enough back up units on the scene and it was no longer a priority for him to break his neck getting to the call. it is very easy to judge and second guess police activity when you have no formal police training, experience or knowledge of police procedures. i will never forget one particular incident where i was responding code-3 (lights and siren) to a auto accident. while en-route to the call it was discovered that the call was not in our jurisdiction and units from the proper department were now on the scene. the dispatcher told me to disregard and handle a complaint of a unwanted intoxicated person inside of a dennys restaurant. i cut the lights and siren and proceeded to the dennys, which was about a mile ahead. the sheriffs department received two complaints from citizens who reported that i had used my lights and siren to get through the heavy traffic so i could go to dennys and drink coffee.

Answer 2

Legally, an officer can receive a speeding ticket while driving the patrol car. That said, just because the lights and siren are not in use, you don't know the officer was not responding to a call that required exceeding the posted speed limit. Stopping at a light does not disprove that possibility. Running a light is different than driving fast.

Answer 3

Here we go, another police hater. Well seems that there are times when we as police officers are attempting to get to a serious call without our lights and sirens blairing. Do you think we should get a ticket for taking care of the worlds problems. Would you complain if you called us and we got there quickly. We don't just zip around at high rates of speed for no reason. We know that citizens will complain if we do that. Who do you think we are, I will tell you, we are there when you need us the most, there when your life is in danger, there when no one else will come, there because we want to be there, not because we have to, because this is the life we have chosen. So tonight when you lay down on your little pillow, feel safe knowing that we will come when you call, no matter when, why, and as fast as we can, as long as people like you dial 911. Think about it before you right it.............

Answer 4

not necessarily, if he was going to a call that does not authorize the use of lights and sirens then yes he might have stepped it up, but still would stop at lights. Code 3 driving (lights and sirens) is risky and cities only allow officers to drive like that in the most serious situations. Probably no he won't get a ticket. Also remember cops have professional driving training, they can actually handle their vehicle, esp at high speeds, unlike the majority of the motoring public who have trouble controlling their vehicle at the speed limit.

Answer 5

Literally the answer is yes. But let's be real here. There are many reasons that a cop will speed. Perhaps the call only borders on emergency status. Perhaps a baby wasn't breathing and then began breathing again. The call is ususally downgraded but the officer still wants to get there quickly to see if they can help. Perhaps another officer was fighting with someone and they got them into custody. Again this is a call that is downgraded but still requires expediency. Have patience-try to understand and always get out of the way of a police car-emergency mode or not- it could be your family that they are trying to get to. I know-sometimes they are in a hurry to get home to see their family, or triying to get to a meal quickly because their shift has been so busy, but why take the chance?? They are people to and they make mistakes, but really, most are good people.

Answer 6

If you continue driving like that then yes it will hurt your chances. I learned the hard way. I didn't get a job for about 3 years after I graduated college basically because like you I liked to drive fast. I had 2 speeding tickets and it took me 3 years to get a job. Have some self control and start following the speed limit.

Answer 7

Yes they can. I had a detective that had gone to PA to pick up a prisoner. He was stopped by the Pennsylvania State Patrol and was given a summons for speeding. All this with a prisoner in the back of the car. It is very rare, but yes it can happen.

Answer 8

In my state all emergency vehicles are exempt from posted speed, so no they can not get a ticket according to state traffic code. With that said, the traffic also has a due care clause that pertains to pd vehicles. So with out getting into the whole debate about police speed (waaaa waaaa) no ticket.

Answer 9

yes they can but good freakin luck and you never know why they were speeding. Just cuz they stopped at the light doesnt mean they didnt have and important call somewhere. They dont always use their lights when heading somewhere

Answer 10

Yes, but no other officer will do it. They all speed so they all would be getting tickets.