2007-06-15 06:52:48 · 19 answers · asked by Joojoomon 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Yup, they absolutely can.
If you try to argue the officer wasn't visible, the judge will laugh at you.
It wouldn't make much sense if you could see us and slow down would it?
2007-06-15 07:07:14 · answer #1 · answered by trueblue3167 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Pretty much got your answer from the others. The only thing I will add to the comments is that you are obviously hearing somebody tell you the practice of concealing a patrol car from the public view while operating radar is "entrapment."
Let me make this clear...it is not.
The legal definition of entrapment is...
A person is 'entrapped' when he is induced or persuaded by law enforcement officers or their agents to commit a crime that he/she had no previous intent to commit; and the law as a matter of policy forbids conviction in such a case.
However, there is no entrapment where a person is ready and willing to break the law and the Government agents merely provide what appears to be a favorable opportunity for the person to commit the crime.
So in your question when the officer "hides" behind a building, tree, etc., he is not MAKING you speed...you are doing that on your own.
The old saying "when the cats away..." is so clearly an accurate statement when you watch people drive down the roadways totally disregarding the traffic laws until they see a marked police car. They just never think about all the UNmarked cars driving right next to them!
Best wishes.
2007-06-15 07:52:42 · answer #2 · answered by KC V ™ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Police Officers are allowed to park on private property. There is a nice old lady in town that is always concerned about her grand kids and speeders on her street. So she lets me park in her driveway (the way it's set up, my car is really hidden but I can see the road well) and do my thing. And she will occasionally bring my and my officers lemonade.
As for hiding in general. Perfectly legal in Missouri. We have this railroad bridge that goes over one of the highways and occasionally an officer will climb up with a LIDAR unit and pick them off and radio them to another officer down the road.
Just because you can't see a officer, doesn't mean you can speed.
Though I generally hide in plain view and still catch them all day.
2007-06-15 07:09:55 · answer #3 · answered by Kenneth C 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I had a judge laugh at a guy trying to beat a radar ticket. Part of his argument was he couldn't see the officer. He also went on about studies showing radars are not accurate. The judge asked him to prove this particular radar was inaccurate. The was found guilty & the spectators all get a giggle.
2007-06-15 08:16:01 · answer #4 · answered by XPig 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Generally speaking, a police car cannot uturn on your driveway, because it's private land. They routinely are used to patrol private land that is accessed by the public freely - such as a shopping mall lot. Provided they are anywhere they normally have police powers, they can run radar from any spot they can find. However, certain requirements are required for the use of a speed gun. Close to 90 degree angle to oncoming traffic, non-inclement weather conditions, etc. Additionally, a cop may not cause a public hazard or any situation which infringes traffic uncessarily in performing any of their duties.
2007-06-15 07:02:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
We can park anywhere on public property where we're not creating a hazard and we can park on private property with the permission of the owner.
2007-06-16 21:15:23 · answer #6 · answered by Brian C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anywhere they wanna...and just in case you have a case of HUA like I did, DON'T call the officer Junior (even if he still has pimples), DON'T ask him to show you his certification of being able to run radar (altho you have the right) and DON'T ask him to show you paperwork stating the last time his radar was calibrated (copy should be kept in patrol car)...I know PMS isn't a reason for having HUA, but it was the best excuse I had. :)
2007-06-15 12:38:50 · answer #7 · answered by sameekee 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In Ontario you can park anywhere including private property as long as the owner of the property does not object.
2007-06-15 08:16:59 · answer #8 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pretty much anywhere on public and government property. They can also use private property as long as they have the owner's permission.
And the I couldn't see him defense won't hold up in traffic court.
2007-06-15 07:28:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Police can park anywhere. The defense he was hidden so he shouldn't have caught me will not hold up in court.
2007-06-15 07:14:49 · answer #10 · answered by woodyhou 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋