While driving in the city, how can I tell if a cop car behind me is a fake or not?
2007-10-25 14:39:33 · 8 answers · asked by Jamerican Steve 7 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ New York City
You have to use your best judgement. If its a marked police car, you should pull over immediately. If its an unmarked car, you can dial 911 from your cell phone and ask central dispatch. But make sure that if you're going to keep going, you put your 4 way flashers on indicating that you intend to stop.....also, if they use a PA system to yell at you to pull over, you'd better do it. A cop doesnt have to let you keep driving. Generally we dont put the lights on unless its a tactically good place to do so. ( We dont want to get into a situation either)
2007-10-25 17:02:46 · answer #1 · answered by zebj25 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Usually an unmarked cop car will flash their headlights in a left-right flicker as well as some sort of other flickering lights going along with it. It's really just a matter of what type of cop car is on you.
Most of them (the ones that the Highway Patrol use) are your standard Ford Crown Victoria issue. There are others that are white but are "stripped down" cop cars that have no light bar on top, are regular NYS license plates..not the number of the car as a plate..yet if you look on the sides of the car, it is marked with the blue NYPD letterings.
There are also unmarked cars that look DEAD ON like the yellow NYC cabs (I've seen these on the Henry Hudson Parkway and the Belt Parkway) with the top bar and cab letterings. But if you look at the license plate...they have a TLC combo (ie: T569533C) as opposed to a license plate that denotes the taxi (ie: 4M58)
Obviously if a car flashes and pulls you over, stop somewhere well lit or with public view.
2007-10-25 21:55:31 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you have any doubts, call 911 on your cell phone (better yet, have a passenger do it) and explain there's a cop trying to pull you over and you're unsure of the safety of the situation, and if the 911 operator could notify the dispatcher that you're not trying to evade, you just want a safe place to pull over. If it's legit, the operator will come back to you and tell you. If it's not, then the PD has a location of an impersonator.
2007-10-26 06:56:26 · answer #3 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the other answers. Flashing lights (wigwags) and sirens can be purchased on ebay. It's not likely that a blue & white (marked police car) is fake but you can never be too safe these days.
Drive to a well lit area or a police station closeby where there are alot of people if you don't feel safe. It is not a crime to do so.
2007-10-25 21:49:53 · answer #4 · answered by shawn g 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You really can't. Pull up to a well lit area, that has plenty of traffic. By law, real policemen will allow you to find a safe spot to pull over.
The key words here are if a cop car is behind me, you won't be able to see the decals on the side of a car as one suggests, and in Wisconsin at least, the cops will allow you to find a safe spot, even if you are on the freeway, there is plenty of traffic there.
2007-10-25 21:43:41 · answer #5 · answered by helper 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
especially in NYC, you cant really tell. When you pull over, go into a lighted area. They'll let you go the extra distance to pull over.
2007-10-25 21:47:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may not be able to tell. The important thing is, drive someplace for help if there's any doubt in your mind.
2007-10-25 21:46:03 · answer #7 · answered by annvictorblue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't stop when he tries to pull you over. If other cops show up to help, he was not a fake.
2007-10-25 21:44:58 · answer #8 · answered by Paladin 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋