Can police speed?

Question: Are cops allowed to speed if they do not have any lights/sirens on?

I was "following" a cop (about 400 feet back) who was doing about 90 on the highway, and he decides to slow down and pull me over for speeding. I thought they must obey speed limits as well, unless they are on assignment? HELP.

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally posted by key88sf
Question: Are cops allowed to speed if they do not have any lights/sirens on?

I was "following" a cop (about 400 feet back) who was doing about 90 on the highway, and he decides to slow down and pull me over for speeding. I thought they must obey speed limits as well, unless they are on assignment? HELP.

My response:

Playing "chicken" with the California Highway Patrol can be very hazardous to your insurance.

However, police authorities are not allowed to "speed". I suggest that you always pull them over and place them under citizen's arrest when you see this happen.

How do you know if the officer wasn't on "assignment", and then the "call" was cancelled ?

IAAL

He claimed he was on assignment to remove a tire tread from the road, but it was indeed cancelled. However, if he was on assignment, why no lights (not even yellows)? Aren't they supposed to use lights for an assignment like this, otherwise they can always claim they are on assignment and speed anytime they want... Do I have a viable argument to dismiss the charges?

Thanks...

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally posted by key88sf
He claimed he was on assignment to remove a tire tread from the road, but it was indeed cancelled. However, if he was on assignment, why no lights (not even yellows)? Aren't they supposed to use lights for an assignment like this, otherwise they can always claim they are on assignment and speed anytime they want... Do I have a viable argument to dismiss the charges?

Thanks...

My response:

His "lights" had nothing to do with the fact that you were speeding. What does his lights have to do with anything?

IAAL

True, but my point is that he was speeding also. The reason I followed was that I assumed cops must obey the traffic laws as well, so following safely behind a cop by definition means you're obeying the speeding laws. Rhetorical: How could they arrest me if they themselves don't obey the law?

There are numerous type calls that require a officer to speed but not activate lights and sirens. i.e. burglary in progress, hostage situation etc. In those situations a more "stealth" type response is appropriate in order to prevent alerting the suspects that police are close by.

Approximately 95% of burglar alarm calls are false but officers race to the call just the same to ensure your security. However, if it was YOUR house alarm I'm sure you wouldn't have a complaint about an officer speeding because he was en route to check your residence. But then again you would probably complain anyway because the response would have been too slow, you being so important and all.


By you being unable to know what an officer is responding to you aren't in a very good position to question the integrity of the officer's actions without putting yourself in violation resulting in a citation.

But, I'm sure you felt questioning an officer about a situation you knew nothing about made you feel like you were important. Enjoy your court date my friend.

There's no need to take a position of high-brow sarcasm in order to make your point. The fact is, I truly believed the officers (especially highway patrol on I-5) would obey speed limits and use lights/sirens in a situation such as tire tread removal, as was the case here. However, you make valid points about situations where officers can approach in a stealth mode, and the ultimate fact was that yes, I was speeding. My reason for posting this question was to learn if my assumption about cops was correct in the first place.

As to whether I'd complain about slow response times to burglaries, and feeling important, I'd suggest you ditch the white trash attitude, make enough money to move out of the trailer with your mom, buy a car that has less than 80k miles on it.

Cheers....

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally posted by key88sf
I'd suggest you ditch the white trash attitude, make enough money to move out of the trailer with your mom.

My response:

I like this kid's style . . . for obvious reasons that other contributors to FreeAdvice will recognize.

Like myself, this is another Californian against "trailers."

Excellent.

IAAL

So my observations of your actions in your situation causes you to digress into ad hominem attacks against me. Please humor us more with your elementary responses.

[Rochelle]

To the original poster: Yes, he can speed without lights or sirens, depending on the call he is answering. And no, you have no grounds to ask that the charges be dismissed. Sorry.

I followed a cop on the interstate one time that was speeding with no sirens or flashing lights. I got up to about 105 mph and then I backed off because that speed is just too freakin much even for a rednecked rebel like me. Even at 105 that cop blew me away. He had to have been going at least 120. I exited the interstate a few miles later and that same cop, (I got the number on his tags), was pulling into the drive through at McDonalds. I feel so much safer knowing this guy's there to run over me on the highway.

I followed a cop on the interstate one time that was speeding with no sirens or flashing lights. I got up to about 105 mph and then I backed off because that speed is just too freakin much even for a rednecked rebel like me. Even at 105 that cop blew me away. He had to have been going at least 120. I exited the interstate a few miles later and that same cop, (I got the number on his tags), was pulling into the drive through at McDonalds. I feel so much safer knowing this guy's there to run over me on the highway.

Ya don't go playing chicken with Johnny law. At one time I had the bad habit of speeding behind a speeding cop until one day one pull right in behind me while I was following another. Didn't get pulled over but it sure enough cured me of that bad habit

PLIFTER your anti-police so I dont believe anything you say. You just happen to see a police going to MC'D's after blowing you away at 120 mph, give me a break. I speed allot without lights or sirens, not because I think I'm above the law because I'm not, but there are duties to perform that I wont go into depth about. Answer to the posters question, yes law enforcement can speed without lights or sirens if they are performing their duties. If an officer is blowing your doors off just because he/she wants to get home, no he/she cannot do that.

as i sit here reading over all these responses
its clear as h*ll who the cops are that are giving replys



my advice is if you see a police vehicle speeding with out his lights on take down the car number, time of day, date and the police department name and file a complaint with that department chief and internal affairs that also goes for the cops who turn on there lights to run a red light then shut them off after clearing the intersection