Posted: 2/9/2007 9:49:38 PM EDT
| It is my understanding that cops are not allowed to speed just like everyone else. If that's the case, how does a cop catch someone that is speeding, say 25 MPH over the speed limit? Logically, the cop would have to break the speed limit, no? |
Your understanding is wrong. Emergency vehicles are exempt from traffic laws. |
My friend is a cop and he told me that his training explained that they are not allowed to speed. However, if they are responding to a life threatening situation, it is not likely that anything will be done about it. Maybe that is just for the state on Indian. I think I'll post this in the LEO forum... |
Depends where.....my friend whot is an EMT cannot speed wile in their ambulance. There is an on-board computer that records everything from speed, braking, siren use, emergancy lights, seatbelts, and turning. They have a grace period where it will beep at them then they have so many seconds to slow down or they are documented. To many documentations=no job. Whose gonna pull them over...you?  |
|
The key is DUE REGARD. Meaning, they are not supposed to just speed. However, they could be going to another officers location that just pulled a vehicle over with 4 males in it. They are going for backup, maybe those are 4 gangbangers the just did a driveby that hasnt been reported to the police yet. So yes, they will step up response. But if the officer calls he ok/10-4 etc with the 4 males (maybe 4 local HS football guys he knows) then the officer responding slows down as hes not needed. This is where you get the archair commandos whining "he was going 70 in a 45 (of course this begs the question, HOW did THEY know he was going 70 in a 45) and then pulled into McD's/donut/coffee shop" "its not fair" whine whine whine, sniff sniff, "its not fair". And of course there are other reasons NOT to use sirens/lights. But, the armchair commandos know all this so I wont waste time repeating them. Even with lights/siren they are supposed to use due regard. NOT ALL depts have the same pursuit policy. Yes to catch somebody speeding one has to go as fast as the speeder. Or, they would have to catch up if they were on the side of the road. |
How does Due Regard work within the laws? I fully understand that sometimes cops have to travel fast. I just want to understand how it works legally. I don't mean to say that we should be allowed to speed without fear of being pulled over because cops shouldn't be allowed to speed to catch us. edit: sp |
|
more or less, it goes like this. if they have a valid reason to get somewhere in a hurry, they can ....bend some of the rules. IE a hot call for backup, some serious shit in progress etc. also, getting there with lights and sirens blazing might NOT be a good idea, so you won't always see the lights and sirens on. it all depends on department policy of course, but generally, exceeding the limitations set by traffic laws isn't a privilege or a right, its sometimes a necessity of the job. see also: doctor rushing to hospital. |
| Hmm, there have been cases where police/ambulance have been speeding with lights sirens on. Then got in an accident. The ones I have heard about they did not slow down at a intersection. They didnt show due regarg to the traffic. They were sailing thru a intersection at high rates of speed without slowing down for traffic. |
|
To avoid speeding, I have started carrying lots of ball peen hammers. When I see a speeder going the other way I just toss the hammer out as they go by. I aim for the windshield. Most of them stop right quick. Of course it take a few minutes for them to unclench enough to release their driver's license. So it does slow up things a bit. |
Emergency vehicles are exempt from traffic laws, but not exempt from negligence. With the added authority to exceed the speed limit, there is also an added responsibility to do it safely. If you run lights and sirens through a red light and hit a vehicle, you are in the wrong. I tell all the recruits I train that every time they travel through an intersection against the traffic control device (red light, stop sign, etc.) you must be at a speed that you could stop to avoid a vehicle in the intersection. |
Can I nominate this in the BEST EVER answer |