Why do police leave their flashing lights on?

[thesacrifice]

What I'm curious of is why when I see people pulled over there area a couple squad cars, not one. And I live in an upscale area, last time I got pulled over, 3 other police cars showed up besides the one that pulled me over and they did othing but stand on the sidewalk? LOL

Here's the thing. A police officer has to be ready for that %.00000001 chance of being assault/shot at/etc %100 of the time.



So, while it may seem that they are being arses or going overboard for little old you, they're minimizing opportunity for the above to happen.



and how good of a deterent is it for a terd to see that 3 cops respond to traffic stops...makes you think twice about fighting or running

 

[STG]

Go for a ride along with an officer, step out of the car at a traffic stop and watch the traffic comming up behind you. You will see the reason for leaving the lights on - as you jump into the culvert to take cover from the idiots aming for the police car.



Multiple officers on a stop disuades suspects from doing stupid things like running or attacking officers. Especially if the vehicle has more than one occupant.





Speed through Cody, Wyoming and see what happens.....

 

[Scottwax]

But what makes me mad is when people dont get in the lane over when a cop has someone pulled over. That is just unsafe for the driver, the person pulled over, and the cop.

Makes me even madder when despite the lights, idiot 21-year-old drunk drivers who had a BAC of .20 and hit the back end of a Fort Worth Police Officer's cruiser going at least 84 mph kill cops.



The Officer Down Memorial Page Remembers . . .

 

[mikebai1990]

I've heard that some drunk drivers tend to drive towards flashing lights, so it's a hard call. On one hand, drivers are aware with the flashing lights and are more cautious. On the other hand, the drunk drivers have no idea what they're doing, and they drive towards the flashing lights...

 

[imported_Yal]

How exactly would you get ticketed? If the police is busy writing up a ticket for someone else, I don't really think the police would be able to enforce this law.

Apparently two squad cars respond to a traffic stop in the areas they enforce it.

 

[imported_Surfer]

Apparently two squad cars respond to a traffic stop in the areas they enforce it.

That is why I love my Valentine 1. Down here the cops work in teams, so when there out there with radar, usually up the road is another cop doing the same. I guess they do that to catch the people who go past the 1st cop and think "ok it's safe to speed again" lol. And people with normal detectors, it'll keep going off if theres another cop but you'll think it's detecting the guy you already passed. V1 will tell me how many there are and where they are, arrows flash back and front, I know theres two traps.

 

[sneek]

In Alberta, when a emergency vehicle has its lights on the speed limit changes to 60km/h or the current speed limit depending on which one is lower. If you exceed 60 or the posted limit the fine is doubled

 

[Scottwax]

In Alberta, when a emergency vehicle has its lights on the speed limit changes to 60km/h or the current speed limit depending on which one is lower. If you exceed 60 or the posted limit the fine is doubled

In Texas, you either have to change lanes out of the lane right next to the emergency vehicle, or slow down to 20 mph under the limit.

 

[thesacrifice]

drunk drivers are a risk to everyones lifes...flashing lights or not

 

[imported_Frugle]

There is a also a switch u have to hit to beable to put the cruiser in drive

is this a new thing? it seems like i've heard and seen videos of people hopping in the cop car to get away.. (like on worlds wildest police chases)...



just curious.

 

[DaGonz]

The lights are kept on for safety.



Most PD's have only 1 officer in the car, including the State Police, unless they have a rookie in training. For example, a cop pulls over a car full of people for some minor traffic offense, such as not coming to a full stop at a right turn on red after stop intersection. Does the officer know if someone in the vehicle has a weapon? Unless he is clairvoyant, no. That's why they radio for backup.



I haver responded to accidents on the highway, and I have used the BRT (big red truck) as a roadblock to protect the crews working the accident.

 

[Accumulator]

is this [transmission lockout] a new thing? it seems like i've heard and seen videos of people hopping in the cop car to get away.. (like on worlds wildest police chases)...

Not so much new as not-too-common. I can't remember who makes the things (which bugs me...it's on the tip of my tongue) but it's something that's added on by the departments, it's not a Ford OEM option (or at least it wasn't the last time I checked). Then they usually take 'em out when they sell the vehicle as it's considered a "secret" and they generally aren't sold to the public.



The depts. that get them do it for exactly the reason you alluded to, so the (presumably ignorant) public can't hop in and drive way with the cruiser. But if you think about it, it has to be something that the driver can operate in a split-second, without having to think about it or try too hard, so it's usually not impossible to figure it out if you realize what's going on.

 

[BenjiBoy650]

I hate driving in the middle of the night around my town because the cops will follow you around for no good reason and won't hesitate to pull you over the moment you make one tiny mistake.

In this case I always voluntarily pull myself over and pretend that I am parallel parking or going to the store or getting something from the trunk. Let them follow somebody else.

 

[clnfrk]

Yea. I'm not sure if its still the case, but I believe it actually is (was?) the law that you had to surrender the lane near the pulled over officer, or if that wasn't possible, then you had to slow to 20 or 30 mph below the speed limit.



Regardless, I still move over whenever possible because its just common courtesy (which is lost to many people). Along that line, if I'm on the highway, or even local multi-lane roads, I always surrender the left lane (if possible) to an officer coming up from behind. Technically that is their lane anyway.

How is the left lane their lane??? I am sick and tired of all these cops who think that they are above the law and blow by traffic when they are not responding to a call. And then they like to intimidate other motorists by riding their asses. Also, from what I've seen more often than not cops do not use turn signals when changing lanes. I have no idea why they feel that they have the right to violate the very laws that they are supposed to be enforcing. Is it just me, or does anyone else hate cops?

 

[paul34]

How is the left lane their lane??? I am sick and tired of all these cops who think that they are above the law and blow by traffic when they are not responding to a call. And then they like to intimidate other motorists by riding their asses. Also, from what I've seen more often than not cops do not use turn signals when changing lanes. I have no idea why they feel that they have the right to violate the very laws that they are supposed to be enforcing. Is it just me, or does anyone else hate cops?

Well I think its just common courtesy to let emergency vehicles pass (thus, they'd have to pass on the left side since that is the correct way, so you'd have to move over).



Besides, I don't know how it is in other states, but at least in Florida, the law states that you can't hold up traffic in the left lane. If you're going slower you need to move right. There's no mention of speed limits. That's the way it should be... just go to Germany and see how common sense makes for very enjoyable and safe drives on the autobahn at speeds of 180mph



That would be impossible here because people don't have common sense and don't respect each other. Everyone thinks the entire road belongs to them and everyone should accommodate them - just look at the sheer number of people who fail to do simple, courteous things like take a signal to let me know they're about to enter my lane, or let me in when I use my signal.



Courtesy and common sense is obviously not the American way.

 

[clnfrk]

Well I think its just common courtesy to let emergency vehicles pass (thus, they'd have to pass on the left side since that is the correct way, so you'd have to move over).



Besides, I don't know how it is in other states, but at least in Florida, the law states that you can't hold up traffic in the left lane. If you're going slower you need to move right. There's no mention of speed limits. That's the way it should be... just go to Germany and see how common sense makes for very enjoyable and safe drives on the autobahn at speeds of 180mph



That would be impossible here because people don't have common sense and don't respect each other. Everyone thinks the entire road belongs to them and everyone should accommodate them - just look at the sheer number of people who fail to do simple, courteous things like take a signal to let me know they're about to enter my lane, or let me in when I use my signal.



Courtesy and common sense is obviously not the American way.

Dont' get me wrong... I am a firm believer in surrendering the left lane for faster moving traffic. Nothing annoys me more on the highway when slower moving vehicles are camping out in the left lane, especially on roads like I4 where outside of the city there are only 2 lanes in each direction. Many people just don't understand the concept that the left lane is for passing.



I was just trying to make a point that when police officers are not responding to a call they should be expected to abide by all traffic laws even more so than the general public. They should be setting the example not contradicting their own duties of enforcing the laws of the road.

 

[paul34]

ahh yes. I totally agree. It irks me when I see a cop blow by at probably 90 on the highway while I'm doing 65!



Granted, maybe they're chasing down someone else or something, but most of the time I really doubt that. Too many cops think they are above the law. That is to say, though, I have seen some good cops. One used his signal then proceeded to move in traffic at speed limit. I had no problem with him.

 

[DaGonz]

Dont' get me wrong... I am a firm believer in surrendering the left lane for faster moving traffic. Nothing annoys me more on the highway when slower moving vehicles are camping out in the left lane, especially on roads like I4 where outside of the city there are only 2 lanes in each direction. Many people just don't understand the concept that the left lane is for passing.



I was just trying to make a point that when police officers are not responding to a call they should be expected to abide by all traffic laws even more so than the general public. They should be setting the example not contradicting their own duties of enforcing the laws of the road.

A trooper assigned to highway patrol may have a 50 to 60+ miles of roadway that he/she is responsible for. Many times they run in the "silent mode" to a call because the minute the blue lights/sirens go on, people turn into fracking idiots.



Trust me on this... Running silent sometimes gets us to where we are going faster than it would if we are running code 3 ( lights and siren)

 

[Accumulator]

I am sick and tired of all these cops who think that they are above the law.... I have no idea why they feel that they have the right to violate the very laws that they are supposed to be enforcing. Is it just me, or does anyone else hate cops?

There are bad apples in most any profession, and unfortunately some people are attracted to Law Enforcement for all the wrong reasons. If some LEO is egregiously violating the law, or otherwise being a jerk, I'd report it. Maybe his supervisor is just waiting for one more complaint before coming down on him, maybe his chief has no idea how the public feels about how his people are behaving, maybe the chief doesn't even *know* how they are behaving. Our local PD has gone through a little shaking up recently and some of it was prompted by complaints from the public.



I can honestly say that the vast majority of LEOs I've interacted with have been very professional and most of the ones I've known personally were good people. But yeah, I sure do remember the ones who were jerks.

 

[Scottwax]

How is the left lane their lane??? I am sick and tired of all these cops who think that they are above the law and blow by traffic when they are not responding to a call. And then they like to intimidate other motorists by riding their asses. Also, from what I've seen more often than not cops do not use turn signals when changing lanes. I have no idea why they feel that they have the right to violate the very laws that they are supposed to be enforcing. Is it just me, or does anyone else hate cops?

Conversely, I am sick of people who drive 5-10 mph under the limit if a cop is around, or won't pass a cop car that is going under the speed limit. Just today, I got stuck in a back-up because two clowns, one in the right lane and one in the left were just crawling along in a 45 mph zone because a cop was behind them. :hairpull



No, I don't hate cops. I think the bad ones need to be weeded out, but they are a very small percentage. You probably only notice when a cop doesn't signal but don't notice the other 99 times they do. What catches our eye is something out of the ordinary and a cop following traffic laws is ordinary.