Cops being safe drivers?

Question

Iately I've seen a lot of cops doing some unsafe things, as well as downright illegal things. Yesterday I was driving on a 2 lane highway. I was doing 60 in a 65. I had a cop behind me, seemingly just trying to give me a hard time. He was a precinct 5 constable(Harris county, Tx) He was tailgating me and despite the lane beside me being completely unoccupied so he could pass, he stayed behind me for a few miles. Should a car have pulled in front of me from an onramp, he would have definately hit me if I'd slowed down. I finally changed lanes and he left me alone.

I've also seen a lot of cops not using turn signals for turns, not coming to a complete stop for right turn on red, speeding(at least 80 in a 65,) and yesterday I saw a cop speedtrapping people, and in the process he was completely blocking the break in the esplanade that people use for left turns/u turns.

Are cops not held to the same traffic laws citizens are(barring aside emergency or chase situations)

Answer 1

maybe you did something he didnt like and was checking out youre plates



sometimes they just check out plates if they are having a slow day



other times they are probably on thier way to a call, many times they have ''silent" calls where they dont use thier lights and sirens so i doenst tip off the bad guys



plus they may not signal becuase they are typing something into thier computer as they are driving, these are busy guys!



if he's blocking a lane its probably becuase people have been speeding there and there was an accident and he is making people slow down by having to go around him



cops do not have to follow traffic laws when on duty and responding to a call

Answer 2

Cops have legal rights to do what ever they want. How else would they be allowed to speed when needed or go off road or cut through traffic and intersections? Theyd have to get permission to do half the things they do and by then it'd be pointless.



Its like when youre the manager of a restaurant or something.. and you have 'the key' to everything. Only you have it (98% of the time), you can use it however you want regardless of how you let your employees use it, and it doesnt matter because you know the consequences and youre suitable to judge what you want to happen.



Now.. Am I against a cop speeding down a street in a non-emergency situation just to get somewhere faster? Yea. I am. But is it illegal? Nope.



Btw Im going to be a cop. Right now Im a Police Explorer recruit. Its pretty fun!



And if the cops crash or theres an accident, its not like its not going to be paid for.

Answer 3

You should go do a ride along with a police officer. It will give you a little insight as to why we do the things we do. It takes multitasking to a whole new level. There is a lot of stuff going on in a police car, the radio, the computer, trying to drive safe, trying to drive quickly from call to call, keeping an eye out for people breaking the law, your sgt or another officer officer trying to call you on your cell phone. Put yourself in that situation, or at least get a closer look at it. We are not all out just blatantly breaking laws and being jerks because we can, we are doing our jobs.

Answer 4

December 6th-Omaha Ne



We had a snow storm and they we're like alot of accidents and I was hit by 6 cars and the cops did not get there till in 1hr.I was hit in the front than in the back by the rest of my nighmare good thing I had my seat belt and it was a street.So as I was waiting for the COPS I saw a few who slid and crashed into a pole.I guess that made my day.Trying to show of and disrespect nature is not cool even for cops.So since that cop crashed his car in his BIG U turn he had to call back up.It was bad snow storm and I think the cops hide during that frame period and they we're accident's all over the place so I think maybe that is why too.

all the ppl in the accident area where laughin so hard when he (cop) crashed in his U turn.funnist thing ever I can still look back and wish I had a camara for a kodak moment.

I see cops all the time breaking rules but when you disrepect mother nature she has no rules.

the main ppl that crashed into me where 2 teenagers and 3 older ppl and 1 doctor and a 1 nurse..Pretty cool ppl but.bad drivers I told them nice to meet you..see ya in court..I was the 3rd car in that lane so I was in the middle..I got hit in front than back and hit more from the other cars ..I was like OMG OMG..I'm late to work LOL..and Now I have to miss time so I can heal.I hurt my neck and chest area when the air bag blew up..and cops we're late..



I bet they were eating donuts LOL



peace and don't speed in snow ppl please..

Answer 5

You need to worry about your own driving instead of what everyone around you is doing. Read the Texas traffic code, patrol vehicles are exempt from traffic laws. Look at any license plate on any emergency vehicle and you will see the words exempt.

Answer 6

Yes they are. If this seems to be a persistent problem in your area contact the chief of police for that department, and document your information.



Police Officers are people too, and aren't perfect; however all departments have officers that don't follow all the traffic laws. As an example, do you follow all the traffic rules all the time?



In their defense, sometimes police officers respond to calls without using their lights and sirens so they can and will speed to get to a call quickly. It's not always fair, but maybe you talking to the chief or writing an editorial will change this.

Answer 7

You are probably the same person who would call the police and then complain because it took them a few minutes to get to your place!

Answer 8

No, they're special and above the law. Same thing happens here in Birmingham, AL. I complain but it does no good. All I get is an empty apology from supervisors that could care less.



Phurface