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Speeding Cops

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dancorn

Veteran Expediter
I sent the following email to Ill ST. Police but have not received an answer. Anyone know about the legality of police speeding without lights or siren?

On 9/24/13 around noon I was driving south on I55 north of Springfield and pulled into the fast lane to pass a slow moving truck. I was doing 67 mph in a 65 speed limit. Before I could clear the truck a fast moving SUV pulled within 10 feet of my bumper and stayed the until I pulled back in front of the truck. The driver then accelerated to a speed of approximately 90 to 100 mph and was soon out of sight. The speeding SUV was labeled ISP Criminal Investigation ... There was no lights or siren used.
Is it legal for police to speed without lights or siren?
Thanks ,​
 
Doggie Daddy

Doggie Daddy

Veteran Expediter
Whatever you do, do NOT hold you're breath until you get a reply.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using EO Forums mobile app
 
Turtle

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
The legality of "that which is necessary is legal" applies to cops and civilians, sirens or not. The legality of admitting to the police in writing that you broke the law is just as certain.
 
Ragman

Ragman

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
zorry said:
You were doing 67 in a 65 ?
They've probably already issued a warrant. ;)
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SpeedyGonzales.jpg
 
Turtle

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
dancorn said:
Yes but Is it legal for police to speed without lights or siren?
Click to expand...

Yes. Like I said, that which is necessary is legal. Speed limits and other traffic laws on motor vehicles do not apply to any vehicle on an occasion when it is being used for fire, ambulance, police or other emergency purposes, if the observance of that law would be likely to hinder the use of the vehicle for the purpose for which it is being used on that occasion.

Police vehicles, whether marked or unmarked, are exempt from virtually all road traffic laws as long as to break them is operationally necessary. The use of lights and sirens are to aid the emergency vehicle in doing its job, and to increase safety, but it is not a requirement.

What that means is dependent on the circumstances and in each case that a police driver breaches a traffic law he or she may have to justify doing so, especially if there has been an accident. They can't legally speed or use their lights unless it is necessary, but they aren't required to speed or use their lights, either.
 
cheri1122

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
I had a nice state trooper blip me with lights & siren [just a quick blip] on a long winding exit from a rest area once - scared the youknowwhat out of me. Then he just went around the truck, and proceeded to enter the interstate like normal, not chasing anyone, in no hurry at all. I thought that an outrageous abuse of discretion, just to get around me.
We know LEO's break the law when they can get away with it, and it do make it hard to respect them.
 
runrunner

runrunner

Veteran Expediter
dancorn said:
I sent the following email to Ill ST. Police but have not received an answer. Anyone know about the legality of police speeding without lights or siren?

On 9/24/13 around noon I was driving south on I55 north of Springfield and pulled into the fast lane to pass a slow moving truck. I was doing 67 mph in a 65 speed limit. Before I could clear the truck a fast moving SUV pulled within 10 feet of my bumper and stayed the until I pulled back in front of the truck. The driver then accelerated to a speed of approximately 90 to 100 mph and was soon out of sight. The speeding SUV was labeled ISP Criminal Investigation ... There was no lights or siren used.
Is it legal for police to speed without lights or siren?
Thanks ,​
Click to expand...

A while back in PA, there was an lot of complaints about speeding State Troopers on the Interstates, The Commander issued a statement that he would advise Troopers not to exceed 80 MPH unless it was an emergency.
 
G

geo

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
Retired Expediter
US Navy
60 min's did a program on that and had a radar gun to show , troop commander for area in new york state
they wanted to arrest them for having radar gun but they were being watch by a judge
and judge call trooper commander on carpet about it
 
cheri1122

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
zorry said:
Re read the OP. Around noon ?
He was probably late for a lunch date.
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I recently saw a vid where the police car sped with lights & siren to Dunkin Donuts [probably in NJ, eh?] and the LEO was in & out of the place with coffee & donuts in like 5 minutes. Was that an emergency?!
Overheard at a traffic stop: Cop: "Your eyes look red - have you been drinking?"
Driver: "Your eyes look glazed - eating donuts?" :p
 
iceroadtrucker

iceroadtrucker

Veteran Expediter
Driver
turtle said:
the legality of "that which is necessary is legal" applies to cops and civilians, sirens or not. The legality of admitting to the police in writing that you broke the law is just as certain.
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for mr turtle its called code 1 no lights no siren. Move your but boy alot of times pending on what is going on many times they respond
code 1 NO LIGHT NO SIREN
code 2 lights no siren
code 3 lights and siren
1019 IS RETURN TO BASE
have a nice day
latter DUDE
NINJI TURTLES LOVE PIZZA SO IM TOLD.
 
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B

Billybulldog

Rookie Expediter
I was once driving to visit my girlfriend in Augusta, GA.

I was on 75 near Jellico. This car flies up on my *** and it is about 1am. So I give him a little tap of the breaks, to say, "back off"

I got over and lo and behold it was a Sherif. Lol. He proceeded to hammer down and ignore my "tap"
 
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