They are supposed to drive a little faster than traffic to keep from having a buildup or traffic jam behind them.

 

He can exceed the speed limit in order to gain evidence of a speeding violation with out activating his lights and siren.

 

That's funny, in Illinois we have to obey all traffic laws even if running lights and sirens. We are taught that the lights and sirens are just a way of requesting others to give us the right of way. We still are required to obey speed limits, stop signs etc.
I don't know of any officer that would write a ticket unless there was an accident but that doesn't make it legal.

 

I rode through there on Friday and Sunday. Traffic sucked both days. There was a young lady speeding and going between lanes. I thought shew was going to cause an accident.

 

I'm not sure about PA, either, but in Idaho it's only necesssary for the officer to use lights and/or siren when necessary to warn traffic. And I agree that pulling in behind him would have put you at risk!

49-623.Authorized emergency or police vehicles. (1) The driver of an authorized emergency or police vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this section, but subject to the conditions stated.
(2) The driver of an authorized emergency or police vehicle may:
(a) Park or stand, irrespective of the parking or standing provisions of this title;
(b) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
(c) Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he does not endanger life or property;
(d) Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning in specified directions.
(3) The exemptions granted to an authorized emergency or police vehicle shall apply when necessary to warn and to make use of an audible signal having a decibel rating of at least one hundred (100) at a distance of ten (10) feet and/or is displaying a flashing light visible in a 360 degree arc at a distance of one thousand (1,000) feet under normal atmospheric conditions.
(4) The foregoing provisions shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency or police vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor shall these provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others.

 

While that's a great concept for training, that is not what the law says. Emergency vehicles in Illinois may break certain traffic laws, if done safely.




Sec. 11-205. Public officers and employees to obey Act-Exceptions.
(a) The provisions of this Chapter applicable to the drivers of vehicles upon the highways shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned or operated by the United States, this State or any county, city, town, district or any other political subdivision of the State, except as provided in this Section and subject to such specific exceptions as set forth in this Chapter with reference to authorized emergency vehicles.
(b) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when in the pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law or when responding to but not upon returning from a fire alarm, may exercise the privileges set forth in this Section, but subject to the conditions herein stated.
(c) The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may:
1. Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of
this Chapter;
2. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign,
but only after slowing down as may be required and necessary for safe operation;
3. Exceed the maximum speed limits so long as he
does not endanger life or property;
4. Disregard regulations governing direction of
movement or turning in specified directions.
(d) The exceptions herein granted to an authorized emergency vehicle, other than a police vehicle, shall apply only when the vehicle is making use of either an audible signal when in motion or visual signals meeting the requirements of Section 12-215 of this Act.
(e) The foregoing provisions do not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty of driving with due regard for the safety of all persons, nor do such provisions protect the driver from the consequences of his reckless disregard for the safety of others.
(f) Unless specifically made applicable, the provisions of this Chapter, except those contained in Section 11-204 and Articles IV and V of this Chapter, shall not apply to persons, motor vehicles and equipment while actually engaged in work upon a highway but shall apply to such persons and vehicles when traveling to or from such work.

 

Theoretically, IMHO, speed laws are a matter of safety, not generation of revenue (yeah right). If that be the case, speeding LEO's endanger the public just as much as a private citizen. In cases of where there is an emergency or in pursuit of a law breaker, LEO's should be allowed to speed, but only after taking every precaution available, including lights and sirens warning other drivers.

It galls my *** to see LEO's cruising down the interstate 15, 20, 25 MPH above the speed limit, knowing that they are heading to the local coffee shop, training school, or to roll call at HQ. Part of what's wrong with this country is that the government (Congress and LEO's) don't think they have to obey the laws it imposes on the rest of us citizenry.

Of course, no LEO is going to ticket another LEO due to professional courtesy unless their behavior is totally outrageous (a local Univiersity LEO was recently arrested for DUI, so it does happen). Sometimes I feel like being Goober chasing Barney down the street yelling "Citizen's arrest! Citizen's arrest!" LOL

 

LOL, yeah right, Ninja pursuit, happens all the time. If the crook HAS broken the law, lights and sirens should be used to alert him to stop. If he hasn't broken the law and the LEO is just watching him until he does, I believe that is called entrapment and is illegal.

Face it, cops speed just because they can. It's one of the job perks.

 

I don't like giving out my Autograph to Leo's....

 

Sorry, but that is not entrapment. In criminal law, entrapment is when a law enforcement agent induces a person to commit an offense which the person would otherwise have been unlikely to commit.