Cop Tailgating
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,753
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From: Phenix City, AL
130 watt lights on the rear of your ride do wonders for tailgaters. 
Not necessarily good to do to a cop though.
Don't forget, if a cop is going slow, all the traffic goes slow. Nobody will pass him. At least if he's going faster, you can maintain some sort of decent speed. But if they did exactly the speed limit, we'd get no where.
Remember, don't preach if you're not holy.
Not necessarily good to do to a cop though.
Don't forget, if a cop is going slow, all the traffic goes slow. Nobody will pass him. At least if he's going faster, you can maintain some sort of decent speed. But if they did exactly the speed limit, we'd get no where.
Remember, don't preach if you're not holy.
Last edited by BFR250SD; Jan 21, 2005 at 06:07 PM.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Hubert North Carolina
Originally Posted by War_is_my_Shepherd
Don't drive in the left hand lane. If you were "gettin prepared for the left turn" you had your left hand turn signal on, right? Sure. If you'd had your signal on he probably wouldn't have come up on you.
Dan
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
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I'll assume this thread is dealing mostly with a two or more laned highway (in one direction). There are a lot of times when a quick response to a location is necessary but doesn't warrant lights and siren. Granted this is in violation of traffic laws but usually done. For example a crash with injuries or blocking the roadway or a domestic assault in which one person has left the scene. I'm sure if you were in the wreck or your mother or sister were in the assault you would want the cops there sooner than later.
When most people see a cop car in the rear view right up on their bumper (no lights/siren) they pull over to the right. When most people see a cop right up on their bumper (lights and siren) they panic and do just about anything. Dive into the center median, cut into the right lane without looking, and worst of all stop (very quickly) in the lane. So at this point which one seems safer??
I'm not saying this is the reason on every occasion but probably occurs more than you would think.
When most people see a cop car in the rear view right up on their bumper (no lights/siren) they pull over to the right. When most people see a cop right up on their bumper (lights and siren) they panic and do just about anything. Dive into the center median, cut into the right lane without looking, and worst of all stop (very quickly) in the lane. So at this point which one seems safer??
I'm not saying this is the reason on every occasion but probably occurs more than you would think.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Hubert North Carolina
Originally Posted by 250FordTruck
I'll assume this thread is dealing mostly with a two or more laned highway (in one direction). There are a lot of times when a quick response to a location is necessary but doesn't warrant lights and siren. Granted this is in violation of traffic laws but usually done. For example a crash with injuries or blocking the roadway or a domestic assault in which one person has left the scene. I'm sure if you were in the wreck or your mother or sister were in the assault you would want the cops there sooner than later.
When most people see a cop car in the rear view right up on their bumper (no lights/siren) they pull over to the right. When most people see a cop right up on their bumper (lights and siren) they panic and do just about anything. Dive into the center median, cut into the right lane without looking, and worst of all stop (very quickly) in the lane. So at this point which one seems safer??
I'm not saying this is the reason on every occasion but probably occurs more than you would think.
When most people see a cop car in the rear view right up on their bumper (no lights/siren) they pull over to the right. When most people see a cop right up on their bumper (lights and siren) they panic and do just about anything. Dive into the center median, cut into the right lane without looking, and worst of all stop (very quickly) in the lane. So at this point which one seems safer??
I'm not saying this is the reason on every occasion but probably occurs more than you would think.
Dan
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,392
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From: Greenvile, SC
Come down to Greenville, SC the county officers here are pretty laidback as far as knowing when to (and when not to) push the envelope of speeding for no reason. On duty or not you can usually pass one up drivin in the slow lane. Usually thier on their MDTs (Mobile Data Terminals)or jus taking thier time even the K-9 officer with the 'Burban with the bored over 454 he's even taking his time!
Buttttt when somthin happens....you can bet they'll be on that gas giving thier Crown Vics he*@!!
Try going on a "ride-along" if your particular Agencies use them. It allows you to see the other side of the Agency ....they may be able to answer your interesting questions without having to ask "while" being in your own car.
Buttttt when somthin happens....you can bet they'll be on that gas giving thier Crown Vics he*@!!
Try going on a "ride-along" if your particular Agencies use them. It allows you to see the other side of the Agency ....they may be able to answer your interesting questions without having to ask "while" being in your own car.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,568
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From: Middleton, ID
Yes, 130W lights do wonders, like you said, except when it's a t-gating cop friend did it and recieved a wreckless endangerment (or something), the cop said it was because it blinded him and could caused a wreck....
I myself have wondered what a cop would do if I were to brake check him/her; but, I'm not that brave
What gets me is when they'll do it and as soon as you get into town they'll turn into the gas station on main street that kind of driving sometimes gets me,
Sometimes because I'll do the same only if the driver in front is driving in the range of 10-15 under, either they move or they accelerate.
I myself have wondered what a cop would do if I were to brake check him/her; but, I'm not that brave
What gets me is when they'll do it and as soon as you get into town they'll turn into the gas station on main street that kind of driving sometimes gets me,
Sometimes because I'll do the same only if the driver in front is driving in the range of 10-15 under, either they move or they accelerate.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,977
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From: South Texas
I've been tailgated by a trooper at night and the trooped actually had all his lights off (NO HEADLIGHTS!!). I looked in the rearview and thought I saw something and when I crossed some light, there he was just following me in the dark. Luckily, some idiot when flying by in the opposite direction and the trooper turned on his lights and siren and took off after him. That's the wierdest one that's happened to me.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Connecticut
Regarding law enforcement speeding in their vehicles, as long as they aren't driving recklessly, it's my opinion that they should be given the benefit of the doubt. They are, after all, emergency personnel, and not every emergency warrants blazing lights and wailing sirens.
That being said, I think Dan's problem is a little different than that. His beef is with the fact that he feels he was being harrassed by the state trooper. An it certainly appears (to me anyway) that the trooper went out of his way to follow Dan very closely, in a manner that was meant to intimidate. That trooper wanted Dan to know that he was there, too. Doesn't seem a whole lot different than someone getting in your face, if you ask me.
That being said, I think Dan's problem is a little different than that. His beef is with the fact that he feels he was being harrassed by the state trooper. An it certainly appears (to me anyway) that the trooper went out of his way to follow Dan very closely, in a manner that was meant to intimidate. That trooper wanted Dan to know that he was there, too. Doesn't seem a whole lot different than someone getting in your face, if you ask me.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Hubert North Carolina
Originally Posted by Rockledge
Regarding law enforcement speeding in their vehicles, as long as they aren't driving recklessly, it's my opinion that they should be given the benefit of the doubt. They are, after all, emergency personnel, and not every emergency warrants blazing lights and wailing sirens.
That being said, I think Dan's problem is a little different than that. His beef is with the fact that he feels he was being harrassed by the state trooper. An it certainly appears (to me anyway) that the trooper went out of his way to follow Dan very closely, in a manner that was meant to intimidate. That trooper wanted Dan to know that he was there, too. Doesn't seem a whole lot different than someone getting in your face, if you ask me.
That being said, I think Dan's problem is a little different than that. His beef is with the fact that he feels he was being harrassed by the state trooper. An it certainly appears (to me anyway) that the trooper went out of his way to follow Dan very closely, in a manner that was meant to intimidate. That trooper wanted Dan to know that he was there, too. Doesn't seem a whole lot different than someone getting in your face, if you ask me.
Dan
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,568
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From: Middleton, ID
Hey, I agree that the trooper was in the wrong but on average IF you are to contact the head of the dept. IF he then decides to take care of it (which doesn't happen usually) that'll could **** off the officer (now this is going to sound stereotypical) I'd feel that they, the officer, would try to do something about it, maybe I'm parinoid, I dunno..
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Everett, Wa
I think every state may be different but in my state you are suppose to stay right except to pass, this includes multi lane highways. Nothing makes me madder than to have someone in the fast lane who is holding up traffic behind them. I don't care what speed they are running if the right is open get over and stay there until you need to pass.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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Originally Posted by triplethreat
Fair enough that is a good explanation that makes sense although i do believe it happens quite frequently for reasons other than that. It just seems like he could have turned his blue lights or siren on momentaraly to get by.
Dan
Dan
If you would like to know more, apply for a ride-a-long sometime. I'm sure that the Trooper you ride with will explain a lot of things that have been discussed here in more detail.
Sure, they should be held to a higher standard. But think of this. Does anybody get upset if a mechanic uses some air at work? A customer might have to pay to use the air hose. Think of it as an employee discount. Sometimes police officers crash, sometimes people get hurt. That's the chances you take when you drive as much as they do, at the speeds that they drive at. It's not right, but it's kinda how things are done.
Senior User
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I can deal with most of the stuff that cops get away with. Speeding, using lights and sirens at a red light to cut off traffic in an intersection ( the boys are waiting on him at the doughnut shop), shining lights, etc. Let's call them job perks. But tailgating is total BS. How bad could his eyes possibly be? Even if he did need to get up close (within a foot of you)for a minute - how long does it take to call in a tag number???
If he's following that closely for an extended period of time - he has no idea whats coming up on the road ahead. What if you did'int even notice him? What if something happened and you needed to make an emergency stop? Could even be a deer crossing the highway. In a worst case scenario - he's a dead man-the front end of a police cruiser(tough though they are) is no match for the back end of a pickup truck. And in this case he's in a Camaro - not too good for him. In a best case scenario both of you are involved in an avoidable accident - and somehow I get the feeling they'd find a way to make it your fault.
Tailgating like you described is not acceptable - badge or no badge.
If he's following that closely for an extended period of time - he has no idea whats coming up on the road ahead. What if you did'int even notice him? What if something happened and you needed to make an emergency stop? Could even be a deer crossing the highway. In a worst case scenario - he's a dead man-the front end of a police cruiser(tough though they are) is no match for the back end of a pickup truck. And in this case he's in a Camaro - not too good for him. In a best case scenario both of you are involved in an avoidable accident - and somehow I get the feeling they'd find a way to make it your fault.
Tailgating like you described is not acceptable - badge or no badge.