# Avoid a traffic ticket by ignoring the police and pulling into your garage?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 31, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432 "2008-10-31T15:13:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![The\_Unkempt\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Unkempt\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Unkempt_One)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/1 "2008-10-31T15:13:58Z")

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A coworker of mine says that if a police officer is trying to pull you over, and you are in your own neighborhood, that you can simply drive into your garage and go into your house to avoid the ticket. His reasoning is that the police officer would need a search warrant to enter your house, so they will not be able to come after you. He also says that they won’t simply mail the ticket to you because it won’t be valid if you haven’t signed it. Supposedly doing this will allow you to avoid speeding tickets, DUIs, and other traffic offenses.

He went on to say that he had used this technique at least once when the police were trying to pull him over. He just ignored the police car with flashing lights and sirens, pulled into his garage, and shut the door.

Seems very dubious to me, as I can’t see the police giving up so easily after you have just ignored thier efforts to pull you over. However, I really don’t know how far the police will go once you enter your home.

So, what would happen in a situation like this?

If it matters, the coworker lives in Missouri.

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### Author: ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/2 "2008-10-31T15:17:23Z")

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Police don’t need a search warrant to enter your house when they’re in “hot pursuit” of a suspect.

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### Author: ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/3 "2008-10-31T15:20:34Z")

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I’m no cop, but I would say they cop would likely determine the suspect was evading arrest and the cop would go into “hot pursuit” mode, warrant be damned.

ETA: I need to type faster 🙂

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### Author: ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/4 "2008-10-31T15:21:53Z")

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I can’t imagine the circumstances I’d be operating under where ignoring a cop car is a good idea. Bleeding to death? They have first aid kits and radios. Fleeing a crime? Yeah, that’s gonna help. Late for a raid? I think I’d rather miss the first couple bosses.

This sounds like the same level of reasoning that says you don’t actually have to pay income taxes.

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### Author: ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/5 "2008-10-31T15:24:10Z")

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> [@The\_Unkempt\_One](#):
>
> A coworker of mine says that if a police officer is trying to pull you over, and you are in your own neighborhood, that you can simply drive into your garage and go into your house to avoid the ticket.

Don’t rely on the halffast advice of DIY lawyers!

> [@](#):
>
> So, what would happen in a situation like this?

You might be subjected to additional charges.  
So stop your car and face the music!

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### Author: ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/6 "2008-10-31T15:25:48Z")

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This is interesting. I’m curious as to whether this is a policy due to law or whether the cop was following local or state guidelines or whether he personally didn’t want to hassle with the added effort (and possible personal risk) of entering forcefully.

Even though I live in MO I’ll probably stop and take the ticket next time.

Maybe other dopers have actually tried this.

I assume that your friend just ignored the knock on the door. Or did the cop not make an effort to knock?

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### Author: ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/7 "2008-10-31T15:28:11Z")

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Failing to stop when an officer is pulling you over is a separate and more serious offense. As others have said, garage or no, they’ll probably come after you, and might wind up arrested instead of ticketed. [cites to follow]

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### Author: ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/8 "2008-10-31T15:32:55Z")

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You don’t need to sign a ticket for it to be valid in most jurisdictions, anyway. The logical implication if you could is that you could just refuse to sign, and thus avoid getting a citation.

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### Author: ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/9 "2008-10-31T15:35:06Z")

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> [@The\_Unkempt\_One](#):
>
> He went on to say that he had used this technique at least once when the police were trying to pull him over. He just ignored the police car with flashing lights and sirens, pulled into his garage, and shut the door.

Any chance that your buddy was mistaken and the lights-and-sirens police car was actually not going for him, but for someone else nearby?

Other than that, I can see a non-zero chance that a cop may say “screw it” and let a perp go for something super-minor (failing to signal a turn, rolling stop on a deserted side street, etc.). But for major speeding, reckless driving, DUI, etc? Highly doubtful. I guess anyone can get lucky once … but I certainly wouldn’t rely on that as a repeatable technique.

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### Author: ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/10 "2008-10-31T15:38:38Z")

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It sounds like your coworker will be escalating a speeding ticket into multiple offenses.

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### Author: ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/11 "2008-10-31T15:41:44Z")

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I’m thinking a 100 dollar ticket would be much cheaper than any other realistic possibility for evading.

Oh, and that thing about signing a ticket is not true. Case in point - a red light traffic camera ticket. The only thing you need to sign is the check to pay the fine.

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### Author: ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/12 "2008-10-31T15:43:12Z")

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In Michigan, fleeing and eluding a police officer is a felony:

> [@](#):
>
> 750.479a Failure to obey direction of police or conservation officer to stop motor vehicle; applicability of subsection (1); fleeing and eluding as felony; penalty; suspension of license; revocation; conviction and sentence under other provision; “serious impairment of a body function” defined.
> 
> Sec. 479a.
> 
> (1) A driver of a motor vehicle who is given by hand, voice, emergency light, or siren a visual or audible signal by a police or conservation officer, acting in the lawful performance of his or her duty, directing the driver to bring his or her motor vehicle to a stop shall not willfully fail to obey that direction by increasing the speed of the vehicle, extinguishing the lights of the vehicle, or otherwise attempting to flee or elude the police or conservation officer. This subsection does not apply unless the police or conservation officer giving the signal is in uniform and the officer’s vehicle is identified as an official police or department of natural resources vehicle.
> 
> (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), (4), or (5), an individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 2 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both.
> 
> (3) Except as provided in subsection (4) or (5), an individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of third-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both, if 1 or more of the following circumstances apply:
> 
> (a) The violation results in a collision or accident.
> 
> (b) A portion of the violation occurred in an area where the speed limit is 35 miles an hour or less, whether that speed limit is posted or imposed as a matter of law.
> 
> (c) The individual has a prior conviction for fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, attempted fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, or fleeing and eluding under a current or former law of this state prohibiting substantially similar conduct.
> 
> (4) Except as provided in subsection (5), an individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of second-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both, if 1 or more of the following circumstances apply:
> 
> (a) The violation results in serious impairment of a body function of an individual.
> 
> (b) The individual has 1 or more prior convictions for first-, second-, or third-degree fleeing and eluding, attempted first-, second-, or third-degree fleeing and eluding, or fleeing and eluding under a current or former law of this state prohibiting substantially similar conduct.
> 
> (c) The individual has any combination of 2 or more prior convictions for fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, attempted fourth-degree fleeing and eluding, or fleeing and eluding under a current or former law of this state prohibiting substantially similar conduct.
> 
> (5) If the violation results in the death of another individual, an individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of first-degree fleeing and eluding, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine of not more than $15,000.00, or both.
> 
> (6) Upon a conviction for a violation or attempted violation under subsection (2) or (3), the secretary of state shall suspend the individual’s operator’s or chauffeur’s license as provided in section 319 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.319.
> 
> (7) Upon a conviction for a violation or attempted violation under subsection (4) or (5), the secretary of state shall revoke the individual’s operator’s or chauffeur’s license as provided in section 303 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.303.
> 
> (8) Except as otherwise provided, a conviction under this section does not prohibit a conviction and sentence under any other applicable provision for conduct arising out of the same transaction. A conviction under subsection (2), (3), (4), or (5) prohibits a conviction under section 602a of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.602a, for conduct arising out of the same transaction.
> 
> (9) As used in this section, “serious impairment of a body function” means that term as defined in section 58c of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.58c.

[http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(2ectwbjco5rfsy2uxpdubg45)](http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(2ectwbjco5rfsy2uxpdubg45)))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-750-479a

Apparently it’s a misdemeanor in MO:

Signal or direction of sheriff or deputy sheriff, duty to stop, motor vehicle operators and riders of animals–violation, penalty.

> [@](#):
>
> 575.145. It shall be the duty of the operator or driver of any vehicle or the rider of any animal traveling on the highways of this state to stop on signal of any sheriff or deputy sheriff and to obey any other reasonable signal or direction of such sheriff or deputy sheriff given in directing the movement of traffic on the highways. Any person who willfully fails or refuses to obey such signals or directions or who willfully resists or opposes a sheriff or deputy sheriff in the proper discharge of his or her duties shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be punished as provided by law for such offenses.

[http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5750000145.HTM](http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5750000145.HTM)

> [@](#):
>
> Resisting or interfering with arrest–penalty.
> 
> 575.150. 1. A person commits the crime of resisting or interfering with arrest, detention, or stop if, knowing that a law enforcement officer is making an arrest, or attempting to lawfully detain or stop an individual or vehicle, or the person reasonably should know that a law enforcement officer is making an arrest or attempting to lawfully detain or lawfully stop an individual or vehicle, for the purpose of preventing the officer from effecting the arrest, stop or detention, the person:
> 
> (1) Resists the arrest, stop or detention of such person by using or threatening the use of violence or physical force or by fleeing from such officer; or
> 
> (2) Interferes with the arrest, stop or detention of another person by using or threatening the use of violence, physical force or physical interference.
> 
> 1. This section applies to arrests, stops or detentions with or without warrants and to arrests, stops or detentions for any crime, infraction or ordinance violation.
> 
> 2. A person is presumed to be fleeing a vehicle stop if that person continues to operate a motor vehicle after that person has seen or should have seen clearly visible emergency lights or has heard or should have heard an audible signal emanating from the law enforcement vehicle pursuing that person.
> 
> 3. It is no defense to a prosecution pursuant to subsection 1 of this section that the law enforcement officer was acting unlawfully in making the arrest. However, nothing in this section shall be construed to bar civil suits for unlawful arrest.
> 
> 4. Resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony is a class D felony. Resisting an arrest, detention or stop by fleeing in such a manner that the person fleeing creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to any person is a class D felony; otherwise, resisting or interfering with an arrest, detention or stop in violation of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection 1 of this section is a class A misdemeanor.

[http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5750000150.HTM](http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5750000150.HTM)

Plenty of time to issue the ticket once you are chin down on the garage floor.

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### Author: ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/13 "2008-10-31T15:50:39Z")

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> [@Morgenstern](#):
>
> Oh, and that thing about signing a ticket is not true. Case in point - a red light traffic camera ticket. The only thing you need to sign is the check to pay the fine.

In some jurisdictions, drivers are “asked” to sign traffic tickets. Of course, they are free to refuse. And the officer is free to arrest them instead. 😃

> **[What happens if you refuse to sign a traffic ticket? (2026 Driver Rights) |...](https://www.freeadvice.com/legal/what-could-happen-if-a-police-officer-wanted-me-to-sign-a-traffic-ticket-and-i-refused/)**
>
> What happens if you refuse to sign a traffic ticket is up to the officer, but it could result in an arrest. Ticket auto insurance starts at $105/mo. Read more.

[http://somd.com/news/headlines/2006/3165.shtml](http://somd.com/news/headlines/2006/3165.shtml)

> [@](#):
>
> UHP spokesman Cameron Roden said if a driver refuses to sign a speeding ticket, the officer who pulled that person over has several options.
> 
> * * *
> 
> At that point, the arresting officer has the option of taking the driver into custody and to a hearing before the local magistrate, Roden said.
> 
> Salt Lake civil rights attorney Brian Barnard agreed police do have the right to arrest a driver who does not sign a speeding ticket.
> 
> Refusing to sign a ticket is not a crime under Utah state law. Signing a citation but then failing to show up in court, however, is a class B misdemeanor.
> 
> Another option if a driver refuses to sign a ticket is for the officer to “put it in the car in a professional manner and leave it at that,” Roden said.
> 
> The action an officer takes against drivers refusing to sign speeding tickets is different in every department. In Salt Lake County and some of the state’s bigger cities, taking a person into custody for refusing to sign a ticket may not be an option because of jail overcrowding issues, Roden said. Most departments also leave it to the discretion of the arresting officer to evaluate all the circumstances of any given situation.

[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695230005,00.html](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695230005,00.html)

> [@](#):
>
> D. Minor Misdemeanor Citations
> 
> 1. A police officer must issue a citation to appear in court rather than physically arrest an individual for any violation which is a minor misdemeanor, whether it be a state statute or city ordinance, regardless of the violator’s place of residence, unless one of the following applies:  
> a. The offender requires medical care or is unable to provide for his safety.  
> b. The offender cannot or does not offer satisfactory proof of identity, except pedestrian violations (see Procedure 12.220).  
> **c. The offender refuses to sign the citation.**
> 2. An officer may not make a physical arrest on traffic or criminal minor misdemeanors except as outlined above.

[http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/downloads/police\_pdf8501.pdf](http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/police/downloads/police_pdf8501.pdf) (Emphasis added.)

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### Author: ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/14 "2008-10-31T15:53:45Z")

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I suspect that this would turn into a good SWAT team training exercise.

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### Author: ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/15 "2008-10-31T16:07:04Z")

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This was a common urban legend I heard growing up, and that’s exactly what it is: urban legend. Somebody tried this here several years ago, they were close to their home so they made a break for it. As they pulled into their garage, the trooper pulled in behind them to block the door and drew down on him. The potential ticket avoider was flabbergasted, as he thought if you made it home they had to leave you alone and you got out of the ticket. No, what you get is a ticket and arrested on a charge of felony evasion in a motor vehicle.

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### Author: ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/16 "2008-10-31T16:09:16Z")

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All those reality shows that show chase scenes. You know how at some point the perp’s car always runs out of gas/gets a flat tire/runs into a wall or something. Then the perp jumps out and runs through back yards, parking lots, etc. until he trips or the cop overtakes him.

Have you ever seen the cops break off the chase because the perp has run on to private property and, oh well, that might be his own home so we can’t go there?

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### Author: ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/17 "2008-10-31T16:11:00Z")

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I’ve located an unpublished decision from Texas that indicates that you won’t get away with it. The facts from the decision:

> [@](#):
>
> Coggin was convicted of evading arrest after he fled from a Lockhart Police officer in his car. At approximately 2:00 a.m. on March 6, 2002, Lockhart Police Officer Richard Torres passed Coggin’s white Chevy Caprice traveling in the opposite direction on a residential street. Torres noticed that the car had a spotlight that was shining on certain houses. He found this suspicious and turned around in order to stop Coggin’s car. Torres testified that, after he turned around, he could not immediately see the car. When he was able to see brake lights in the distance, Torres activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued the car at a high rate of speed. He chased the car for a little over one minute. By the time Torres was able to catch up, the car had pulled into the garage of a nearby house and the garage door was closing. Torres ran to the garage but was unable to reach it before it closed. He then went to the front door of the house and began knocking. A woman carrying a baby unlocked the door, and Torres pushed it open with gun drawn. Seeing Coggin inside, Torres demanded he come out. Within seconds, another officer arrived and Torres entered the house, tackled Coggin, and placed him under arrest.

Note that the original behavior that prompted the officer to follow him was not a criminal offense, but merely suspicious behavior. The defendant then did commit an articulable offense under the law, driving at night with his lights off. The officer testified that the defendant would have seen the officer’s emergency lights and heard his siren when the chase then ensued. The jury decided that that was sufficient to support a charge of evading arrest/detention with a motor vehicle, a state jail felony (sentence range from 6 months to two years in state jail). He was convicted, and the sentence was upheld on appeal.

But, there’s one other thing I’m still wondering about: there are two non-arrestable motor vehicle offenses in Texas, those being speeding and open container (see [Texas Transportation Code section 543.004](http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/TN/content/htm/tn.007.00.000543.00.htm)). That means that, for those offenses, the officer can issue a citation but can’t arrest you. So, if all he has is a speeding charge, for which arrest is not permitted, and he can’t say for sure if you saw his lights or not, I’m not sure if the “hot pursuit” doctrine would apply and allow him to enter your house or not. If the chase takes long enough for you to see his takedown lights, you’re toast; from that point on, it’s evading, and hot pursuit would apply. But I’m not certain how it would work in a situation where the officer is not permitted by law to effect an arrest. My gut says that the officer cannot enter in that situation, but again, I’m not sure.

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### Author: ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/18 "2008-10-31T16:24:55Z")

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> [@Max\_Torque](#):
>
> But, there’s one other thing I’m still wondering about: there are two non-arrestable motor vehicle offenses in Texas, those being speeding and open container (see [Texas Transportation Code section 543.004](http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/docs/TN/content/htm/tn.007.00.000543.00.htm)). That means that, for those offenses, the officer can issue a citation but can’t arrest you. So, if all he has is a speeding charge, for which arrest is not permitted, and he can’t say for sure if you saw his lights or not, I’m not sure if the “hot pursuit” doctrine would apply and allow him to enter your house or not. If the chase takes long enough for you to see his takedown lights, you’re toast; from that point on, it’s evading, and hot pursuit would apply. But I’m not certain how it would work in a situation where the officer is not permitted by law to effect an arrest. My gut says that the officer cannot enter in that situation, but again, I’m not sure.

That’s easy enough to fix: “I also observed that the driver was not wearing his seat belt.” 😃

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### Author: ![The\_Unkempt\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b782af/32.png) [@The\_Unkempt\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Unkempt_One)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/19 "2008-10-31T16:32:21Z")

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In reading the Missouri law that is found here:

[http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5750000150.HTM](http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C500-599/5750000150.HTM)

it seems that the resisting and evading is only a misdemeanor.

> [@](#):
>
> 1. Resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony is a class D felony. Resisting an arrest, detention or stop by fleeing in such a manner that the person fleeing creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to any person is a class D felony; otherwise, resisting or interfering with an arrest, detention or stop in violation of subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection 1 of this section is a class A misdemeanor.

Will a police officer still pursue someone into their home if the traffic offense was no more than a misdemeanor, and evading and resisting was only a misdemeanor as well?

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### Author: ![clarkstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@clarkstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clarkstar)
#### Post date: [October 31, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/avoid-a-traffic-ticket-by-ignoring-the-police-and-pulling-into-your-garage/470432/20 "2008-10-31T16:56:32Z")

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your coworker is a damn liar

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