# Blue lights, sirens....I dont think it's cops...do I stop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439 "2003-09-13T21:22:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439/21 "2003-09-14T13:03:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chief Crunch \* > \*\*I can’t speak for other states, but in Pennsylvania, or at least the part where I live, a driver is not legally obligated to pull over for a blue light alone. Anything with red in it requires you to pull over. The local EMS and Fire Dept. give the overzealous teens blue lights and they’ve been known to abuse those as well. \*\* In Tennessee (and some other environs) it is illegal to even display a blue light. This because of it’s proximity to law enforcement equipment. Red lights, yellow lights ok. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439/22 "2003-09-14T15:57:26Z")
As a further help, every police cruiser I’ve seen in Michigan has alternating high-beams on the headlights, so they flash back and forth. The other 'Dopers can tell you if this is true in other parts of the country. This is harder to integrate, I would imagine, although one \*sshole had his car done this way that I used to semi-regularly. Hopefully the police caught his butt. Let him pass really easily on the freeway. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439/23 "2003-09-14T16:29:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by An Lú abú \* > **I gotta say \*\* Duckster and Mangeorge** , that as an Irish person, used (well not very used… maybe 4 times in 10 years) to being pulled over by Gardaí who are unarmed, the idea of being pulled over by a youngish cop with a firearm is very unnerving and I just wanna do the right thing, but protect my own ass while doing it. I think you watch too many American cop shows, **An Lú abú**. As I said in my last post, don’t do anything while driving that calls attention to yourself and you will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439/24 "2003-09-14T16:40:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balthisar \* > \*\*As a further help, every police cruiser I’ve seen in Michigan has alternating high-beams on the headlights, so they flash back and forth. > > The other 'Dopers can tell you if this is true in other parts of the country. > > This is harder to integrate, I would imagine, although one \*sshole had his car done this way that I used to semi-regularly. Hopefully the police caught his butt. Let him pass really easily on the freeway. \*\* Every cop car I’ve seen all over the country has had these (wig-wags, I think). Which makes sense, because any jerk can alternate between high and low beam, but to alternate the highs side to side requires modification or device. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Lu\_abu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@An\_Lu\_abu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Lu_abu)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439/25 "2003-09-14T19:09:47Z")
\*\* Chandeleur What color are the lights? Because if they’re red or blue, it’s illegal to have them mounted in your car without permit. At least in Mass., and probably every other state as well. I don’t doubt they can be bought out right, but I’d be willing to bet that there’s some law regarding the sale of vehicle mounted reds and blues without some type of scrutiny. \*\* My lights are orange to the front and rear (mounted in turn signals). Basically, brighter hazard lights. I think they are prohibited for street use hence only are used only for closed road events (road rallies)- which I don’t have time for anymore, hence I re-wired them to the car alarm, which makes for a neat effect. Blue is the only prohibited colour here as it is used by all emergency services. ---
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439/26 "2003-09-14T21:16:50Z")
There was a spate of fake cops, stopping pretty ladies, here in Colorado, a short time ago, in vehicles which did not appear to be police cars and with lights which did not seem to be those a real police care would use. The real cop’s advice: Proceed in a safe manner to a well lighted, populated spot, and pull over (a filling station would be good), and; If you have a cell phone, call 911, and advise the operator that you don’t know whether you are being pulled over by a real cop and they will send a marked car. The police stated that they wouldn’t be upset by this action, and I would assume that other jurisdictions would not mind this either. Bob ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439/27 "2003-09-16T01:51:02Z")
Also, regarding advice given above, if in Texas, do _not_ turn on your hazard lights as it’s illegal to drive with them on. You’re just asking for a ticket beyond whatever the cop is already stopping you for. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Fuji\_Kitakyusho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji_Kitakyusho)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439/28 "2003-09-16T03:36:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balthisar \* > \*\*As a further help, every police cruiser I’ve seen in Michigan has alternating high-beams on the headlights, so they flash back and forth. > > The other 'Dopers can tell you if this is true in other parts of the country. > > This is harder to integrate, I would imagine, although one \*sshole had his car done this way that I used to semi-regularly. Hopefully the police caught his butt. Let him pass really easily on the freeway. \*\* I have one of those alternating headlight flashers, or wig-wags, installed specifically for that purpose. I don’t suspect for a second that it is legal to use, but failing all other attempts at gaining an ignorant driver’s attention, it works pretty well at generating passing opportunities. I don’t use it regularly, nor do I try to impersonate law enforcement with it, but that brings up an interesting story: Late at night (early morning) I once drove past a group of people off one side of the road - did a double take before I realized that it appeared to be an assault in progress. I did a 180, flicked on the flasher and re-approached the scene. The sight of the lights scared everyone off. -Fuji [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blue-lights-sirens-i-dont-think-its-cops-do-i-stop/201439.md?page=1)