# How could you not tell that car you were tailgating was a cop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 30, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614 "2011-11-30T21:21:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/21 "2011-12-01T17:19:23Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Hijack: > > **Frank** (OP): I see you’ve abandoned St. Louis for Denver. IIRC you never warmed to St. Louis so I’m imagining you got a new gig & are happier for it. What’re you doing in Denver, how long have you been there, what do you think so far, etc? No, I never did warm to St. Louis. I’m unemployed and I figured I might as well job hunt in a place I like. I’ve been back about a month and am loving it! ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/22 "2011-12-01T18:25:52Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > The left lane driver or the cop? > > Seems like there’s plenty of maroonitude to go round there. Well, seeings how the cop was going exactly the speed limit and pulled over a guy who passed him, I’m not sure how the cop was being stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/23 "2011-12-01T18:28:40Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > How could you not tell that car you were tailgating was a cop? “In my defense, I’m really drunk and can barely see the car in front of me at all.” ---
**Author:** ![SeaCanary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SeaCanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaCanary)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/24 "2011-12-01T19:05:33Z")
[HIJACK] > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > … Tailgating and then speeding in front of a _marked_ police car - yup, that’s a special kind of dumb. > > Which, I must say, some of these stories here demonstrate, too. Not only dumb, but dangerous to yourself and others on the roads with you. I’ve concluded that the **incredible** amount of stupidity I’ve read about here at the SDMB and seen on the road can only be dealt with by giving the fools all the roadway they need. If that means drifting back from them for about two tenths of a mile, **then so be it**. The sight of mangled bodies is one memory I REALLY don’t need to have. You want to tailgate me? No problem. Let me get out of your way. You want to drive erratically or super fast. No problem. The road is **yours**. [/HIJACK] ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/25 "2011-12-01T19:14:57Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > The left lane driver or the cop? > > Seems like there’s plenty of maroonitude to go round there. Maybe the driver was pulled over for not using the left lane to only pass, and wouldn’t have been pulled over at 73 mph 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/26 "2011-12-01T20:02:02Z")
My first time in Colorado, driving to a friend’s wedding in a rental car. There’s this tunnel outside Denver followed by a HUGE hill where I noticed the speed limit was 60mph which would be easily too slow if you just coasted down the hill, so I thought “this would be an ideal place for a cop to get people.” As I was braking to slow down a guy went flying past me. I was right. In the SF Bay area, the police will speed ahead of a bunch of cars and weave across every highway lane erratically to get everyone to slow down, either b/c everyone is driving too fast or b/c there’s an accident ahead. (This is the only place I’ve ever seen cops do this, not sure if it’s common elsewhere). One guy got impatient and actually passed the cop while he was performing this maneuver, timing it to roar past in the left lane while the cop was all the way over in the right lane. The cop made a beeline straight for him, pulling him over. You could almost see his anger. A few drivers and I actually looked at each other, laughing, doing the “arms-out-palms-up-gesture,” and shaking our heads. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/27 "2011-12-01T20:13:44Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > Well, seeings how the cop was going exactly the speed limit and pulled over a guy who passed him, I’m not sure how the cop was being stupid. I still don’t see it, as **gurujulp** noted above, most cops don’t want to mess with buggering up traffic. I’ve passed cops in the way you describe, I’ve talked to cops and they’ve told me they told me the see nothing wrong with passing them in such a manner. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/28 "2011-12-01T20:24:52Z")
> [@SeaCanary](#): > > [HIJACK] > I’ve concluded that the **incredible** amount of stupidity I’ve read about here at the SDMB and seen on the road can only be dealt with by giving the fools all the roadway they need. If that means drifting back from them for about two tenths of a mile, **then so be it**. The sight of mangled bodies is one memory I REALLY don’t need to have. > > You want to tailgate me? No problem. Let me get out of your way. You want to drive erratically or super fast. No problem. The road is **yours**. > [/HIJACK] That’s a good attitude. I was able to be a witness to a fender bender one icy day - I was driving down an icy hill as fast as the conditions would allow, and a jackass was tailgating me. I actually said to my passenger, “I’m going to move over and let this guy have his accident somewhere else,” and after passing me, a block later the light changed, he tried to stop and skidded on the ice, and ended up jumping a couple of lanes and hitting some cars. I stopped and gave my name as a witness to the police, and it was eye-opening - even after he had hit other cars, the guy’s defense was, “I wasn’t going over the speed limit.” Hey, dude, I was on the same road and I came to a safe stop at the same light - the evidence says you did SOMETHING wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/29 "2011-12-01T20:50:37Z")
Years ago, I flipped my car on the parkway in Connecticut on black ice. I received a ticket for, I believe, “driving faster than the conditions allowed.” In other words, even if you’re under the limit, but you can’t maintain control of the vehicle, you’re going too fast. ---
**Author:** ![SeaCanary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@SeaCanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaCanary)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/30 "2011-12-01T21:41:35Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > That’s a good attitude. I was able to be a witness to a fender bender one icy day - I was driving down an icy hill as fast as the conditions would allow, and a jackass was tailgating me. … Hey, dude, I was on the same road and I came to a safe stop at the same light - the evidence says you did SOMETHING wrong. I hope there was no gore. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/31 "2011-12-01T23:10:35Z")
'Bout quarter past six last night, I watched a bicyclist blow [this stop sign](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3600+South+Four+Mile+Run+Drive,+Arlington,+VA&hl=en&ll=38.845058,-77.089244&spn=0.00666,0.009645&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.79724,79.013672&vpsrc=0&hnear=3600+S+Four+Mile+Run+Dr,+Arlington,+Virginia+22206&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.845058,-77.089244&panoid=fSZjErfVSM3AdyNnRZvqKA&cbp=12,225.38,,2,4.36). Lucky for him (her?), the car that completed a left at the exact same time had good brakes and wasn’t a cop. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/32 "2011-12-01T23:54:10Z")
> [@gurujulp](#): > > The cops around here … only care about safe driving See, this is where your argument falls apart. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/33 "2011-12-02T00:18:59Z")
In theory, I love bicyclists. In reality, I hate most of them. They don’t obey traffic rules and they are hard to see. I’ve had more than one OMG, I"M GOING TO KILL SOMEONE moment because someone on a bicycle suddenly comes off a sidewalk, in the wrong direction, then crosses the street in front of me. I don’t want to cause a mangled body and I usually only wash my car a couple of times a year. Mostly, when I drive, I give the agressive ones the street. I’m not in so much of a hurry that pulling over for a few seconds is going to cause a life changing event. The only time I “play” with aggressive drivers is when I’m on my scoot and I know where the speed camera are. Once, I was driving the speed limit (in my delivery van) on a 2 lane highway. Someone started tailgating me, so I pulled over as far left as I could and opened room so he could pass me over the double yellow line. There were 5 or 6 cars ahead of me, all doing the same speed. This person risked life and limb and other people’s lives while passing everyone, one car at a time on blind curves. Finally, he managed to pass the semi that had hidden the cop car. I wasn’t the only one who waved as speeding guy was sitting on the side of the road with lights flashing behind him. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/34 "2011-12-02T00:40:10Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > In theory, I love bicyclists. In reality, I hate most of them. They don’t obey traffic rules and they are hard to see. I’ve had more than one OMG, I"M GOING TO KILL SOMEONE moment because someone on a bicycle suddenly comes off a sidewalk, in the wrong direction, then crosses the street in front of me. I don’t want to cause a mangled body and I usually only wash my car a couple of times a year. Not one cyclist came to a full stop, or even slowed unless there was a vehicle in the way, during the 15 or so minutes I was there waiting for a bus. After that one moron, I kept an eye out in case somebody did end up as a hood ornament or worse. I’d have called 911 and stuck around as a witness. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/35 "2011-12-02T01:59:10Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > I was cruising along on the interstate once when I came up on a Highway Patrolman and so I fell in line behind him and set my cruise control on 70mph to match him. Some fool in the left lane is going ~70.1mph and over about a 5 minute period very slowly pulls alongside the cop and just as his front bumper passes the patrol car the lights go on and he gets pulled. What a maroon! I have passed many police officers on the freeway with my cruise control set to the speed limit while they appear to be driving 1-2 mph slower and NO ONE ELSE will dare to pass them. Never been pulled over. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/36 "2011-12-02T02:02:04Z")
Back in the day, I expected the ones with spandix, fancy bikes and cool helmets would follow the rules. I’m used to knowing that kids will do stupid stuff, so I watch out for them. I expect people who look like they know what they are doing to be safe. I’ve learned that the “real” ones are worse. They take much worse risks than I do. So far, I haven’t killed anyone and I’d like to keep that driving record. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/37 "2011-12-02T02:07:13Z")
In excess of 20 years ago, I was driving cross country, pulling an over-nighter driving, and occasionally smoking a little bit of weed along the way. It was about 3am and there was no one on the interstate within 3 miles of me in either direction on my side of the road when I reached a wayside rest. As I started moving over onto the exit, I passed under a street light. There was a highway patrol unit about 30 feet behind me, totally blacked out. Had not a clue he had been there, or for how long. Freaked the fuck out of me and I totally thought I was busted. He kept right on going as I pulled into the wayside rest. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/38 "2011-12-02T16:28:43Z")
When I was a teenager I was riding with a friend and another friend was following us in his car. He pulls up beside us at a light and we’re kinda chatting through the window. Also stopped at the light, but facing us from the other direction, plain as day, is a cop. The light turns green and our friend just fucking floors it. His car’s ass-end is swinging back and forth and smoke is coming off of the tires and I’m yelling “No dude, stop!” but he doesn’t hear and after a few seconds he gets traction and just takes off. The cop’s lights come on, he whips his car around and pulls our friend over. We pass them and if you’ve ever seen a submarine movie when they have to seal a guy in a compartment before the whole ship floods, his face had the same expression as the guy who’s getting sealed in. Later on we meet back up with him and the first thing he says is “Why didn’t you tell me there was a cop?!” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/39 "2011-12-02T18:00:04Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > No, I never did warm to St. Louis. I’m unemployed and I figured I might as well job hunt in a place I like. I’ve been back about a month and am loving it! So we have YOU to blame for the snowstorm? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614/40 "2011-12-02T18:14:53Z")
> [@SeaCanary](#): > > I hope there was no gore. :eek: Nope, it was a fairly low-speed collision, so property damage but no injuries (beyond possible whiplash). > [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > 'Bout quarter past six last night, I watched a bicyclist blow [this stop sign](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=3600+South+Four+Mile+Run+Drive,+Arlington,+VA&hl=en&ll=38.845058,-77.089244&spn=0.00666,0.009645&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=54.79724,79.013672&vpsrc=0&hnear=3600+S+Four+Mile+Run+Dr,+Arlington,+Virginia+22206&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=38.845058,-77.089244&panoid=fSZjErfVSM3AdyNnRZvqKA&cbp=12,225.38,,2,4.36). Lucky for him (her?), the car that completed a left at the exact same time had good brakes and wasn’t a cop. We’ve watched cops around here see cyclists do all kinds of law-breaking things without batting an eye. I think the tops of that list so far was the cyclist that came pedalling up the sidewalk, and then pedalled across the crosswalk against the light, with a cop car actually waiting for them to cross in front of them without doing a thing. At this point, I’m not sure at all what Calgary cops’ mission is - safe driving doesn’t seem to be on their radar. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-could-you-not-tell-that-car-you-were-tailgating-was-a-cop/604614.md?page=3)