# In your opinion should OFF-DUTY police get speeding tickets if caught speeding? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310 "2006-06-19T16:35:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2006, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/41 "2006-06-23T18:15:10Z")
Anyone ever recall seeing a cruiser get pulled over for a ticket, or a written record of such? Geez, I would LAUGH if the Summit County sheriff’s deputies started ticketing marked Akron PD cars. Of course, that’ll never happen. Now the Ohio State Troopers, heck, if I heard the story, I wouldn’t even question it. And the Boston Heights PD… I can see them ticketing Army One. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/42 "2006-06-24T03:20:14Z")
Yesterday I was talking to a 30-year vetern of our local police force. We didn’t talk about speeding, but his take on cops’ behaviour is that they _should_ be held to a higher standard. He said he always tells young officers that alcohol and sex will get you in trouble every time. Behave as if you’re always being watched, even off duty, because you are. StG ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/43 "2006-06-24T03:53:19Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Yesterday I was talking to a 30-year vetern of our local police force. We didn’t talk about speeding, but his take on cops’ behaviour is that they _should_ be held to a higher standard. He said he always tells young officers that alcohol and sex will get you in trouble every time. Behave as if you’re always being watched, even off duty, because you are. > > StG Do me a favor and let that officer know that he/she is appreciated. That’s the kind of mindset I’d like to hear from my law enforcement. As a general rule, I disdain cops, but we need to clone this person and have them overhaul everyone’s police. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/44 "2006-06-24T05:39:39Z")
**LOUNE** - We met because I was in a store yesterday and couldn’t reach something on a shelf. He came over to get it down. It turns out he lives a very short distance from my farm. He’s very excited because he’s retiring from the city PD this year (among other things, he helped start the SWAT unit) and he’s going to work for the county sheriff’s department as a school resource officer. His kids attended the school, his wife teaches there, and his 6-year old grand-daughter will start there next year. He wants to positively impact kids. Just an outstanding guy. StG ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/45 "2006-06-24T05:51:59Z")
No, they should get “professional courtesy” and get a free pass on all \*minor infractions. \* One reason for that is that if that the infraction isn’t minor, the police officer could lose his job and his career. For example a solid DUI could get you cashiered. But such wouldn’t get a non-law enforcement person fired. So, yeah, if the ticket is a minor infraction- _let 'em slide_. But if it is serious, then they get _ass-reamed double._ Thus, I agree with **StGermain** , as long as it really is something serious. Driving 7MPH over the speed limit? _Not so much._ A DUI with .25 BAC and causing an accident? _Off the force._ ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/46 "2006-06-24T13:04:14Z")
Of course they should get tickets. There is no reason for an off duty cop to speed, I don’t care how good the donut sale is. Professional courtesy? I don’t think acting unprofessional (not doing your job) is a courtesy. Professional courtesy is why sharks don’t attack lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/47 "2006-06-24T19:58:53Z")
I think it was P.J. O’Rourke who came up with a simple test for determining if a country had a corrupt goverment or a well functioning one - just watch to see if goverment vehicles stop at red lights and obey other traffic rules. There’s a mentality in many countries that people are subjects and the government is above them. That the rules for the masses don’t apply to the governing elite, because they are somehow special or more important. Corruption can start from the top, or can eat away at a society from the bottom. Cops should get tickets like everyone else. Btw, this about the only good thing I can see about traffic cameras with automated ticketing systems. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/48 "2006-06-24T22:44:20Z")
> [@Brynda](#): > > It sucks, but cops have such an “us against them” mentality that I don’t see it changing. From what I’ve read, this is the heart of the matter. I’m not defending it at all, just explaining. Lots of cops see themselves as the fine line between order and chaos, and since all they deal with is the chaotic part of society (no one calls them because they’re having such a great time that they need help dealing with it), they get a skewed view of their place in the world. “We need to back each other up, and that is inviolable. There is an indisputable ‘us’, and whatever you can do to help another cop/fireman/doctor/whoever is your duty.” IIRC: There was a case a few years ago out of the now infamous L.A. Rampart division, in which it was discovered that veteran cops had papered over a shooting by a rookie. I think what happened was that on a gang-related forcible search, someone surprised the rookie, and he shot the guy dead. The victim turned out not to be armed, so the veterans planted a gun and cooked up a story that would exonerate the rookie. I’m not sure how that got discovered, but it was part of the criminal charges that were filed out of the whole scandal. ---
**Author:** ![epatrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/48db29/32.png) [@epatrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epatrone)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/49 "2011-04-20T11:22:27Z")
Off duty police are never really off duty, a law was recently passed that an off duty or retire police office can legally carry their weapon on their person at all times. An off duty officer are required to take action if a felony is occurring in their presents and it can vary from apprehension to keeping calm during during a situation “example” bank robbery. Police do get tickets but as a police officer I always give professional curtsy unless The off duty officer puts me in a position that I must take action. “example DWI” I give citizens plenty of breaks also, people do have real reasons why they are driving far above the speed limit. One example comes to mind was an citizen that was rushing to a hospital because his brother just lost his 2 year old son and was going 40 over the limit in a 35. I let him go and told him to slow down. Also as a brother officer if a time comes that I’m fighting a suspect on a traffic stop, I have a higher probability that this officer would come to my aid no matter what state he is from. So yes professional curtsy is my option and I even do the same for civilians place in unusual circumstances. I have been in law enforcement for 17 years and yes I have received a ticket during my tender for speeding. But I hold no grudges, if the same officer came to my city I would still give him the curtsy I believe in. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/50 "2011-04-20T12:01:58Z")
Yes, but do you ticket zombie speeders? P.S. And why would you even pull someone over who’s going 40 in a 35? ---
**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:** [April 20, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/51 "2011-04-20T12:24:07Z")
> [@epatrone](#): > > Off duty police are never really off duty, a law was recently passed that an off duty or retire police office can legally carry their weapon on their person at all times. An off duty officer are required to take action if a felony is occurring in their presents and it can vary from apprehension to keeping calm during during a situation “example” bank robbery. Police do get tickets but as a police officer I always give professional curtsy unless The off duty officer puts me in a position that I must take action. “example DWI” I give citizens plenty of breaks also, people do have real reasons why they are driving far above the speed limit. One example comes to mind was an citizen that was rushing to a hospital because his brother just lost his 2 year old son and was going 40 over the limit in a 35. I let him go and told him to slow down. Also as a brother officer if a time comes that I’m fighting a suspect on a traffic stop, I have a higher probability that this officer would come to my aid no matter what state he is from. So yes professional curtsy is my option and I even do the same for civilians place in unusual circumstances. I have been in law enforcement for 17 years and yes I have received a ticket during my tender for speeding. But I hold no grudges, if the same officer came to my city I would still give him the curtsy I believe in. Police carrying weapons off duty is hardly a recent development. It’s been allowed in most states for decades (it was already in effect in NY back when I started working in 1982). And it’s been allowed everywhere in the United States since the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act was enacted in 2004. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/52 "2011-04-20T13:28:58Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > As soon as I start writing every ticket for every violation for every driver I pull over, then I will start writing tickets to other cops. If I am ever in trouble and they are passing by I expect them to stop and risk their lives to help me, as I would for them. The least I could do is give them a pass on a minor motor vehicle violation. I give breaks for much lesser reasons. And yes I have received I ticket in the past for going a little over the speed limit (I wouldn’t have pulled me over). Do you do this because of the low statistical likelihood of an accident being caused by the off-duty cop’s speeding? Would you do the same for a cop who fired a gun into the air in a residential neighborhood? I mean, that’s not likely to hurt or kill anyone, but it’s against the law. How about giving a cop a break for shoplifting? That usually doesn’t hurt or kill anyone. Embezzlement doesn’t either; would you let that slide for a fellow cop? I think your sense of ethics is skewed, based on your post above. A “minor motor vehicle violation” is having a taillight out, IMO, not speeding or cruising thru stop signs or going the wrong way on a one-way street. If you’ll let that “minor” violation pass, what else would you find it acceptable to let pass? I don’t mind that cops have discretion, it’s when they allow that discretion to go beyond the situation at hand and allow special qualifiers to enter into it that I get bothered. It opens to door to all kinds of abuses, and many of them are the very types of abuses we as a society have police officers for in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/53 "2011-04-20T13:39:21Z")
> [@Emilio\_Lizardo](#): > > I have never met a cop who would stop you for going 10 over. It happened to me once. Mind you, this was toward the end of the month. “No traffic ticket quotas,” they say. Yeah, right. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/54 "2011-04-20T13:58:01Z")
God, don’t get me started on this. Baltimore cops are the worst offenders when it comes to perceived exemption from the law. Yes, off-duty cops should receive tickets like everyone else. The thing that grates me more than anything else is when they turn on their lights just to get through a red light without stopping, then turn them off as soon as they get through the light. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/55 "2011-04-20T14:19:29Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Yes, but do you ticket zombie speeders? > > P.S. And why would you even pull someone over who’s going 40 in a 35? I think you misread that - “40 over” in a 35 - so presumably going 75 on his way to the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/56 "2011-04-20T14:23:10Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I think you misread that - “40 over” in a 35 - so presumably going 75 on his way to the hospital. Ah. Well that makes more sense! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/57 "2011-04-20T14:26:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No, they should get “professional courtesy” and get a free pass on all \*minor infractions. \* > > One reason for that is that if that the infraction isn’t minor, the police officer could lose his job and his career. For example a solid DUI could get you cashiered. But such wouldn’t get a non-law enforcement person fired. A DUI will get me fired from my job (even if it happens off the clock), and I work in a helpdesk, no driving required. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/58 "2011-04-20T14:32:04Z")
I see I posted in this thread 5 years ago and my answer hasn’t changed. Anything a civilian would be ticketed for, an officer should be ticketed for. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/59 "2011-04-20T14:33:27Z")
Cops here routinely get booked for speeding past speed cameras. No flashing lights and they will be asked to explain. Since I know the camera tolerances I enjoy overtaking them as they slow down for the cameras. On the other extreme, a guy I went to school with became a cop. While working as a motorcycle cop he famously booked every member of his own family. I should add that it doesn’t matter whether you are on duty as a cop. If you are speeding without explanation, even in a police vehicle, you get booked. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310/60 "2011-04-20T14:53:59Z")
Just wanted to bring up my pet-peeves: LEOs who refer to non-LEOs as “civilians.” (I see that even some folks in this thread are using this term!) Sorry, but LEOs are also civilians. The only people who should use the term “civilians” are active-duty military. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-your-opinion-should-off-duty-police-get-speeding-tickets-if-caught-speeding/361310.md?page=4)