# Is it this easy to outrun the state police? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278 "2004-11-30T04:06:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/1 "2004-11-30T04:06:06Z")
Last summer I was driving late at night on an interstate about 30 MPH over the limit. I passed by a state police car on the center median with all his lights out. After I passed I looked in the rear view mirror and saw him getting on the highway with his lights flashing. There was a van slightly ahead of me in the right lane so I continued speeding and passed the van and moved into the right lane ahead of him, putting me out of the trooper’s direct line of vision. Then I noticed an exit right ahead of me and turned off my lights and took the exit. The trooper stayed on the highway, so I was clear. I got right back on the road and drove in back of him for a few miles until he found someone else to pull over. Question: Is it possible that it was that easy? Does it make sense to set up a speed trap right before an exit like that? Or was there some other explanation for this? ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/2 "2004-11-30T04:27:38Z")
I am not sure what the State Police is (different country and all), but I had a similar incident. It was late at night, and the two cops were standing outside their car, near the doors. It was a straight road, but dark so I didn’t see them. I whooshed past at 200km/h. The moment I saw them, I debated whether to slow down or not, but I was going too fast. I saw them jump as I sped past, but even they decided that they couldn’t catch me, so there was no pursuit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Badge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Badge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badge)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/3 "2004-11-30T06:20:16Z")
> [@Plan B](#): > > Question: Is it possible that it was that easy? Does it make sense to set up a speed trap right before an exit like that? Or was there some other explanation for this? It seems more likely to me that the Trooper was going after someone else or was dispatched to a call, and he wasn’t after you at all. I doubt he would have missed you taking an exit. There is no way to be sure, of course. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/4 "2004-11-30T06:48:06Z")
I find it likely that you did ditch the 5-0. I have had several instances of speeding where I saw the cop’s lightbar come on in my rearview mirror, but he/she was unable to find a spot in traffic to turn around/pull out into my lane in time to chase me down (not that I was going very fast - one time was 50 in a 30 and another was 60 in a 40). ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/5 "2004-11-30T07:56:21Z")
When I took state PD sponsored driver’s safety, they made the point that you can outrun the Crown Vic, but you can’t outrun the Motorola. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/6 "2004-11-30T15:31:57Z")
> [@Plan B](#): > > Then I noticed an exit right ahead of me and turned off my lights and took the exit. This seems to have worked, but turning out the lights verges on a violation of the “plausible deniability” rule: your actions need to be consistent with those of a rather out-of-it driver who never saw the police car. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/7 "2004-11-30T15:44:13Z")
Did you coast to a stop as you exited or did you have to use your brakes? Your brake lights (assuming they are working) would have been visible to the police officer. Were there any gas stations or other places right off the exit you could have gone to if necessary, or was this out in the middle of nowhere? ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/8 "2004-11-30T17:13:02Z")
I’m probably going to get slightly yelled at but, sure it’s possible (and quite easy). I was on the express lanes of a 6 lane highway (3 lanes express, 3 collectors). Traffic was fair on the right side including trucks and what not. I was cruising at a steady 180 km/h on the left lane. 2 KM a head (or about 40 seconds away :D) the lanes merged and 3 lanes turned north while the express lanes continued west. I switched to the middle lane while I passed a truck on my right. Suddenly there was a police cruiser sitting in the medium between all 6 lanes. He had maybe .5 seconds to notice me before I blasted by his position. I swapped 3 lanes into traffic and too the North bound ramp (my normal ramp). There was a cruiser (a chase car) on the right lane but he couldn’t aquire me (probably because the original cruiser had no idea what the hell just past him, and I drive a fairly unique vehicle). I think they gave up trying to speed trap that area since there never tried that again. And I’ve driven past that point for 18 months since then. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/9 "2004-11-30T17:41:16Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > When I took state PD sponsored driver’s safety, they made the point that you can outrun the Crown Vic, but you can’t outrun the Motorola. Hehe, that’s a good one. I’ve always wondered how they tell your car apart. I’ve been driving and once in awhile you see the same make, model, and color zoom by, and I say what if zooms by a cop in the next minute? ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/10 "2004-11-30T17:56:16Z")
couldn’t turning off your lights constitute another charge besides speeding? ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/11 "2004-11-30T18:06:57Z")
In the glorious county of Fairfax that sets you back an extra $50 on top of whatever else the cop gives you, dunno about other places. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/12 "2004-11-30T18:20:18Z")
> [@Machetero](#): > > couldn’t turning off your lights constitute another charge besides speeding? If they prove intent it could be felony eluding. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/13 "2004-11-30T18:24:31Z")
I’ve had many a run in with the police. They really are just a minor annoyance once you learn how to deal with them. When a cop is chasing me I like to quicky drive around the block to get out of sight of them. I then ditch the car I’m driving and car-jack the first person I see. Once in the new car, I get to a garage quick so I can get off the street. I only kill cops that are chasing me when absolutely nessesary, because this just results in more heat. We’re talking about Grand Theft Auto here, right? ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/14 "2004-11-30T19:25:09Z")
Cop’s Advice to an 18 year old punk who thought he was Bandit: “You may have a faster car then me. You may even be able to outmaneuver me. But let me assure you, you’ll never be good enough to evade radio waves” ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/15 "2004-11-30T19:53:29Z")
> [@Ilsa\_Lund](#): > > When I took state PD sponsored driver’s safety, they made the point that you can outrun the Crown Vic, but you can’t outrun the Motorola. Could someone explain this one to me? Honestly don’t know what Motorola refers to here. I’m assuming the later reference to radio waves is the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/16 "2004-11-30T19:54:39Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > We’re talking about Grand Theft Auto here, right? This is most excellent 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/17 "2004-11-30T19:57:30Z")
> [@dwc1970](#): > > Did you coast to a stop as you exited or did you have to use your brakes? Your brake lights (assuming they are working) would have been visible to the police officer. Were there any gas stations or other places right off the exit you could have gone to if necessary, or was this out in the middle of nowhere? I don’t remember about the brakes. I’m thinking that this van really saved my butt. This was really out in the middle of nowhere. If the cop had taken the exit after me I was going to say I was looking for a place to get some coffee. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/18 "2004-11-30T19:58:25Z")
> [@Plan B](#): > > Could someone explain this one to me? Honestly don’t know what Motorola refers to here. > > I’m assuming the later reference to radio waves is the same thing. You would be correct in that assumption. 😉 (Motorola = radio, often used by cops to call other cops to the scene.) ---
**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:** [November 30, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/19 "2004-11-30T22:07:26Z")
[Motorola](http://www.motorola.com/cgiss/mobiles.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-this-easy-to-outrun-the-state-police/277278/20 "2004-12-01T00:22:21Z")
A thread on how best to commit a felony?!? I don’t _think_ so. :rolleyes: