# Passing a LEO vehicle **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 15, 2013, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073 "2013-06-15T16:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/41 "2013-06-16T19:30:29Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I absolutely love clueless stuff like this. It’s second only to soccer moms, bar sluts, and ass-crack plumbers I’ve pulled over lecturing me on on how to do my job, what I can and can’t, how to do my job, etc.. Hilarious! I admit it’s all anecdotal. I work nights so I get to see a lot of night time behaviors. There have been plenty of times that I have passed an officer driving very slowly. Then as soon as I pass him, he’s on my ass for the next couple of minutes until (what I assume) the computer tells him my plates are clean. The cop then proceeds to pass me and be on his way. I can’t think of any other reason for him to be driving so slowly in the first place if he wasn’t interested in checking me out. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/42 "2013-06-16T21:04:10Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > These are 2 different scenarios. Driving on roads with posted minimums requires different operation than those without posted minimums. Most of the DNZ’s had minimums of 40 (I don’t know know if any minimums are posted in Milwaukee county anymore. There aren’t any on 94 east/west to & from the lake all the way to/from Waukesha county) but for sake of argument lets say it’s 45. In your scenario, absent and other factors, there would be a violation of law…the drivers going up the ass of the guy going 47 in a 45 minimum lane. Following too closely is one of the most common traffic cites to write. > > Not that I’m fond of people going too slow. I have a Jaguar and a Mustang GT and I have places to be!😃 But I wasn’t asking about the other drivers and didn’t say that they were following too close. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/43 "2013-06-16T22:08:43Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > But I wasn’t asking about the other drivers and didn’t say that they were following too close. they usually are though. But in your post (assuming no other factors) there is no violation of law that I know of going 47 in the center lane of a freeway posted with a 45 minimum. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/44 "2013-06-16T22:20:49Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Some states have passed laws requiring people to slow down or change lanes when a police car is stopped on the highway. There’s been several cops hit just standing on the side of the road. > > [CBS Texas - Breaking Local News, First Alert Weather & I-Team Investigations](http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/06/19/move-over-or-slow-down-law-includes-tow-trucks/) Texas is one of the states that enacted just such a law. IIRC the regulation states that motorists must slow to 20mph below the posted limit, unless they are able to move over so that there is a lane between them and the emergency vehicle. (LEO, fire truck, ambulance or tow truck) ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/45 "2013-06-16T22:25:34Z")
It’s been my experience that if a LEO is going 5mph or more below the posted limit, it’s generally okay to pass them. If a LEO is going the posted speed limit, (or within 1-2mph of it) it’s not a very good idea to pass . YMMV 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/46 "2013-06-17T12:55:54Z")
I blew past an Ohio trooper, he was doing about 75 I was doing at least 90. Luckily it was in Pennsylvania so he just waved. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/47 "2013-06-17T18:26:37Z")
I passed a trooper in Pennsylvania who was going about 50 in a marked work zone. I think the work limit was 50. I passed him going maybe 52 or 53. I mean it was a slow pass. Sure enough, he pulled me over. I badged him and he let me go but he was pissed. “I don’t know how you do it Jersey but here we don’t pass marked troop cars!” It was technically a work zone (I guess) because there were signs. However, there was not one worker or piece of equipment nor had any work even been started. Yes, I was wrong but use a little common sense. BTW, if you pass a marked trooper here in Jersey either he is stopped or you are going about 90 MPH. That’s how we do it here. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/48 "2013-06-17T18:49:23Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I badged him and he let me go. When was the last time you took a course in ethics? ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/49 "2013-06-17T18:58:38Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I passed a trooper in Pennsylvania who was going about 50 in a marked work zone. I think the work limit was 50. I passed him going maybe 52 or 53. I mean it was a slow pass. Sure enough, he pulled me over. I badged him and he let me go but he was pissed. “I don’t know how you do it Jersey but here we don’t pass marked troop cars!” It was technically a work zone (I guess) because there were signs. However, there was not one worker or piece of equipment nor had any work even been started. Yes, I was wrong but use a little common sense. > > BTW, if you pass a marked trooper here in Jersey either he is stopped or you are going about 90 MPH. That’s how we do it here. Ah, nice. So off-duty you get to break the law, because you have a shiny piece of metal in a fancy wallet. Classy. ETA of course, it’s not as hilarious as firemans or prison guards saying they shouldn’t get ticketed because of ‘professional courtesy’. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/50 "2013-06-17T19:02:34Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > So, if I’m on a one lane road that’s got a 45mph speed limit and I’m driving 30 with 5 cars piled up behind me, am I breaking the law? Depending on driving conditions, maybe. If it’s a nighttime blizzard and you’re going 30 MPH so you can see where you’re headed, then you’re probably not breaking the law. If it’s a warm, sunny afternoon, then yes, I’d say you’re breaking the law by impeding the “normal and reasonable” movement of traffic. If you want to go that slow for some reason (maybe you’re carrying fragile cargo, or you are having back trouble and can’t stand the rough road), and there are few/no passing zones, then you could probably avoid legal sanctions by pulling over every few miles to let the cars behind you go on their way. > [@](#): > > If I’m on a Milwaukee county freeway where the speed limit is 55 and the speed minimum is 45 (IIRC), cars are traveling about 60 or so and I’m crusing down the middle lane at 47 with people honking and flashing their lights and finally moving to other lanes to get around me, is that citable? Why are you in the middle lane? Are people in the right lane going 30? > [@](#): > > What I got from reading that is if someone wants to overtake you and they let you know it by honking for flashing their lights, you have to move over and let them. This is generally not an issue if you follow the rule “keep right except to pass” - which is actually the law in several states. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/51 "2013-06-17T20:06:46Z")
In Patrol Procedures, we were told that the proper patrol speed is 25MPH, even if the speed limit is 35 MPH. So, Cops drive under the SL all the time, and there’s no violation for passing them. Now in some cases, like if the Cop car had it’s lights on, you shouldn’t pass. But here’s the thing- the ticket has to be written for a CA MVC violation. What is that County Deputy going to put? The story is full of holes, I am sure it didn’t happen like that. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/52 "2013-06-17T20:11:23Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > If it’s a warm, sunny afternoon, then yes, I’d say you’re breaking the law by impeding the “normal and reasonable” movement of traffic. No he isn’t. Did you read his entire post? If not in a passing lane and there is a **posted minimum** of which he claimed 2 mph over, where is the violation of law? If there is no posted minimum that would be different. There are statutes here that seem to conflict with one another. But posted regulations override unposted statutes. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/53 "2013-06-17T20:18:41Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Ah, nice. So off-duty you get to break the law, because you have a shiny piece of metal in a fancy wallet. > > Classy. Meh. Who wants to pay a ticket? My sister can turn tears on at will. That’s gotten her out of a few tickets. I have a few friends who are cops and I’ve met a few LEOs at weddings and such. If someone recognizes me and let’s me off with a warning, should I argue? Seriously? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/54 "2013-06-17T20:40:34Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Meh. Who wants to pay a ticket? My sister can turn tears on at will. That’s gotten her out of a few tickets. It’s not the same thing. Getting out of a ticket with a badge is unethical. It puts the on-duty officer in a position, it puts the off-duty officers agency in a position, and it looks bad to the public. I won’t hide my guilt. I’ve badged myself out of quite a few tickets years ago. But I grew up and knocked that shit off. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/55 "2013-06-17T22:47:39Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Meh. Who wants to pay a ticket? My sister can turn tears on at will. That’s gotten her out of a few tickets. I have a few friends who are cops and I’ve met a few LEOs at weddings and such. If someone recognizes me and let’s me off with a warning, should I argue? Seriously? I’m not an LEO, but due to my work I’d be recognized by several hundred cops in this area (probably more). If I get pulled over and that gets me out of a ticket, fine. But you won’t catch me Bringing up my employer if they don’t know me. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2013, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/56 "2013-06-17T23:26:47Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > It’s not the same thing. > > Getting out of a ticket with a badge is unethical. It puts the on-duty officer in a position, it puts the off-duty officers agency in a position, and it looks bad to the public. > > I won’t hide my guilt. I’ve badged myself out of quite a few tickets years ago. But I grew up and knocked that shit off. I disagree, as long it is for a minor violation of the sort warnings are often given for. Otoh, if its for something serious , like DUI , then they should get hammered. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/57 "2013-06-18T00:41:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I disagree, as long it is for a minor violation of the sort warnings are often given for. Otoh, if its for something serious , like DUI , then they should get hammered. And what about violations that are neither minor nor major that we usually cite for? We routinely make stops and write tickets for speeding. Am I supposed to wave a guy off just because he has a badge? How is he any better than the factory worker who is late for work and doesn’t want to lose his job? Enforce the law but don’t have to obey it? That kind of ethics is totally fucked up, and it looks piss poor in the eyes of our customers John & Jane Q. Taxpayer. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/58 "2013-06-18T03:59:43Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > And what about violations that are neither minor nor major that we usually cite for? > > We routinely make stops and write tickets for speeding. Am I supposed to wave a guy off just because he has a badge? How is he any better than the factory worker who is late for work and doesn’t want to lose his job? > > Enforce the law but don’t have to obey it? That kind of ethics is totally fucked up, and it looks piss poor in the eyes of our customers John & Jane Q. Taxpayer. Would you give a pass to a factory worker under some circumstances? And, John Q Worker won’t get fired and lose his career for life if he gets a DUI, like a cop will. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/59 "2013-06-18T04:11:45Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Would you give a pass to a factory worker under some circumstances? > > And, John Q Worker won’t get fired and lose his career for life if he gets a DUI, like a cop will. And those who work under that condition know it before they get drunk & drive. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2013, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073/60 "2013-06-18T06:02:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Would you give a pass to a factory worker under some circumstances? > > And, John Q Worker won’t get fired and lose his career for life if he gets a DUI, like a cop will. **REALLY?** :eek: You’re **really** on a public board arguing for police officers to be able to get out breaking the law by virtue of what they do for 8 hours a day? Driving drunk, no less? You’re really arguing for police officers to be able to get away with DUI while everyone else get’s completely boned? You wouldn’t by chance be the megalomaniac the OP was talking about, would you? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/passing-a-leo-vehicle/661073.md?page=4)