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.
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.
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)
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 
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.
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.
When was the last time you took a course in ethics?
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’.
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.
Why are you in the middle lane? Are people in the right lane going 30?
This is generally not an issue if you follow the rule “keep right except to pass” - which is actually the law in several states.
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.
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.
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?
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’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.
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.
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.
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?