L.E. Question / Any Police Officers here?

[Serendipity]

So - I've been hearing stories from my parents about criminals impersonating police officers and I was wondering the following:

If an unmarked police car pulls you over in the middle of a deserted highway, can you (a) call 911 to verify that this is a real officer (b) go to a well-lit area like a gas station (c) ask for their ID, etc. and write it down?

Thanks!

[dorokusai]

B or just keep driving.

[TNRabbit]

A or B will work.

[Serendipity]

Thanks,

At this point can they search your car/trunk without a reason? Heard about a case in which they were planting drugs/firearms while doing a search...

[strider]

Heard about a case in which they were planting drugs/firearms while doing a search...

Seriously? Where abouts? Hmmm...

[dorokusai]

You have the right to refuse a search but they will bring the dogs and place you in custody until things are resolved. Paranoid?

[Matt34]

Thanks,

At this point can they search your car/trunk without a reason? Heard about a case in which they were planting drugs/firearms while doing a search...

I think you watch too much T.V.:p

Seriously though, if an unmarked unit lights you up on a deserted highway you at least better acknowledge that he is back there with your flashers if your not going to pull over right away. LEO's get a bit P.O when you don't stop for them.

[Serendipity]

You have the right to refuse a search but they will bring the dogs and place you in custody until things are resolved. Paranoid?

Not really, I saw this on TV.

[Serendipity]

I think you watch too much T.V.:p

Seriously though, if an unmarked unit lights you up on a deserted highway you at least better acknowledge that he is back there with your flashers if your not going to pull over right away. LEO's get a bit P.O when you don't stop for them.

I think I would make the call first to find out if the person is a real LEO while acknowledging he/she is back there.

[ohskigod]

if your that worried (particularly at night on a deserted road) call 911 and keep driving. the 911 call is recorded and will also let there dispatch unit know of your concern. normally, they should send a marked unit as backup.

know the cars your local and state LEO's use. Crown Vic's are a standard, but i know in NJ they have unmarked Chargers and Durango's

if your in a well lit area with the public well in eyesight, chances are it's legit. the only time you have to worry is incomplete seclusion.

[Toolfan66]

Just put the pedel to the floor, and try and out run him.

Be a rebel..;)

I have a lot of cops that live in my area. I get along with them all, One cool thing is on the forth of July we have the best fireworks show cause of them, they get the good **** every year, it's awesome. BBQ's all down our street, one big party.

[unc2701]

A and C.

A friend of mine got arrested for B. She was told that she could call 911 and the dispatcher could confirm whether she had been pulled by a legitimate cop. After some research, she found that B is a common myth and most states will do not have any explicit laws protecting you to do this. The ACLU looked into her case and said that challenging the arrest for continuing to a well lit area was a dead-end. Oddly enough, they are taking her case on account of the strip search back at the jail.

[dorokusai]

You're friend just has bad luck.

[bobman1235]

Thanks,

At this point can they search your car/trunk without a reason? Heard about a case in which they were planting drugs/firearms while doing a search...

Are you worried about people who aren't cops, or are you worried about corrupt cops trying to arrest you for no reason? You really need to stop watching TV, man, cops got better things to do.

[unc2701]

You're friend just has bad luck.

That's for damn sure. Douchebag officer yanked a 95 pound woman out of a car and handcuffed her for pulling off at the next exit and going into the first gas station parking lot.

However, 1) the law is NOT on your side and 2) it turned a routine speeding ticket into a night in jail.

So, the real question is which you consider more likely: Ass rape by cop or ass rape by your cell mate.

[Serendipity]

You really need to stop watching TV

Very true.

To be specific I was more concerned about people impersonating officers.

[Matt34]

Very true.

To be specific I was more concerned about people impersonating officers.

I think you have a better chance at winning the lotto then ever having that happen to you.

[John30_30]

I think you have a better chance at winning the lotto then ever having that happen to you.

There are plenty of goofy and lonely cops out there, looking to pick up solo girls late at night. My daughter's been pulled over and hit on at least twice like that.

Once when she had her baby in the back seat and her hub sitting next to her, whom the cop didn't notice until late in his spiel.


Also, people do win the lottery. It happens. There was a gang of several clowns around here not long ago impersonating cops.

[reeltrouble1]

The police regularly review CP for thugs, crooks, wacko's and wierdo's, its fertile soil, of course they start at the beginning of the alaphabet, so your for a rough ride......Son, it just ain't your day, you should wear a disguise, a good one.

RT1

[Matt34]

There are plenty of goofy and lonely cops out there, looking to pick up solo girls late at night. My daughter's been pulled over and hit on at least twice like that.

Once when she had her baby in the back seat and her hub sitting next to her, whom the cop didn't notice until late in his spiel.

You sure she just isn't speeding?:p

Also, people do win the lottery. It happens. There was a gang of several clowns around here not long ago impersonating cops.

Never said it doesn't happen, just the odds of it happening are probably comparable to winning the lottery which is 80 million to one. (powerball) http://members.cox.net/mathmistakes/rawdata.htm

[hearingimpared]

if your that worried (particularly at night on a deserted road) call 911 and keep driving. the 911 call is recorded and will also let there dispatch unit know of your concern. normally, they should send a marked unit as backup.

know the cars your local and state LEO's use. Crown Vic's are a standard, but i know in NJ they have unmarked Chargers and Durango's

if your in a well lit area with the public well in eyesight, chances are it's legit. the only time you have to worry is incomplete seclusion.

Here in Delaware they have Mustangs.

[treitz3]

Man, in SC/NC we have Suburban's, Camaro's, Charger's, Caprice's, Impala's, Mustangs [though I haven't seen one of those in a while], Intrepids, Crown Vic's, GTO's, Excursions, Tahoe's, Harley's and BMW's for the motorcycles. Some of the unmarked are "cop-style-sleepers" that have the limo-tint, quad exhaust, bling-bling for rims, low profile tires....you know, the kind to where you pull up to the light and start revving your engine to race. [Good thing I'm not into that.....;)] Some of the Tahoe's and Suburban's even have them.

You would never in a million years suspect that they are a cop car until you see the massive amount of lights all start going off. In this case, there is NO doubt that they are a cop. None, whatsoever.

My favorite has got to be this one Silver Hemi Charger. That sucker is HOT! It looks more like it belongs in a hot-rod magazine than it does law enforcement. Now, don't hold me to this but I could have sworn I saw a silver 380z pulling someone over when I was coming home on 485 near Rea Road in Charlotte about 4-5 months ago. I couldn't get a good look because the trees at the exit ramp blocked my view rather quickly but I'm pretty well versed on my cars and it damn sho' did look like a 380z. My first thought was that it was the first foreign cop car I had ever seen.

Anyhoo, my point is that "recognizing" the cop cars won't always work. My advice would be to first acknowledge the undercover car of his presence, then simply dial 911 and inform them that you have an "questionable vehile wanting to pull you over" and that you would like confirmation that it is in fact an officer. As soon as you do? Pull the hell over immediately and inform the officer that 911 is currently on the phone and you just called to verify that he/she was legit.

[dkg999]

Roll down your window slightly and inform the officer that due to the news media reporting people impersonating officers you are asking for confirmation of their identity. The officer should give you his business card and you should be able to confirm the officer's identity via E911 or the non-emergency number. If the officer becomes agitated at this request, then you have reason to be suspicious. The officer may instruct you to pull off to a safer location while you verify his identity, and you should comply with any reasonable requests.

The answer always is "I do not consent to search, are you placing me under arrest, am I free to go". State laws vary on how long you can be held on the side of the road while the officer tries to determine if they have enough probably cause to get a judge to sign a warrant.

YMMV, this is not legal advice, laws vary by state.

[polktiger]

Man, in SC/NC we have Suburban's, Camaro's, Charger's, Caprice's, Impala's, Mustangs [though I haven't seen one of those in a while], Intrepids, Crown Vic's, GTO's, Excursions, Tahoe's, Harley's and BMW's for the motorcycles. Some of the unmarked are "cop-style-sleepers" that have the limo-tint, quad exhaust, bling-bling for rims, low profile tires....you know, the kind to where you pull up to the light and start revving your engine to race. [Good thing I'm not into that.....;)] Some of the Tahoe's and Suburban's even have them.

You would never in a million years suspect that they are a cop car until you see the massive amount of lights all start going off. In this case, there is NO doubt that they are a cop. None, whatsoever.

My favorite has got to be this one Silver Hemi Charger. That sucker is HOT! It looks more like it belongs in a hot-rod magazine than it does law enforcement. Now, don't hold me to this but I could have sworn I saw a silver 380z pulling someone over when I was coming home on 485 near Rea Road in Charlotte about 4-5 months ago. I couldn't get a good look because the trees at the exit ramp blocked my view rather quickly but I'm pretty well versed on my cars and it damn sho' did look like a 380z. My first thought was that it was the first foreign cop car I had ever seen.

Anyhoo, my point is that "recognizing" the cop cars won't always work. My advice would be to first acknowledge the undercover car of his presence, then simply dial 911 and inform them that you have an "questionable vehile wanting to pull you over" and that you would like confirmation that it is in fact an officer. As soon as you do? Pull the hell over immediately and inform the officer that 911 is currently on the phone and you just called to verify that he/she was legit.

Agreed - In SC and NC, there are so many, you can't keep track. I know locally the former police chief was even using vehicles seized from criminals as unmarked cars.

[unc2701]

Agreed - In SC and NC, there are so many, you can't keep track. I know locally the former police chief was even using vehicles seized from criminals as unmarked cars.

Anyone remember Sheriff Hege?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Hege

His personal patrol vehicle was a 1995 Chevrolet Impala with a Chevrolet Corvette engine and nitrous oxide tanks. His department lost its insurance coverage when he boasted that he had driven the vehicle at speeds of up to 140 mph. The car was referred to as "The Spider Car" because of a custom paint job featuring a Black Widow Spider and the letters "DDT." The windows of this and all other patrol cars of the force were tinted dark black.

[huggies]

I thought I read somewhere that you can request an officer in a marked car to respond to the scene and they have to wait until he arrives before proceeding with any search/arrest/ticketing.

[Serendipity]

Roll down your window slightly and inform the officer that due to the news media reporting people impersonating officers you are asking for confirmation of their identity. The officer should give you his business card and you should be able to confirm the officer's identity via E911 or the non-emergency number. If the officer becomes agitated at this request, then you have reason to be suspicious. The officer may instruct you to pull off to a safer location while you verify his identity, and you should comply with any reasonable requests.

That sounds reasonable. Hopefully I will never encounter someone impersonating a police officer.

[Face]

Roll down your window slightly and inform the officer that due to the news media reporting people impersonating officers you are asking for confirmation of their identity. The officer should give you his business card and you should be able to confirm the officer's identity via E911 or the non-emergency number. If the officer becomes agitated at this request, then you have reason to be suspicious. The officer may instruct you to pull off to a safer location while you verify his identity, and you should comply with any reasonable requests.

In NY, very few officers carry business cards, and most will get agitated if you insist on one. :D

[Lasareath]

[Serendipity]

In NY, very few officers carry business cards, and most will get agitated if you insist on one. :D

I've never encountered a rude LEO so maybe its just me but the police officers around here seem VERY nice.