When police are waiting to pull people over for speeding at night, do they have to have vehicle lights on?
149325
I got caught by a cop who had them off so I guess no
261110
So other drivers can see the car ahead of them through smoke from tyres, or from water spray.\n\nHitting another car at 140 mph is never fun.\n\nIt is not as many people think, a brake light, they are not road legal cars, so they do not need one, or indicators, or fog lights etc. etc.
545894
Yes, slow down...but be sure to allow them to pass.  I've also found it helpful to turn on my emergency flashers.  It gets their attention without your having to do much.  \n\nWhere I live it's not the best idea to flip someone off while driving.  Danger Will Robinson!
1116675
Ha\n\nInteresting speculation \n\n1. The light will not change color no matter how fast you go. Only in your perception it will, so unless the law enforcement is traveling within your frame of reference you would be found guilty anyway.\n2. True, if you are moving towards the light its frequency will increase towards the blue and will appear green to you, but the acceleration would kill you.  \n3. If you could travel with speed of light why would you care about traffic lights?\n\nGood question anyway.
763845
Police stop people all the time for minor traffic violation with no intention of giving them a ticket. They use the minor traffic violation as probable cause to stop and contact you.\n\nOnce they have you stopped, they start checking for other more serious violations such as DWI, Driving While License Suspended, Odor of Drugs, Plain View Contraband, Etc. It also gives the Officer the opportunity to see who is in the vehicle and to see if they are wanted.\n\nIf the Officer did not give you a ticket at the scene, then I'm sure your were just warned. I can not speak for every state, but in Texas, we do not mail a ticket to you after the stop. We give it to you at the scene or not at all.\n\nIn Texas, we use minor violations to stop people and check their story out. We have a lot of drugs coming in from Mexico. If things don't add up, then we dig further. If everything seems to check out, then we send them on their way. \n\nRemember the Oklahoma City Bomber was caught on a traffic stop. As for Gunny T's answer, I catch a wanted person, drugs, or a DWI in about 1 out of every 10-15 traffic stops. So it does work.
505924
Quit trying to weasel out of your responsibility. You screwed up and now you are going to pay for it. Man up and take your punishment.\n\nAs for the license plate lamp, keep in mind that you can have a loose wire that can knock your light on and off. I had that happen to my lights before. Sometimes it can be on for a while and then the wire moves and it's off. \n\nAs for not being 21, there are laws that prevent anyone under 21 from being in possession of alcohol while driving or transporting alcohol. The police can pull people over when they have reasonable suspicion that a vehicle code has been violated. For example, a police officer sees someone driving a car that doesn't look 16, he can pull them over.
74048
Friendly reminder also that your bright lights are blinding me.  Hasn't it become a traffic law in some states that if you aren't traveling at the speed limit you should move over allowing others doing the speed limit to pass?
470277
At an intersection, traffic lights for each direction are connected together and coordinated with each other based on specific criteria inputed by a specialist.  These criteria are accessed at and located in a "traffic cabinet" or metal box that is located near the intersection.  The specific criteria consists of such things as how many cars need to be waiting before the light changes, the time that a car waits before the light changes, the amount of time given for pedestrians to clear the crosswalk, etc.\n\nA car can be sensed by "loops" in the pavement or by cameras mounted on the signal mast arms, in the air.  Pedestrians can be sensed when they push a button, by camera, or automatically included in the traffic signal "cycle" or pattern of lights and timing.
818194
Most people will say the emergency services ..... but they have to treat lights as a give way sign, and go when they can, and are still punishable if involved in an accident.      However .....  it's the Royal Mail who can legally go through red lights.     They don't of course, but they carry the Queens emblem and as such entitles them to ignore red lights in the eyes of the law.
1078027
Perhaps they can't tell which direction the emergency vehicle is comming from? It is best to stop than to be a moving variable. \n\nI always pull to the right to make way for the emergency vehicles, and I will also use the left lane to make more room for police vehicles on the shoulder while they are ticketing someone. I do this also for cars on the shoulder who have hazzard lights on.\n\nI also will flash my brights to alert semi tractor trucks that their haul clears my front bumper if they are signaling to pass. and flash again if they are trying to merge into traffic. this really helps them take the guess work out of clearing the bumper.
793340
Police are trained very heavy in multi-tasking so yes the can talk on the phone and chase people at high speeds and talk on the radio while running after someone and send a description of the suspect via phone or radio. So give them a bit of a break. Tough job. Before you criticize try it first. Bet you will be all over them thanking them when YOU need them. \nBut yes you Can report them if they are relay doing something wrong. just get the car number. But as far as speeding for them...How do you know they are not on a mission....they do have to obey the laws but if they are on a call that needs a silent alarm..do you know...NO. And buy the way Fire trucks and Ambulances have to adhere to the rules too..even with the lights and sirens on!
303106
Police anywhere need probable cause to pull you over. But it can be over something simple. You car looks like one that has been stolen, your tail light is out, you're speeding.... MOST cops are actually just doing their jobs and not trying to be jerks about it. But you have a few who take the job to their head. There are also situations where they are looking for someone or something and they can pull cars over at random for searches. But I believe they have to tell you if thats the case.
823086
Yes, traffic cops use them to collect data on the average speeds of traffic at different times.  There's one on my way in from work on the midnight shift the speed limit is 30 and I usually try to go as fast as possible, 60-70mph just for fun.  But then again I am driving a squad car.
684757
The poster above me almost has it right. The police CAN pull you over if they know you don't have a driver's license or it is suspended. They have to have personal knowledge to the fact, such as they have stopped you before or have checked it in the system. They need no other reason after that. It is a misdemeanor to drive without one or with a suspended one.
500970
you'll get a speeding ticket and put in jail until there is no more light coming out of you
696381
The key is "if I get pulled over"\n\nSon, you better drive like a saint\nand pray like one too.\n\nThe police have plenty of things to keep them occupied and if you are driving like a law abiding citizen, it is highly unlikely that you will get pulled over.\n\nGood luck on your job hunt !
454483
I got pulled over for not using my turn signal.