On what situations are police allowed to put on lights and sirens?
955673
When they deem it necessary, and completely at their own discretion.  A group of five of us in a car saw a cop put on his lights to get through traffic and then pull into a burger king drive through.  A friends mom complained and the department said that it is not against the law for him to us his lights as he sees fit.  So pretty much, if he wants to put on the berries and cherries because Pittsburgh just scored a touchdown, hey that's his call... but of course he has a boss, who he is eventually going to get irritated, if he gets too many complaints over a siren happy maverick.
480015
Not quite, but there is the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001....\n\nhttp://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2001/20010016.htm
104599
Go ask the local police.
354078
In Ireland they changed the law after Veronica Guerin was shot, now if you have loads of stuff, cars/houses n the like and you cant prove how you came by the money to buy these things then the police can not only take the house but also everything in it down to the clothes of your back. As far as I know the same thing happens in England. Hope that helps
458778
Yes. The roads are goverment property, and a goverment officer (police) can set up a road block if they believe that it will prevent property damage, loss of live, or major injury. It's legal anywhere.
262608
Ask you local police department.
272698
Should they be arrested? No, but there should definately be a huge fine!! I am a Firefighter/Paramedic and I drive Code 3 (lights and sirens) all the time.  The most dangerous part of my job is just getting to the emergency through all the traffic.  You'd be surprised at the amount of cars that don't pull over right away.  The idiots who don't pull over are usually on the phone, too occupied to pay attention to their surroundings.  Hands free phones don't help that much either.  You can have a conversation in your car with a passenger without much trouble because they can see what's going on with traffic too and sometimes can even point things out for the driver.  The person on the other end of the phone is just a distraction for the driver and offers no help at all.\nPS. Guess what is becoming the biggest excuse/cause for traffice accidents?  Answer: I was on my cell phone and didn't see it coming.
1117077
In the UK, the police do not need a warrant to arrest you for any criminal offense if they have reasonable grounds  for believing you committed it or may be about to do so. The time of night and where the arrest takes place are totally immaterial as far as the law is concerned.\n\nThe police may need a search warrant to search your property, but this does not affect their right to arrest you.
985589
Local police have the first say in dictating everything. Rule of thumb is be subordinate to official demands by first responders.Hold these people accountable for they're actions at all costs.Track they're actions and reactions up the chain of command to hold them liable. Then you might have a legitamate claim if you've been harmed(physically or monitarally).Time and patience will reveal the truth.
62323
Suggest you go to DVMen.org for discussions of how the emergency protection/restraining order system is set up and has been used and abused.  Police can usually arrest where there is probable cause, and that can be established by statements of "victims."
735799
Ask your local police department they should know.
106636
Well, the question about blue lights tells me you're not in California.  If you had said what state you are in, someone might have been able to give you a better answer (maybe your state requires law enforcement to use their emergency lights to pull you over....but I doubt it very much).\n\nThat said, not using his lights on you was a very clever tactic that experienced police officers use.  Without the lights, there is probably no issue as to detention (meaning he didn't even need a reason to stop you, because you stopped yourself and he just walked up and began talking to you).  Police officers, just like everyone else in the country, have the right to walk up to someone and just start talking to them - and if the person stands there and engages in conversation, it's all good and anything that comes from it is just as constitutionally sound as if the officer had probable cause to make the stop in the first place.  \n\nHowever, if the officer pulled in behind you and blocked your ability to leave - even if you didn't try or want to - then it very likely will be considered a detention by the courts, and will require the appropriate constitutional factors to justify the detention.  You said the officer arranged for another cop car to block your way, so that would likely be considered a detention by the courts.  However, the officer is claiming you were speeding, so assuming he can prove that to the court's satisfaction, he could have called in a hundred cars to block you in and it wouldn't matter...blue lights or no.
1041533
Law makers make laws. Policeman enforce laws. They are not the same thing.
911071
Police work is different from parenthood.  Policemen are in danger of violent reaction from persons that they apprehend unlike parents or teachers wherein the children do not usually react to punishments.
415078
let the police handle it
267968
Drive/walk to a police station or a fire department.
410918
Better than that, get a couple of pieces of wood the same size as a cell phone and paint them black or silver and hinge them so you can hold them to your ear like a cell phone, then go to a state where it is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving and try to get pulled over... when the police officer comes to your car and starts in about how it is illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving, say "what cell phone?" and show him the two blocks of wood.  Just make sure there is no cell phone anywhere in the car. I know of no law where it is illegal to drive while holding a block of wood up to your head.