You guys just dont get it do you? You insist the dirtbag cops adhere to this but here you all sit trying to scheme, wheedle, and slither, around it. Just because another car was also speeding doesnt mean it was OK for you to do it. The reason we stop the slow guy is because we can only stop one car at a time and the slower guy is probably closest to the squad.
So, in other words, you would go for the easy one rather than the more dangerous one? You couldn't note the plate number of the slower one and then chase down the faster one? Let's face it, if you blow by the slower of the two chasing the faster, don't you think the slower one will immediately slow down when he sees your lights? Doesn't that actually accomplish the purpose?
I have several cops in the immediate family, including a brother.
In 40 years of driving, I've only had run-ins with three cops that I found to be objectionable. I haven't gotten a ticket since 1986. Two years ago, I observed a cop in the county aviation unit using his lights to clear traffic so he could get to work on time. He did this every time I saw him, which was at least four days a week. Sooner or later, someone was going to panic and there was going to be an accident. After a big snow, I was driving my SUV to work one morning, and I see the crown vic running up my ass. The road was plowed, but the shoulder was not cleared. On go the lights.. No where to pull over to, so I continue. With too much traffic to safely pass me, he was stuck. We travel about 1/2 mile to where I finally get to a cross street and turn. He follows me, so I pull over, into the parking lot of a aviation supply company. He gets out and proceeds to yell at me for not yielding to an emergency vehicle.
My patience is gone... I ask him, "Where was I supposed to pull over to? If you have an emergency, why are you standing here yelling at me?"
He turns beet red. "License, registration and insurance card... Now!"
I continue. "You have no emergency, that's bullshirt. I see you using the lights to shove people out of the way every day. That, as I'm sure you know, is a department policy violation."
He glares at me as I hand him the documents. I hand him one more item. My PBA card. Yep, my brother is a County Deputy, and a Sergeant to boot. He does much of the news media interaction for the department. The cop's eyes open wide... He recognizes the issuing officer's name. Uh-oh, this isn't good.
"I think that it's time to discuss with your supervisor how you are misusing a department unit . So please, make my day. Write me a ticket."
He handed me my documents got into his car and left. I called my brother and described the incident. He made a personal visit to the aviation unit supervisor. My brother will only say that he took care of the problem.
How's this for irony? Christmas day, my brother tells us that he has been offered a transfer to the aviation unit. They are purchasing a fixed wing aircraft for patrolling the interstate, and my brother is the most experienced fixed wing private pilot in the department (single engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings). He's thrilled. His wife is happy for him, as this was his dream.
My regards,
Widewing
