Stopping when you feel safe...

[StylesBeyond]

Hey guys, here's another question that I've been kind of curious about. I've personally encountered this a couple times.


When you're driving and get signaled to pull over by a cop, primarily on a highway or other "dangerous" road, what is the law/rule on pulling over "when you feel safe."

I've heard various things from different sources. Some people have even told me that as long as you make an indication to stop, i.e. putting your hazards on and slowing down to comply, that you can continue driving for as long as you need to until you find a spot to pull over that you feel is safe enough for both you and the officer.

Then I've heard other people say that if you don't pull over within a half mile from when the officer attempted the stop that it's considered running from the police.

Any input would be appreciated.


On a kind of on topic side note, I had a pretty bad encounter with a highway patrol officer once. I was pulled over one time, about a year ago, for having a headlight out. It was raining pretty solid at the time of the stop, and about 3/4 of a mile down the road I saw an overpass and decided to continue on and stop underneath of it. I slowed down, got all the way over to the right and put on my flashers. Needless to say, when I reached the overpass the officer was pretty mad that I didn't stop when he first signaled. In fact, his first words were "Why are you running from me?" Eventually it was smoothed over when he found I was clean and was given the opportunity to explain that I only kept going so neither of us got soaked.

[Unit453]

The law enforcement officer chooses the location of the stop, NOT YOU as the violator. There's a thing called training and I highly doubt any cop worth a grain of salt is gonna light you up in the most dangerous of locations. It just isnt worth our lives. If he or she dosent feel that its a safe location, they're probably gonna follow you to where there's a decent shoulder or where its safe to pull YOU off the roadway.

Think about it. Who's the one standing in the roadway? You or them? I would suggest NOT to continue driving after being lit up. Its a red flag thinking you're hiding something or looking for a place to bail.

[JKralC104]

The officer will light you up when he wants you to stop. Thats when you stop. Obviously, don't stop in the middle on an intersection but if he wants you moved, you will be directed to do so.

[LA DEP]

Pull over immediately......and on most city streets, you arent going to have any idea if he is pulling you over, or just needs you to get the hell out of the way so he can continue on to his emergency call.

If the officer wants you to stop somewhere else, he/she will tell you that over the PA.

Not pulling over ASAP can get you an another violation here in CA......failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, which is around a $800 ticket.

[crass cop]

agreed! WE determine where, not you.........we dont know what youre doing when u dont stop...maybe hiding the weed, maybe getting your gun ready

[StylesBeyond]

Cool, thanks for the responses guys.

But more into detail, what if the "violator" doesn't feel safe? I mean technically, regardless of what traffic law you broke, you still have the right to be "safe", so what happens in an event where you're stopping someone but they keep going because they honestly feel that stopping right there isn't a good idea. Beit because of traffic, weather, etc, etc.

[DAL]

The law enforcement officer chooses the location of the stop, NOT YOU as the violator. There's a thing called training and I highly doubt any cop worth a grain of salt is gonna light you up in the most dangerous of locations. It just isnt worth our lives. If he or she dosent feel that its a safe location, they're probably gonna follow you to where there's a decent shoulder or where its safe to pull YOU off the roadway.

Think about it. Who's the one standing in the roadway? You or them? I would suggest NOT to continue driving after being lit up. Its a red flag thinking you're hiding something or looking for a place to bail.

I have seen the CHP activate their lights and then use their PA system to tell the violator to get off the freeway at the next exit -- over a mile away. So they do not necessarily wait for the ideal spot to pull you over.

If pulled over, I look for a spot where the officer will feel safe.

[StylesBeyond]

I have seen the CHP activate their lights and then use their PA system to tell the violator to get off the freeway at the next exit -- over a mile away. So they do not necessarily wait for the ideal spot to pull you over.

If pulled over, I look for a spot where the officer will feel safe.

I agree. But I think the majority ruling here is to stop immediately, regardless of how you feel.

[crass cop]

As long as you are in your car, WE are responsible, to some extent, for your safety.
You just gave every thug doper out there an excuse to keep driving until they eaten their dime bag. DOESNT COUNT....Dont feel "safe"??? DONT DRIVE...Our lights and patrol vehicle behind you will assist in your safety, so let us worry about it

[Unit453]

True, but like anything, it varies from state to state.

But more into detail, what if the "violator" doesn't feel safe? I mean technically, regardless of what traffic law you broke, you still have the right to be "safe", so what happens in an event where you're stopping someone but they keep going because they honestly feel that stopping right there isn't a good idea. Beit because of traffic, weather, etc, etc.

I would say working here in Florida, it would look like you're hiding something and you can rest assured that you're gonna get a bit fat ticket.

[LA DEP]

Cool, thanks for the responses guys.

But more into detail, what if the "violator" doesn't feel safe? I mean technically, regardless of what traffic law you broke, you still have the right to be "safe", so what happens in an event where you're stopping someone but they keep going because they honestly feel that stopping right there isn't a good idea. Beit because of traffic, weather, etc, etc.

Then you can explain that one to the judge (who probably will have even less of a sense of humor about it than us)......because I WILL add on the failure to yield charge, each and every time........we make the decision on where that stop is going to happen.

[ateamer]

I must have slept through the Constitutional law class where they covered the right of traffic violators to feel safe.

[StylesBeyond]

Well thanks for the input guys. I was just curious.

[Smurfette_76]

I must have slept through the Constitutional law class where they covered the right of traffic violators to feel safe.

It was right between touching the car and wearing your cover.

[furetto7]

I remember that, it was on a thursday just before lunch, wasn't it in the same block of instruction that said we couldn't follow someone if they made two consecutive left turns.

To the Original Poster:

When I light you up, I expect you to immediately slow and move to the right hand shoulder of the road, I really don't care that the wildflowers are much prettier two miles down the road and you would rather stop there. The only exception to that would be on a dark and empty road at night and the car behind you has only a single gumball machine on the dash, then I have no problem with you continuing on to a better lit/inhabited area for reasons of safety (If the car behind you has more lights than a 747 that exception goes out the window). If you fail to stop when and where I tell you to, expect for me to be less than understanding.