Speed limits

Groover wrote:


From what I understand going over the speed limit legally requires the use of emergency lights except in specific instances. Those instances require the police to have a judge approved warrant with the time and route on it.

Nobody, including police, should be expected to break the law intentionally. If the law is unreasonable the law should be fixed, not ignored. Loose enforcement of the law leads to subjective and selective enforcement that is too often corrupt or can give the appearance of being corrupt. More than ever we need police to avoid the appearance of being corrupt. Just think how much violence could have been avoided in the past year if police had watched their appearance more closely.

I grew up in Huntsville, Alabama and remember when their police department sought certification about 35 years ago. The first thing that they had to do was give up all official policies that were illegal. Can you imagine what would happen to a company that had policies that required illegal behavior? And think about how it undermines the very authority that the police represent.

I am strongly in favor of law and order. But it should be reasonable and clear and it must apply to EVERYONE equally. And that includes judges, other police and especially lawmakers. Actually, since those people are the ones responsible for the laws they may deserve an extra dose of enforcement instead of the total immunity that many are privileged with now.

I understand that being a law officer is a tough job and that many work too many hours. Some of that needs to corrected but keeping a clean image would take away a lot of the disrespect that they suffer from now.

I am not aware of a federal law stating that lights and sirens must be used. I know that Texas law does allow police officers and other first responders to exceed the speed limit without lights if.....

"Speed Restrictions
Sec. 545.365. Speed Limit Exception for Emergencies; Municipal Regulation
(a) The regulation of the speed of a vehicle under this subchapter does not apply to:
(1) an authorized emergency vehicle responding to a call;
(2) a police patrol; or
(3) a physician or ambulance responding to an emergency call.
(b) A municipality by ordinance may regulate the speed of:
(1) an ambulance;
(2) an emergency medical services vehicle; or
(3) an authorized vehicle operated by a blood or tissue bank."

As stated, a police patrol is exempt from these laws. Other state's laws may be different as well as local city/county laws. I know most people assume they lights are required, but as with many other things like people assuming that you can get ticketed for going over the manufacturers GVWR, it is just an assumption, not reality.

As I said before, it is not black and white as many assume it is. There are many state and local laws that allow them to speed without lights in certain situations and areas so technically they are not breaking the law when used in this manner. Having these laws apply to a regular citizen that does not do the same type of work is just asinine.