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If a cop pulls me over for no reaon do I have to stop?
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If a cop pulls me over for no reaon do I have to stop?



    




thanson73
Well if you mean no reason then yes they can. Just keep going once and see what happens.

How do you know there is no reason? Most of the time people commit a traffic violation it's by mistake not knowingly. Do you know all the traffic laws out there. For example how many times have you made a right turn and not pulled into the nearest lane. How many times do you signal 100 feet prior to your turn, How many times do you fail to stop at the designated point, How many times while driving do you get out of your car to walk around to make sure you license plate light is still working and not burned out. There are plenty of reasons to stop a vehicle that I'm sure your not even aware of. It's not all speeding, running red lights, expired registration.

Here is another example. The corner store just had a beer theft. The clerk advised that the offender was a white male and drove off in a blue ford mustang. I'm responding to the area and see a blue ford mustang operated by a white male. I check him out and determine this is not the right vehicle. It was just a coincidence that there were two vehicles matching the clerks discription that night. Happens all the time.

How about this. There may be a hazard up ahead that just came out on the police radio and they have not had time to block off the road. So the officer responding to the soon to be road block lights you up to save you from driving into a chemical spill. Do you still want to keep going? After all the Officer has no reson to stop you. Your so smart you were obeying all the traffic laws. There can be no reason to stop you. Except maybe to save your life!!!!


boonietech
Duh... yes. Unless you want to be on TV.

"bad boys bad boys whatchyagonna do"


knox_mountain_guy
yes
you asume you have done nothing wrong
failure to stop is a criminal offense


Lt. Dan reborn
No, floor it and go for it! The worst thing that'll happen is that unbeknownst to you a vehicle like yours is wanted for an armed robbery or something like a kidnapping.
Let the fun begin as you drive with spike strips laid out for you and if you're lucky a SWAT guy will shoot out your engine, or maybe even more.
You have no idea why they are stopping you, maybe your license plate was stolen, and you didn't notice it. I don't really care why they are trying to stop you, it's your legal duty to pull over now!


suspendor
YES!
Once that red light goes on, you have no choice under the law. If it truly is for 'no reason', he might be pulling you over to deliver an emergency message or to give a 'safe driver' award.

True story!


laughter_every_day
You can't know that there is no reason. For instance, you and your car might match the description of a robbery suspect even though you didn't do it. Failure to stop in response to a signal from a cop amounts to refusing the lawful demands of an officer. That is generally a misdemeanor. However, consider the other consequences. If you do indeed match the description of a bad guy, there is the possibility that cops are going to do all they can to stop you, including ramming the car, etc, and still charge you with fleeing and eluding, which may be a felony.


?
No, in fact you need to floor the gas and try to get away. Then we can all laugh as they drag you from the car on "Wildest police chases"


chumpchange
how do you know there is no reason?

duh.


John
Absolutely. Perhaps you don't know the reason, but there is one. If you do not pull over, they will surely have a reason to spike your tires! The same goes for arrest. If you get arrested for something you didn't do and you fight it (physically), you can still be charged with resisting. It is much better to just go quietly and sue later, if you think it's worth it.

If you wanna try the "pull over when it is safe" tactic, better put your hazard lights on and drive well below the speed limit. Calling the police on your cell phone might work if your call goes in to the same jurisdiction as where you are being stopped. Many time the cell tower is in another jurisdiction and it automatically goes to that station.


*****
Rating
Regardless of why you are pulled over, it is NEVER wise to try and run.


mushrooman2000
by no means you can keep driving and end up on the evening news with cops draging you out of your vehicle and beating the poo out of you. YES stop when they pull you over. YOu will find out why soon enough


wingshooter08
Yes, all they need is "probable cause" and that can be anything!


pauljpray
Rating
Yes, If they do try to stop you according to law you must stop unless there is certain situations like you being held captive.

If you dont in a timely manner, they can also charge you with evading, or attempting to flee which is a felony in most states.


thesunking
Rating
yip !


charli2na23
yes becuase. if you dont pull over he now has probable cause to pull you over due to suspicion of criminal activity.


Rachel M
There is always a reason, and yes you have to stop at the nearest safe place.


clanz
Rating
In England or Wales if the cop is in uniform/marked car they can pull any vehicle over to check driving documents. If you don't stop you would be guilty of Failing To Stop under Section 163 Road Traffic Act. And they will force you to stop!


Alias Smith & Jones
Rating
Yes, but as others have said, if you think it's not a real cop, you can go at legal speed to a police station, if you know where one is. If you have a cell phone, you can call the police and ask if they can confirm that they have someone on your tail.

At least, that's what they tell you on 20/20 and Dateline and all those other lamo shows, even though no one knows in practice what would actually happen.


kveryeffective
First question are you 100% sure he doesn't have a reason.
He maybe aware of something you are not, better to stop and be very polite to him/her.

If you don't stop you now evading a police officer which is a crime.


pandabunny
Rating
if you choose not to stop because it is in a desolate area or whatever, you need to get out your cellphone and call 911 or the police station to let them know that you see the officer behind you but are not stopping because (enter excuse here) and then they will radio the officer and let them know what's up so that they can follow you to a safe location.


Bobbi
What do you mean, 'no reason.' HE has a reason to pull you over. You NEED to stop.


kby
Rating
i would suggest pulling over..... if you want to go to a safer area pull over and just roll down your window a little and ask to move to a better area.....


Shepherd
Eluding police; penalties. Provides that if any person who, having received a visible or audible signal from any law-enforcement officer to bring his motor vehicle to a stop, drives such motor vehicle in a willful and wanton disregard of such signal and causes an injury or death, he is guilty of a Class 5 felony.


WhatTF
There is always a reason and yes you have to stop, otherwise you will get an all expense paid trip to the pokie.


Mesha
Well, technically you do have to stop. You may think he has no reason and not realize that you have a tail light out or a missing license plate. If you are unsure as to whether or not it is a police officer, and have a cell phone in your car you can call your local police department or even 911 (even though that is typically just for emergencies) and ask since an officer has to radio in your car description and where he is before he pulls you over. If you don't have a phone, you can drive to a local police department but you better be pretty sure that he's not an officer because doing this is technically refusing to pull over.


nowyouknow
Yes, you do.


spackler
Rating
Yes. They can do whatever they want. The law says they have to have probable cause, but if they want to pull you over they will.


bAsic LiFE
Wow. Well the best thing to do is to pull over and make sure what you're thinking is correct. He may have a perfectly good reason and you just don't know about it. It's better to stop than start a police chase and get charged with felony attempting to elude.


tobias funke
You should pull over and tell him your going to sue him for pulling you over for no reason.


silver lining
Rating
what kind of question is this?? how are you going to know if it's for no reason unless you stop..then who are you to judge if the stop was for no reason. you got pulled over..deal with it.


Leogirl0804
Yes. Now if you are alone on a dark street and have doubt that it is really a cop you can drive (at the speed limit) to the nearest lighted area.





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