Police Question

[dorschman]

On the back roads home for lunch today I fly over a hill about 75-80 in a 45mph zone. Over the hill oncoming is a sheriff. He flips on his radar, realizes that I am going a little too fast, and brakes to prepare to turn around.

At this point I realized he had me (radar detector went off when he gunned me) so I figured may as well make him work a little. So I proceed to take an immediate left, and as I am heading up that hill I can just start to see him in my left rearview coming back down the road perpendicular to me after his turn around. Lights not on.

So I hot foot it down my new road for about thirty seconds, run up behind a new beetle going the freaking speed limit, and turn left into a neighborhood and proceed to go about 5 mph all the way down the street. The area I live in is heavily wooded so basically when I turned into the neighborhood his chance to see me from the road was gone.

I come back out of the neighborhood, turn right (back toward where he saw me), and take a round about way back to my house to lunch. Took the highway back to work.

My question is does anyone know if he happens to see me again and I am actually not speeding can he do anything to me?

He never turned his lights on that I could see and he did not wave me over when we passed each other.

There are only so many yellow old 911's in Orange County so I am likely to see him again at some point in time on the road.

Any opinions. I am not questioning that he had me dead to rights, but since he did not make any communication for me to pull over can he write me up if he sees me again?

thanks for opinions.

erik

[wcc]

I think you got away or he wasn't after you in the first place. I wouldn't worry about it. Because if he was really after you he would have got your plates and you probably would have a knock on the door by now. So relax......

[edgemar]

There was no indication for you to pull over so I would not worry about it.

[Jandrews]

This is an interesting situation. The question at hand, as I understand it, is not whether he should have stopped, but rather is there anything that the police can do if they see you speeding, and then run into you later. I would say no, but I really have no idea.


JA

[nhromyak]

Depends on your state. Here in Cali, you have to be pulled over and in your car... or something like that.

If you get out of your car and lock the door.... some friends of mine have beaten a ticket. But who knows. Good luck.

[David E. Clark]

Erik,

I'm an assistant public defender just down the road from you in Guilford County (Greensboro). If the officer is able to positively identify YOU (not just your car) at a later date as the person he/she saw speeding, then your goose is cooked! It's just like a bank robbery. Just 'cause you got out of the bank without being apprehended doesn't mean you get away with it! That said, it's very unlikely that the officer can put you behind the wheel (beyond a reasonable doubt) even if he stops your car in the future. Good Luck.

[dorschman]

sorry David E. Clark, but i just put you on my buddy list for future reference. Anybody get together regularly for Porsche stuff in this area?

thanks for the info. that makes sense.

You have an animal question fire away (I am a veterinarian in Carrboro).

erik

[edgemar]

Someone once told me that you can ask to confirm your speed by looking at their radar gun. If they already erased it from the gun you can get out of the ticket.

[steve185]

If the laws are the similar there as they are in Canada you can definitaly be charged if he can identify you. To be honest what you did was not smart and if he had caught up to you you're chance for a warning would be zero. The officer driving the patrol car does not know why you are trying to evade him.
You know you were speeding so do yourself and the police officer a favour and pull over and take the ticket.
Steve

[PCA7GGR]

Erik,

Just pray that the officer isn't a fellow Pelicanite. If so, you're busted!

[dorschman]

At 75 in a 45 I thought the chance of a warning fairly unlikey in a yellow porsche. And if he had waved me over or turned on his lights I would have pulled over. Can't outrun a radio after all.

[Puka Puncha]

Hey Dorschman....I got nine dogs so I'm putting you on my friendly list if you don't mind...lol I may need some professional mutt opinion down the road.

[Don Plumley]

A couple of points:

a) It's your lucky day. However, he will remember your car, so you never know when he might pull you over for a minor infraction, busted tail light (oh, how did that happen?), etc.

b) You might want to pose this question as a very hypothetical example. Though you escape positive identification, I read admission of guilt here...

c) I'm not an attorney or peace officer, nor did I sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night. YMMV.

[yelcab1]

Innocent until proven guilty is the law of the land.

Exceptions:
1. terrorists suspects held in Guantanamo
2. anyone affected by forfeiture laws
3. tax matters
4. innocent US citizens chatting on the phone

Oops, never mind, Guilty until proven innocent is the law of the land.

[dorschman]

Nine dogs! don't make me put you on my ignore list! just kidding. Fire up whenever problems arise. Atleast I am fairly sure you will not show up on my doorstep (unlike the sherrif's department!).

I think I am going to ask my wife if she wants to drive the 911 for the rest of the week.

[audi2.7t]

I had, hypothetically, a similar situation on the parkway when I was "allegedly" speeding on my bike... I may have seen this fictional officer a few days later and nothing came of it ,if ,indeed, it ever happened. Just bare in mind that if he does eventually catch you doing wrong he will remember and you will pay, so lay low for a while, behave yourself locally and consider a color change.

[David E. Clark]

Do you recognize this place?



I'll give you a hint -- it's where you'll be headed for your divorce if you go through with your plan!

[randywebb]

Besides the above you might also be charged with eluding. Might be a real crime in your state (i.e. misdemeanor or lower level felony...).

But on the facts stated, a decent atty should be able to get you off if so charged - there was no signal to pull over.

If you are stopped, say that you don't think it was your car that he saw. After that, shut up and say absolutely nothing. Cops are well trained to get you to answer questions (in a friendly way, not by torture, or Xexamination). A good cop will be hard to resist, so keep your mouth shut. If hauled in the very first and only sentence out should be "I want an attorney."


Next time you can save yourself a lot of trouble by.....

not speeding.

[dorschman]

I think the Pilot for the rest of the week and keeping it under wraps in the future on the back roads.

And get the car painted another color...

[David E. Clark]

Randy,

You are right. Three for three. (1) Fleeing to elude arrest can be either a felony or misdemeanor in North Carolina depending on the facts. (2) Under these facts there is not much to worry about; and (3)

Originally posted by randywebb
If hauled in the very first and only sentence out should be "I want an attorney."

You shoulda been an attorney