Use of light bar on cruisers...

[nd33909]

A few days a ago, the host of a popular morning radio show was telling a story of beign pulled over in his car. The officer in the car saw him driving dowm the road, and turned around, and "lit him up", and told him nothing was wrong, that he just wanted to tell him he was a big fan of the show, they chatted for a few minutes, and to keep up the good work. He (the host) then ask the asked the audience, even though he was cool with the cop pulling him over, if he was doing anything illegal, but we never got a clear answer on the subject. So was the officer in the wrong for using his cruiser and lights for "personal reasons"???

[TommyF]

Well w/out the full store I would say the officer may have noticed a violation of the vehicle code when he made the traffic stop and he then proceeded to tell the DJ how much he enjoyed his show. The officer may have been happy to meet the DJ and just failed to mention the violation of the law. If this were the case then no violation of law.

One other note, I can always stop a vehicle for an investigatory purpose. ( i.e. the vehicle matched a description of a stolen vehicle, or a burglary in the area. ) This may also be the case w/ this officer.:)

[Bodie]

Not a Cool Thing to do. It could irritate peerson being stopped and they would have a reasonable gripe. Most you probably would get is a letter in your file. Did pull over my sister once years ago just to scare her.

[Valor55]

I've pulled over friends I knew but I wouldn't pull over a stranger because they were a celebrity without a violation of some kind to justify my actions. I think if they wanted to complain about being pulled over for no reason and you really had no reason you'd get in some trouble. Also if you had no reason to do it and another car creamed them there would be some serious civil liability.

[InSane1]

The radio guy was prolly lying.... Anything for a topic.. he probably thunk that up in one of his delusional daydreams on the way to work. :o

[IPDBrad]

Originally posted by nd33909
So was the officer in the wrong for using his cruiser and lights for "personal reasons"???

Technically, if there was no violation, no investigatory stop, yes.

The stop is a seizure. Worth pursuing, no, but then again, I would never sue a fast food joint for me spilling my coffee on myself.

Coffee is hot you know.

[archer0830]

My brother pulled me over once late at night. Cause for a good laugh.