Tail gating.

[RC3]

I know its against the law to tail gate someone, but why are police officers allowed to do it? I had a franklin sheriff ride my ass for a good 4 miles yesterday trying to (I am assuming) to get me to speed so he can pull me over. I usually take some back roads home due to walmart making a hell of 31 thru spring hill and this sheriff followed me almost home. I so wanted to break check him, but is this sort of behavior allowed? I wasnt speeding nor was anything wrong with the car. I guess they need to get their quotas up.

Edited January 26, 2014 by RC3

[Tedro2022]

Turn your hazard lights on, pull off to the side of the road and kill the engine. If he pulls in behind you tell him you're having some engine difficulty and then ask him why he's following so close. Keep it casual conversation. As long as you keep it casual and calm I'm sure you can find out what the deal is. Cops get to bend the rules. It's not fair, but it happens. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Spots]

I used to run 8 KC daylighters under the back bumper of my 78 Ford 4x4. Someone would be riding my ass, one flip of the switch and the distance grows quickly between the cars. One night I did it to a cop who had been riding my ass for miles through some very curvy backroads at almost midnight. I didn't know he was a cop till I flipped the switch. We went to court because he wrote me a bs ticket over it. I told the judge they were offroad lights and hooked to my backup light switch and I had a mechanical failure, the judge looked him in the eye and told him if he hadn't been riding my ass for no reason then he wouldn't have been blinded. Case dismissed. If you think the cop is doing something wrong, call dispatch and tell them you have a car tailgating you and your scared to pull over. That usually gets them an ass chewing lol. Tapatalk ate my spelling.

[jtmaze]

My Suzuki Sammy crawler has a set of 150 watt fog lights mounted between the double tube bumper. B/u light switch shorted out so they are on a toggle. It won't go but about 55 so people hate to get behind me. Is fun to drive tho. JTM We the People of the United States, in order to form a more Perfect Union......

[RC3]

I kept my cool and there was not speeding or doing anything wrong, it just frustrating to have him ride my ass for miles. And I know he was speeding since I saw him turning about a mile behind me and next thing you know, BAM, hes there. I used to know plenty of cool officers but all that seem to be around now are a bunch of dicks.

[Will Carry]

   If an LEO starts tail gating me and I think he's being unsafe, If a deer runs out in front of me, or a child, I'm going to stop fast, then I will pull off the road at a safe place. If he pulls off too and wants to chat, that's fine. I'm a law abiding tax payer and if he asks why I pulled over, I'll tell him straight up.  I have a good report with cops. My family is full of them.

[RC3]

   If an LEO starts tail gating me and I think he's being unsafe, If a deer runs out in front of me, or a child, I'm going to stop fast, then I will pull off the road at a safe place. If he pulls off too and wants to chat, that's fine. I'm a law abiding tax payer and if he asks why I pulled over, I'll tell him straight up.  I have a good report with cops. My family is full of them.

I dont mind them at all. Spring Hill had a TON of awesome cops, but all the new ones and the franklin ones are turning into a bunch of dicks. I have about 6 officers living in my neighborhood and not one issue with a single one of them. Hell, I joke with one about all the different squad cards he gets.

[RED333]

For yall with white lights pointing back, it is not a good idea to turn them on if you are moving, you will get pulled over.

For the OP, the LOE was looking for you to do something wrong.

Pull over at the first wide spot, keep your hands on the wheel and wait to see if he stops.

[bigun]

Toggle switch on break light, put in o-f-f position slam on brakes, put in o-n position. nuff said.

[DaveTN]

Shoot, I can’t count the number of times I have had cops tailgating me at speeds far beyond the speed limit, sirens blaring, lights flashing; didn’t bother me a bit. Pretty good bunch of guys.

[TripleDigitRide]

I encountered a very nice officer the other day. He was riding pretty close to my bumper for 3 or 4 miles as I was doing about 12 over, running late to meet a TGOer early in the morning. It was dark, so I couldn't tell what kind of car he/she was driving. Once we got close to some street lights, my heart sank. I thought I was busted. I moved over to the lane to my right, and he/she kept on going. I was lucky.

[gregintenn]

I once had a police car tailgate me extremely close. I put both feet on the brake pedal and locked it up. He took the ditch. He came back out and I could see him in my rear view mirror all red faced and jerking at his shirt collar. I was really surprised he didn't pill me over and give me crap, but he didn't. He also followed a safe distance back until he finally turned off. That's the one and only time I've had one do it to me.

Edited January 26, 2014 by gregintenn

[vontar]

We used to have one follow the school bus like that when I was a kid.  The driver made several complaints to no avail.  I remember his boss told him it would be a shame if he had to hit his breaks to keep from hitting a cow one morning.

 

I guess word finally got to the right person as we finally quit having an escort.

[Dustbuster]

There's a load of reasons for an officer to be on your behind. If ya don't like it, just pull in somewhere safe and go about your business. Using a switch,or brake checking a patrol car isn't too smart. Your car may end up impounded pending investigation.
If you're not sure what to do,call 911 and use common sense.... Edited January 27, 2014 by Dustbuster

[Chucktshoes]

1)There's a load of reasons for an officer to be on your behind.

2)If ya don't like it, just pull in somewhere safe and go about your business.

3)Using a switch,or brake checking a patrol car isn't too smart.

4) Your car may end up impounded pending investigation.
5)If you're not sure what to do,call 911 and use common sense....

 

1)I will grant you this. There are loads of reasons for an officer to be accelerating quickly behind someone. The real question is, are the reasons legitimate. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't.

2) This is a good rule of thumb regardless of whether the person riding your ass in an unsafe manner is a cop or not.

3) Agreed. This is unsafe for everyone involved, including folks in the other lanes.

4) Are you ####ing kidding me!?!?!?!? IF (I'm really trying to grant you the opportunity to walk back from this one) this is a serious response and you would even consider engaging in this sort of jackbootery because you got brake checked for driving like an asshole, you shouldn't be allowed to have any more authority than telling kids not to cut in the lunch line. 

 

If an officer has a legitimate reason for exceeding the speed limit and needs another vehicle to get out of the way because they are responding to an urgent call then it is incumbent upon the officer to signal the other driver to move out of the way (I think there are flashing lights and/or sirens available which may be used for this purpose) otherwise the officer isn't entitled to drive like a douchebag just because he is in a special car. Badges don't make make jerks special, they just make them jerks with badges.

 

5)Common sense, try acquiring some yourself.

Edited January 27, 2014 by Chucktshoes

[Capbyrd]

I see a ton of people here don't care about the law. Seems to be common place for gun boards to be full up with the criminal element.

Y'all can rationalize all you want, but I don't have anymore time for the guy going 60 in a 45 or changing lanes in front of me without a blinker than I do the guy that stole the radio out of my car.


As for the cop thing, how do all of you know he was trying to bait you? I like how you all just assume. Maybe he just has bad driving habits.

If someone tailgates me, I don't care who they are, I just get out of the way. No wonder everyone has heart attacks and anxiety problems. Y'all are all just wound up about pointless stuff. Just try and relax every now and then. Don't let crap get to you to the point that you have to complain to strangers on the internet or try and blind people or whatever.

[MiddTennTaco]

1)I will grant you this. There are loads of reasons for an officer to be accelerating quickly behind someone. The real question is, are the reasons legitimate. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't.

2) This is a good rule of thumb regardless of whether the person riding your ass in an unsafe manner is a cop or not.

3) Agreed. This is unsafe for everyone involved, including folks in the other lanes.

4) Are you ####ing kidding me!?!?!?!? IF (I'm really trying to grant you the opportunity to walk back from this one) this is a serious response and you would even consider engaging in this sort of jackbootery because you got brake checked for driving like an asshole, you shouldn't be allowed to have any more authority than telling kids not to cut in the lunch line. 

 

If an officer has a legitimate reason for exceeding the speed limit and needs another vehicle to get out of the way because they are responding to an urgent call then it is incumbent upon the officer to signal the other driver to move out of the way (I think there are flashing lights and/or sirens available which may be used for this purpose) otherwise the officer isn't entitled to drive like a douchebag just because he is in a special car. Badges don't make make jerks special, they just make them jerks with badges.

 

5)Common sense, try acquiring some yourself.

 

What the hell? lol

[TerryW]

I met an ex-cop years ago that was in a hurry to go pee and the guy in front of him stopped for a cat(I don't know why. Isn't cat the other white meat?).  After the city pulled the cop car out of the guys back seat the city wrote a large check to the man for their popo driving in a reckless manner. 

[glowdotGlock]

When I was a deputy the most aggravating thing was people going too slow in front of me. I didn't tailgate anyone though. The headlights on a crown vic were pretty recognizable. You are in a car that when people see it they automatically drop 10mph even if they weren't speeding. I got behind sevearal cars that were going the speed limit only to have them see me and drop it to 45 for the next 10 miles. I am not making an excuse to tailgate but it does get old.

[TerryW]

I've never understood the go under the speed limit mentality.  I bet that does get real old.. 

 

I go +5 mph almost all the time and have never once had any trouble with that in the last 30 years. 

[Capbyrd]

Maybe some people do it because they aren't in a hurry to get some where.  Doing 40 in a 45 is NOT illegal.  Everyone sure seems to think it is but its not.  

[Dustbuster]

1)I will grant you this. There are loads of reasons for an officer to be accelerating quickly behind someone. The real question is, are the reasons legitimate. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't.
2) This is a good rule of thumb regardless of whether the person riding your ass in an unsafe manner is a cop or not.
3) Agreed. This is unsafe for everyone involved, including folks in the other lanes.
4) Are you ####ing kidding me!?!?!?!? IF (I'm really trying to grant you the opportunity to walk back from this one) this is a serious response and you would even consider engaging in this sort of jackbootery because you got brake checked for driving like an asshole, you shouldn't be allowed to have any more authority than telling kids not to cut in the lunch line.

If an officer has a legitimate reason for exceeding the speed limit and needs another vehicle to get out of the way because they are responding to an urgent call then it is incumbent upon the officer to signal the other driver to move out of the way (I think there are flashing lights and/or sirens available which may be used for this purpose) otherwise the officer isn't entitled to drive like a douchebag just because he is in a special car. Badges don't make make jerks special, they just make them jerks with badges.

5)Common sense, try acquiring some yourself.

I always strive for common sense. For an officer working patrol there are reasons for getting on a vehicles ass. It's not a power thing, it's a work thing. Is it right or wrong ? you and I don't know we're not there.There's policy for cops exceeding speed limits and call response procedure w regard to lights siren etc. that's not what the post is about. The op had a cop on his ass for a while. If it bothers him and or he's not sure it's a cop he should consider calling 911 and or pull over at a safe location. That's using common sense. Even my kids know that ... Guys that work the road are human like anyone else.anyone can be a douchebag.The op asked if it was good to brake check the cop. Probably not a good idea if the cop was on his ass for what he estimated at 4 miles.

On a side note if he did brake check the cop,and there was a fatality, and or serious injury because of it,the scene and vehicles would be inspected w vehicles taken off site pending investigation ie impounded. No jackboot crap it's called processing an accident. Nothing here to walk back on. I don't condone anyone driving like an ass gov employee or not.but I don't suggest trying to stop a train by getting in front of it ....common sense...



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2 of course it ate my spelling.

[Capbyrd]

There is no reason to follow that closely.   Ever.  I don't care who you are.  Leave room.  

[RobertNashville]

Tailgating is unsafe regardless of who is doing it.  The problem is that if it's a cop you likely aren't going to "win" (above experiences notwithstanding) by doing something off the wall (or outright illegal).

 

Best thing I can think of is to pull into the next store/gasoline station, etc. that you can find which will force him to either pull in behind you or go on.

[TerryW]

If someone, even popo, ends up in my backseat because I'm trying to avoid "Hello Kitty" they are going to have a tough time defending not being able to stop because they can't see what I can see in front me because they are following too close.