If driver A is driving at 60 mph and driver B is driving at 70 mph, then driver A will get pulled over first. This is because the speed limit is posted higher than the actual speed of the vehicle. But if both cars are traveling at the same speed, then a cop can pull over both cars.
Pulling over is the first step in any traffic stop. This means that the officer would want to know where the vehicle is coming from and going. He may even want to know what time you left home and where you were headed. Once he knows this information, he will then decide whether or not to issue you a ticket.
Speeding is another reason that police officers pull drivers off the road. Depending on the state, speeding can lead to fines ranging from $100 to $500. Police officers may also issue tickets for reckless driving, failure to yield right of way, and improper lane usage.
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How does a police officer decide who to pull over?
Police officers are trained and have various ways to decide on a driver to pull over. They look at factors including speed, distance traveled, time of day, and any other relevant factor. They may also check the driver’s license, registration, insurance, and criminal history.
Some of the ways are:
- Through suspicious activity reporting
Officers are trained to look for suspicious activity when conducting traffic stops. For example, they may observe a driver acting nervous or fidgety during a stop. The officer will want to determine whether the behavior was caused by something illegal or legal.
- Traffic violations
They are the most common reasons for stopping a vehicle. They are usually based on some type of violation, such as speeding, running a red light, driving without insurance, etc. When officers stop a vehicle, they are looking for any number of things, including drugs, weapons, stolen property, outstanding warrants, etc.
How do cops know which car is speeding?
- Radar Detectors
Radar detectors are used by police officers to detect speeders. They work by sending out radio waves at different frequencies. When a vehicle passes through this frequency, the detector picks up the signal and calculates the distance between the radar and the target. This allows the officer to determine the speed of the vehicle.
- The Laser Speed Detector
Laser speed detectors work similarly to radar detectors, but they use lasers instead of radio waves. A laser beam is projected towards the road and reflected the detector. From here, the device measures the time it takes for the light to return. This data is then converted into miles per hour.
- Lidar
Lidar works similarly to radar guns but uses lasers instead of radio waves. A laser beam is projected from the top of a police officer’s car and bounces off the back of a moving vehicle. The time it takes for the light to return is measured and converted into miles per hour.
- Speed cameras
Speed cameras are installed along roads to capture images of vehicles passing by. When a driver is caught speeding, they receive a ticket in the mail. Officers use this method to enforce traffic laws.
- GPS Devices
GPS devices are often used by law enforcement officers. These devices track the location of a vehicle using satellite technology. When the device detects that the vehicle is exceeding the speed limit, it sends a message to the officer.
- Doppler Effect
The Doppler Effect is the change in pitch caused by sound moving toward or away from the listener. It is used by police officers to calculate the speed of vehicles. By measuring the difference in frequency between the emitted and received signals, the speed of the target can be determined.
As a vehicle travels through space, its sound waves encounter different amounts of air pressure. This results in a pitch shift. Police officers can detect this shift in pitch using a microphone attached to their patrol cars.
- Strobe Lights
Strobe lights are often used by police officers to catch drivers who are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They shine bright flashes of light onto the road ahead of the police car. Drivers see the flashing lights and slow down before they hit a pothole or another object.
How many miles can you go over the speed limit?
The maximum speed limit varies from state to state, but generally speaking, the speed limit is between 55 mph and 65 mph.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the legal speed limit on any road is 65mph. However, the average person can only maintain speeds of around 55mph. This means that you could potentially drive for 2 hours before being stopped by police.
Mileage is calculated by multiplying the number of miles per hour by the time it takes to reach that speed. So, if you were traveling at 60 mph for 30 minutes, you would have traveled 1 mile. If you were going 80 mph for 20 minutes, you would have driven 2 miles.
The formula for calculating mileage is as follows:
Miles per hour multiplied by time
For example, if you were driving at 50 mph for 15 minutes, you would have covered 0.6 miles.
Do cops target certain cars?
Cops generally target vehicles based on their location, time of day, and type of vehicle. They may even target specific individuals. This is done through the use of radar guns, laser detectors, and cameras. Cops use this data to determine whether or not they should pull someone over.
Police officers are trained to look for indicators of criminal activity. Examples of these indicators include things like broken taillights, missing license plates, tinted windows, and expired tags. When an officer sees one of these indicators, he/she will likely pull the car over.
Police will pull you over if they think you are driving under the influence, speeding, or breaking any laws. They may even stop you for a broken tail light or an expired license plate. Nevertheless, they won’t randomly stop you unless they suspect something illegal is going on.
What to say if a cop pulls you over for speeding?
Say something along the lines of, “I’m sorry I was driving too fast. I shouldn’t have done that. “Saying this shows that you accept responsibility for your actions.
- Don’t tell the officer that you didn’t speed.
Tell him that you were driving too fast for the conditions.
- Be polite.
Being polite and courteous goes a long way. Even if you disagree with what the police officer says, politely say thank you and goodbye. Don’t argue. Police officers are trained to deal with conflict. They want to resolve the issue without having to arrest you.
- Don’t argue.
If you’re pulled over for speeding, don’t argue with the police officer. He doesn’t care if you think he’s wrong. He wants to give you a warning. Arguing won’t change his mind. Instead, apologize and promise to pay the fine.
Conclusion
Cops use various ways to detect a speeding car. In a situation where two cars are speeding at the same speed, both drivers could get pulled over. And if you get pulled over by a cop, the phrase “I’m sorry officer” is magical. Never you try to argue with a cop.
References
https://www.benedumlaw.com/how-fast-can-you-go-above-speed-limit/
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/beat-ticket-book/chapter6-1.html
https://www.helpingpeoplenc.com/12-things-pulled-over-speeding/