Can a police officer legally use flashing lights to make other cars move if not responding to a call/emergency

Question

On multiple occassions I have seen the same "officer" use flashing lights and sirens to make other cars move out of his way. Each time has been at the same congested toll area of the highway I use to get to work. On one occassion he was actually signaling for me to move over. As he sped past me I noticed a young boy sitting in the passenger seat of his unmarked car. Just today as I was passing throught this same toll area, this same person got behind me and again put his lights and siren on. Due to the traffic I could not move over right away. Once I finally did move over he continued to follow me until I could find a safe place to pull over (young boy inpassenger seat again). When he approached the vehicle he began yelling at me for not getting out of the way and threatened to fine me for failing to yield to an emergency vehicle. When I asked for his name, badge number, and what emergency he was responding to, he refused to give any of the information that I asked for. Was this legal?

Answer 1

This is illegal, write down his plate and report this abuse of authority to his/her precinct.

Answer 2

When you cannot move right away cost by heavy traffic use your emergency light.

Answer 3

Not legal at all.  Officers are only allowed to use lights and siren when responding to an emergency.  Its certainly possible that he was responding to an emergency that you were not aware of, but him taking the time to stop and yell at you would seem to indicate otherwise.  Did you get his license plate/car number?  You should call his post and file an official complaint against him.  It may not do any good, cops like to stick up for one another, but you never know, they may tell him to cut it out.

Answer 4

sounds to me like this idiot is just abusing his authority and needs to be reported. also he is not supposed to haul children especially during persuit in a police vehicle. Talk to the mayor of your town about this. you always have the right to ask for I.D. of a police officer.

Answer 5

No, it's not legal,,,,,but it doesn't stop them from doing it. Don't you know the police are about the law??????????

If you report them you are looking for trouble.

Answer 6

Why do you think it was an officer? I've seen this sort of behavior more often from volunteer firefighters and sometimes even from wack-jobs who fantasize about being the police, even to the point of driving a retired Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor model. We have even had one "militia" outfit fielding their own "police," making traffic stops and then fading away before they could be found. Obviously, it's only lawful to use emergency lights and siren in an emergency. If it happens again, get the license number and report it.

Answer 7

Sounds like a power-hungry pig... contact your councilman and file a complaint... expect to get some extra-special attention from the local cops though...

Answer 8

Well yeah there is that. Not to take the side of cops but...the more they are stuck in traffic, the less they can work protecting us and the longer it will take for them to answer a call when it does come. This happens oftrn in another country I go to...and to be honest I don't mind and move over when I can because they are serving us and you never know if they have to attend a scene where one of your loved ones was involved...what would you say if he said "sorry...I was stuck in traffic that's why it took so long".