Can a police officer park in turn lane after dark with all lights off and no street lights on?

Question

THE TURN LANE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FOR U TURNS. HE SITS THERE TO CATCH SPEEDERS. IF I PARKED IN A TURN LANE I WOULD BE SURE TO GET A TICKET. IN AN EMERGENCY I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PARK ANYWHERE. THEY ARE NO THER STREETS OR BUILDINGS ON THIS ROAD. EVERY CHANCE I GET, I VOTE TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT. I KNOW THEY PUT THIER LIFE ON THE LINE EVERYDAY. TO ME THERE IS JUST TO MUCH CRIME GOING ON FOR A POLICEMAN TO BE SITTING IN A LOW TO NO CRIME AREA( MOSTLY TRAVLED BY WORKING PEOPLE MAKING A HONEST LIVING) WHEN HE COULD GO TEN MILES AWAY AND BUST A DRUG DEALER.

Answer 1

Get over it, you got a speeding ticket.  You sped past a posted sign with a speed limit on it, and you exceeded that posted sign.  Don't get all bent out of shape because you got caught.

You don't know he wasn't sitting there waiting for a drug dealer to drive by.  In fact, when he pulled you over for breaking the law, a drug dealer probably did go by, and he was busy with you.  So, really, you are hindering the police officer's attempt to bust a drug dealer by speeding in front of him.

Answer 2

Since you commented that it's a "U-turn" lane it sounds like a divided highway/road with access across the median- is there a sign posted? Often roads of this type will have signs posted that read "No U-turn: Emergency Vehicles Only" if that's the case then he can sit there with no lights parking lights on since it is not considered a normal traffic lane. If it is permitted for general traffic use, then he either needs to have parking lights on or be in an area where he can be completely off onto the shoulder of the lane where he's not obstructing traffic. As long as he's not in a marked lane there's no requirment for him to have any lights on. I've parked on that type of access road along an expressway while working EMS before, sometimes without any parking lights. However, don't forget that most PD, FD, & EMS vehicles are also marked with a decent amount of reflective striping so that even without any lights on they're fairly vissible.

- David

Answer 3

Yes he can park there. That's an emergency vehicle all the time...not just when there is an actual emergency. Part of his job is to monitor traffic and enforce traffic laws. He does not get to pick which laws he wants to enforce. The officer is suppose to enforce all laws. This officer is assigned to this area and he does not get to wander the city aimlessly and patrol anywhere he pleases. He cannot just drive ten miles away and patrol. He is assigned to that area to protect those citizens.  

Answer 4

Way to go Cindy!  Im not a cop but a paramedic and I park in questionable places all the time, simply because in public safety (EMS, fire, police) we have to able to reach our vehicles quickly and safely, and yes if we park in parking spots people will block us in with little to no regard for the fact that its an emergency vehicle.  Another factor is if we nose in to a parking spot like everyone else we have to back out of it, and police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances are loaded with equipment and devices that make backing at the best risky and at the worst downright dangerous.  The people in public safety are underpaid, underappreciated (especially the PD) we work in environments that are unpredictable, unstable, and at times untolerable.  What the American people want from us is dichotomous, they want fast response times, a public safety presence, and their hides saved when they get themselves into a sticky situation, but when they dont need us, they dont want to see us, we just make them uncomfortable.....

Answer 5

OMG, that is a weird question and one that can't be answered here....  However, it brings up an odd and unique point...  There was recently this case in Oregon where a cop was cited for parking in a red zone or a no parking "EMERGENCY VEHICLE" zone.  That is the dumbest thing that I have ever heard of.  Simply put, they want the police to park far away like the regular public does, yet they also want those lights running code three and for us to go balls to the wall to save their tails when they get raped, someone is trying to murder them or someone is breaking into their house....

See the logic?  If I park 100 yards away, while going into a store or handling a call, then guess what?  That puts lives at risk...  Yet, we see complaints all the time where people ***** moan and groan because the officer parked illegally...  What do you think an emergency zone is for?  Firefighters only?  It boggles my mind at how the complaints come out because it took five minutes to get to a rape in progress, yet complaints come out just as much for parking 'illegally.'

The communities need to MAKE UP THEIR MINDS!!!!  You can't have it both ways and I am not going to run like an Olympic athlete causing injury to myself just to get to my stinking car.