What are police officers supposed to do if they pull over a speeder and it turns out to be a...?

Question

...Pregnant woman being rushed to the hospital by her husband.

Is there a protocol for that? Do they just escort the car to the hospital with lights and sirens? I'm curious, my wife and I have conflicting opinions.

Answer 1

I'd let her go, I mean what do you expect her to do? Give birth in the car?

Answer 2

I did a little research on this and it seems to be the general consensus that it depends entirely on the cop that stops you. For example:

"Jessica Hodges thought she was in labor, so she set off to the hospital in her car to try to get there in time. She was pulled over by police for going 57mph in a 35mph zone and charged with reckless driving.

Could the cop not see tell she was in labor? Maybe he didn’t believe her. Still she was detained long enough for the reckless driving ticket to be issued before she was able to make it to the hospital. Luckily, it was a false alarm.

She was found guilty of the charge of reckless driving. She was one of the first people in Virginia to be hit with an “abusive driver fee” of $1050 on top of the $100 fine for the ticket and the court costs.

The “abusive driver fees” range from $700 to $3000 and were designed to pay for Virginia’s transportation projects. And who better to pay for transportation projects than pregnant women on the way to the hospital?"

http://www.notalawyer.com/2007/08/12/pre...

But I also found that this question had been asked before on YA and it seems that sometimes they do, othertimes they don't!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?...

So, you and your wife are both half right. There is no "procedure" for this, it seems. It's entirely up to the officer.

Hope that helps you!

Jon

Answer 3

Hey danger stranger you have the right to remain silent,and the best answer comes from  (me be 1042)  

Answer 4

It depends.  If she's got contractions 3 minutes apart and you're a mile from the hospital tell him to slow down and drive the speed limit (I've got 12 years in law enforcement and 6 kids).  You've got lots of time and there's no emergency.

If the head is crowning, you call EMS and snap on your gloves to catch.

In all  circumstances: the officer will use his/her judgement.  My department isn't allowed to do "police escorts" to anywhere.  

Answer 5

I agree that no one else has any idea what they are talking about. A smart, compassionate, yet liability conscious police officer in today's world, in the situation you describe, would NOT escort the pregnant lady to the hospital. What if she crashes, or is crashed into by someone else? Or what if something else terrible happens to her or her baby on the way? Who will be considered responsible? The police officer. Plus, that wouldn't even be legal. A responsible officer would immediately call for EMS (ambulance, for those of you in Rio Linda) to respond, to transport the woman to the hospital. He/she would then offer whatever comfort and aid is necessary until medical help arrived.  

Answer 6

been in this situation before my husband and I were escorted to the hospital lights and sirens, he even helped us check in.

Answer 7

if they believe you, they will assist you.

If they do not believe you, you will get arrested.

Answer 8

I  would say he would probably just let you go.Maybe call the hospital and let them know.

Answer 9

When my wife was about to give birth I didn't feel the need to drive over the speed limit.  If you are really that close to giving birth you SHOULD NOT be in a car.  That's why there is a phone number you can call: 911.  The paramedics are trained specifically to help out people in that situation.

As an officer, I would definitely NOT escort someone to the hospital.  As citizens are not allowed to drive over the speed limit, the officer allowing them to do so would be at fault for anything that happened, such as a crash.  The officer could lose their career and be liable for civil lawsuits.

Depending on their attitude they may or may not get a citation, just like everyone else.

Answer 10

They give the driver a speeding ticket & he goes on his way.  

Answer 11

My Department has a procedure, call an ambulance to the scene. Would I escort the vehicle to the Hospital? not just no, but h**l No! That is what an ambulance is for, to transport someone in a medical emergency. Because if I were to provide and escort with lights and siren, guess who is liable if the expectant couple gets into an accident and injuries or deaths result?

Me. No thanks, but I'd like to keep my job, house and other worldly possessions.

As some have pointed out what is the common theme that happens in these situations. A panicked driver who is oblivious and a serious danger to everything and everyone around them. But sadly, Police Officers are cast as the bad guys because we stopped them for their dangerous driving. And if we don't stop them, the Police are the ones blamed for not being around and possibly stopping them.

I'm sure the thumbs down are going to fly for this answer. But the bottom line is that I have and obligation and responsibility to protect not just the pregnant mother but stop the potential danger that the panicked driver is to the others on the roadway.

    

Answer 12

Guys on my job have had that happen to them.what happens is one officer hops back into the patrol car while the other gets ito the pregnant lady's car. the one in the patrol car then escorts the other vehicle to the hospital with lights and sirens on. the reason for the officer driving the preganat lady's vehicle is that they are trained in driving and can help get her there faster

Answer 13

Normally the person would have their warning lights on so that would at least let the officer know your not trying to get away from a bank robber, and you could also use signals like go around come up to the window and stuff like that. But to answer your question, no you would not be punished because it is an emergency and he would or at least should gide them the rest of the way to the hospital.

Answer 14

if the cop is a human  being, he wouldn't give you a ticket. they would have the legal right i think, but that would make him an *ss.

Answer 15

I would think as a police officer you should help the couple out and escort them to the hospital, but you should check your handbook also if you are a cop and see if it says anything about unusual circumstances.  

Answer 16

they would escort them or the husband wouldnt stop

Answer 17

they should give you an escort to hospital then issue you a speeding citation. You would of endangered many lives including your wife and child. You are supposed to call for rescue help. The fire dept would of arrived and handled it properly.  

Answer 18

they escort you http://fr.truveo.com/The-stork-gets-a-po...

when a mother in labor is being rushed to the hospital and the car is pulled over by a cop, the cop ends up giving a police escort to the hospital.

raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=...  and  sorry if my answer gets thumbs down I checked the above site,I do not know,but tried so I will learn from you guys.

Answer 19

I believe that because it is an emergency to the woman they would escort the car to the hospital. It would be dangerous to the potential life to waste time, and most police officers are sensitive to that.

I think that they would only use the lights, sirens are for a code 3 emergency only, and while although it is the pregnant woman's emergency, there isn't a crime taking place. Hope this helps!!

Answer 20

SHUT THE **** UP YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO ESCORT THE d**n WOMAN AND HER HUSBAND TO THE HOSPITAL.

EVAN D. TYSON

Answer 21

The safest action to take is to call for an ambulance so that the woman has access to adequate medical care while she is en route to the hospital.

Since every officer is trained in some emergency medicine (most are EMT's or above) the officer should stay with the couple until the ambulance arrives.  Of course the officer should use his training to render any medical aid necessary until the ambulance arrives.

A second, but less desirable option is to give the couple a police escort to the hospital.  The woman would not receive medical care while being transported, and since very few drivers are adequately trained in high speed driving in highly stressful situations ... an accident could occur, injuring the driver, his wife, and the unborn child.

For the reasons stated above, most departments do not use the police escort method unless there is no alternative!

Answer 22

let me just say this first: i hate most cops

now to answer your q, the escort you to the hospital with lights and sirens

Answer 23

either let her go immediately or escort her with emergency signals on.

Answer 24

mebe1042 & Hammer are correct. Upon discovering that a medical emergency is involved the officer would call for an ambulance to transport the female while the male remained on scene to receive the citation.

In my 10yrs on ambulances I've been called several times to the scene of a traffic stop to transport a passenger that was having a medical problem.

Escorting the vehicle is also a no go, not only from the liability standpoint, but also that the vehicle is not equipped with visual & audible warning devices, nor is the driver trained in emergency driving techniques. Ambulance are equipped with trained medical personnel, medical supplies, and emergency warning equipment if needed. We are capable of delivering a baby in the field, I've done it.

It often surprises people to learn that even when one emergency vehicle complete with lights and sirens is following another that people tend to pull right out in front of it. Most drivers don't think that another EV may be coming, they simply pull out after the first one has passed. Now imagine the scenario of a regular car, with an untrained driver, & no warning equipment following a police car running emergency traffic.

BTW: a woman in labor is NOT a lights and siren emergency. I've transported dozens of pregnant women, women in labor, even had one deliver during transport, never used the lights and siren. The only time I did use lights was when I activated the secondary flashers while stopped along side the road during the one field delivery since I couldn't pull all the way off.

- David

Answer 25

Common sense dictate they clear the way.

Answer 26

If its an emergency, they will probably summons paramedics right there.  If its not an emergency, then you may be looking at a ticket or a warning