Driving in Illinois and passing vehicles with flashing lights

[Angela Macy]

I've noticed troopers doing that too here in NC Goob, kind of - they park their car about 4 feet out from the car they've pulled over, sometimes this causes them to be in the road partially. I think their theory is they'd rather a person hit their patrol car and have the patrol car forced into them, rather than be hit by the car who is running off the road completely. Maybe if the car running off the road hits their patrol car, it may slow the cars down the split second it takes them to get out of the way. Still a risk of getting hurt or injuried, but maybe not quite as badly. I've even noticed the troopers going to the passenger side of the car now adays instead of the drivers side.

And agreed, something about the flashing lights seems to draw people to that area. Another case in Northern North Carolina a year or two ago - car had broke down the night before, group of people are well off the side of the road pushing broke down car onto a trailer - woman blasts through their in her SUV, runs off the road and runs over them all over and killed all of them - 4-6 people I think. They charged her with vehicular manslaughter and if I recall correctly she was sentenced a few months back - I forget what exactly that sentence was, very lenient but she thought it was too much. I'm not sure I ever heard exactly what caused the woman to run off the road, but inattentiveness most likely was the culprit. I guess her theory was that just because she didn't intend to kill the people she shouldn't be held accountable for her actions.

[Ed Wright]

Same law now in Oklahoma.

[Bunkster]

Just because you have a POST license, doesn’t mean you have any brains.

This is a classic case of the LEO becoming a public nuisance. That drivel and bilge on the side of your car…”protect and serve”… along with that flag on your shoulder, doesn’t mean squat: You do NOT have the most dangerous job out there and it is disgusting that you still purport that you do. Hell…farmers and construction workers have far more risk of dying on the job than you do.

I love good LEO’s. I despise bad ones that roust and hassle people that are no threat to anyone.

You want respect? Then stop whining and crying to legislators to make statutes for your ego. Your life is NOT worth more than anyone elses.

[Rob Petrie E395]

Its funny this thread came up today. Since I made my eariler post this morning I have towed 2 cars off of Interstate 64. Since this subject was fresh in my mind I figured I would watch and see how many cars changed lanes for me while I was on the side loading up. Well I am sad to report with all the lights on the rollback flashing NOT ONE car moved out of the right lane that I saw coming although EVERY tractor trailer did. Wheres a cop when you need one.

I Have to agree with the Bunkster,

Where are the laws protecting regular tax paying people?

I don't remember any laws saying people got to slow down when I'm on the side of the road with just hazard lights.

Don't get me wrong, we all pull over and slow down for the money makers.

[Keith 944]

this is not needed on the eastern shore of md. seems EVERYONE drives in the left lane.(lol) i do put a lot of blame on driving instructors. we learned how to drive in high school, now it's a very short outside class. a lot of what i see are drivers on cell phones, driving in the left lane with no one in the right, 3 feet from the car in front of them.

going to the beach, they went so far as to put up signs "stay right execpt to pass" do you think this made any difference?
seems salt air must invade the brain of drivers to the beach, it is a great race to get here, i see them pass on the sholuder, motorcycles pass in between two cars, i saw a young lady the other day holding up an ambalence in the left lane with lights an siren blairing, so she throw's her hands up in the air, yep she was also on the phone.
do i think this law is good? sure it is, but only responsible drivers abide by them now. i have always moved over for emergency vehicles. i feel they will be handing out a lot of fines and it will still be the same.

[Angela Macy]

I agree the law should protect anyone who is on the side of the road, whether it be a police officer, parametic, transportation worker, tow truck driver or Joe Blow Citizen. But b*tching about it on ClassRacer.com isn't going to get that law changed. My thoughts are if the law already exists, it wouldn't be too difficult to get it expanded to cover anyone on the side of the road, maybe I'm wrong through. Contact your local representatives, congressman - whoever you need to and ask them to have the law changed to protect us when we're on the shoulder too. Unless you contact the appropriate people and make an effort to get a law changed then you can't complain about not having rights.

And by the way, a few weeks ago I was driving home and on the other side of Hwy 220 a woman had a flat tire. A Trooper had stopped to help her - he had her stand up on the hill away from traffic - she looked to be about 7-8 months pregnant - while he was on the drivers side changing her tire. Sounds like Troopers are real bad guys, eh?? Rolling my eyes (why don't we have smilies here??) - like any profession, there are going to be bad ones, but in my opinion there are far more good ones.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by SSDiv6

Jason...I 've been told that Ed has a big fat ***...

Jason,you really suck at back pedeling on your rediculous statements.Kind of like the Biondo thread.
Div.6 I've been told people cant destinguish between my *** and your head.

TaTa Ed F.

[Dave Goob Cook]

Originally Posted by 1664SSJA

We leave the car out in the lane a bit to protect ourselves AND the car being stopped. If someone is going to hit the cruiser, They are too close and will hit the Trooper. That is how we were making stops 20 years ago as there were too many close calls.

And yes........ it is also Troopers call on where he wants to come up on the vehicle..... (Driver vs. Pass side) and that depends on the type of stop, and on how many occupants you have in vehicle being stopped........ a little bit of "gut" feeling also.... I would prefer Pass side if car is unoccupied on that side, ( for an Interstate stop only)but again......... it depends on the stop.

I have no problem with it, you just have to pay attention......
No way I'd want to stand out on the road dealing with an idiot either.

When I have been stopped, I also do my part to keep both of us out of harm's way as much as possible. I go to the grass.
I even escaped a ticket one day on a City M/C radar stop because I backed up about 150 feet so the officer wouldn't have to walk up to me, or move his M/C up to me. He told me that the manner in which I treated the stop showed good character and thanked me....

[Dave Goob Cook]

Originally Posted by Jason Fuller

I Have to agree with the Bunkster,

Where are the laws protecting regular tax paying people?

I don't remember any laws saying people got to slow down when I'm on the side of the road with just hazard lights.

Don't get me wrong, we all pull over and slow down for the money makers.

Both of you guys need to do some ride along time.....