Law enforcement officers are bound to the same laws as normal citizens when it comes to driving, except for instances where they are performing their legal duties. I know exactly where you're coming from - I see cops speed all the time, and most times they are going nowhere. However, as soon as anyone touches 52 in a 50 they are there to 'crack down'.

Officers should be following the same laws as everyone else, but I also see them speeding. I almost had an accident by an officer who ran a red light. No siren and no lights were flashing.

Citizen's Arrest - That's what I saw on Andy and Mayberry

Every state and jurisdiction is different. I can only answer for my department. we have code one, code two and code three calls. one being the lowest and code three calls are emergencies with lights and siren. Common sense has to prevail, when it comes to answering a call. our department allows 10 miles over the posted speed limit for code one and two calls. a code two call could be an in-progress call and you do not want to scare the criminal away. apprehension and safety is the name of the game. code three and an officer in trouble is just about anything, as long as its done with the safety of the public in mind. having an accident and not arriving at all, is not going to help the public. Most police departments, including mine, now have AVL's attached to each marked police vehicle. these are all vehicle locators, which means our speed, lights, siren, idle time, etc. is tracked and recorded by satellite. Police officers are no exception to the posted speed limit. they should set the example and not be part of the problem. Because of continuing departmental liability, more and more police departments are installing the AVLs.

Personally, I really don't know about laws like that. As far as I'm concerned I feel it's an abuse of power on their part! They have the title of COP, so that gives them the right to be a jackass! I don't like COPS! Especially the ones in the town I live in!

yes,,happens alot it comes out when accidents ocur

2nd answer. Its really easy for a person to sit back and criticize for something they have no knowledge. 99% of the time, a speeding police car is going to a call. he may not have his lights and siren going for many reasons. a burglary in-progress, a rape in-progress or someone attempting to carjack your wifes auto, are a few examples of why the police speed. its to protect you and your family. the lights and sirens are not used, in order to not scare the criminal away and hopefully an arrest. Lights and sirens are used only on major crimes like a shooting, arson, armed robbery or other as each police departments orders govern their officers. Until you sit behind the steering wheel of a police car and respond to a big variety of calls, you should not judge where a police vehicle is going or its speed. if you have never needed the police, you will not understand this answer. we will be the first you will call, when trouble invades your life. then, how would you feel? The police need for speed is sometimes necessary to protect you and your family.

A couple years ago, in my town, a cop was killed, while wildly speeding on a curvy road back road rather close to my home. The "facts", as they were, are guite confusing. Originally, he appeared to be responding to a call for an officer needing assistance. Problem is, that officer was a in another part of the county that would have been accessed more easily by closer cruisers. Then the story came out that the "call" had actually been cancelled, but perhaps his radio hadn't picked it up. At any rate, they made this cop a freaken hero. They have a special day for him, even named the raod after him for a while. Then, built a new road somewhere else in the town and gave it his name. Why does this really aggrivate me the most??? The road where he wrapped his cruiser around a phone pole, is the same road that my family travels to town. On the day that this "officer" decided to have a little excitement, he could have taken out any number of people-- including my own. AND THEN THEY MAKE HIM A HERO. If anyone is interested, the story can be found in the Lanmcaster Eagle Gazette, OH

off duty cops have to abide by the same laws that we do, speeding included... and they get tickets too!

Supposedly off duty cops are subject to the same laws as ordinary citizens. However speaking as someone with common sense and cops in my family, it's a crock of shit. Cops will go over the speed limit whenever they damn well feel like it, regardless of whether it's legal or not.

Since I asked this question, I thought I would comment on the answers this has generated. There are in my area many officers who drive take home cars and regularly speed when off duty. If marked vehicles would travel in a reasonable speed zone, other vehicles would as well. Where I live, speeders are picked off one by one instead of a marked vehicle being in plain view of the traffic. My question would be then are you interested in having safer traffic overall, or just nail someone for speeding. This is a concern that an ordinary citizen cannot do much about. If the top law enforcement official does not care, no other office under him/her will as well.

there might be

Yep. They cannot do it unless in a marked car.

Assuming you mean law enforcement on duty, whenever they are speeding they are responding to a call or emergency. Just ask them.

I'd assume so. Makes sense!