Do you have to stop.............

[red_hotxr6]

Nine thirty at night, you are on your way home, suddenly, a red and blue light is flashing behind you, you look and realise that the car is not marked, just those lights flashing on the roof of the car. Do you pull over for this car?? What are your rights at this event??

[poppa smurf]

as far as I'm aware the red and blue lights are reserved for emergency vehicles only.......

I would assume police in this instance.....so yes you would have to either stop or at least move aside to allow them to pass if they pull up behind you then i think you're in a bit of strife

[Silver Ghia]

Unmarked police car? I think so....

Unless they are trying to get past, so you make room for them to pass.

[cs123]

If you are worried for your personal safety then I think you are permitted to drive to the nearest police station. Probably the nearest safe place would be a better bet like a servo.

[red_hotxr6]

Can you actually tell this "guy" you want to go somewhere.."safe" and they will follow...i mean, what if its a lady, alone in the car,...at night time...is there a number she/you, can ring to check..that there is an officer out here working this area...

[xisled]

You can pull over and ask for ID.

Also call 000 on the mobile phone, even with no credit you can call 000. (may risk using phone while driving). Try and get the Rego of the car.

Or drive to nearest police station.

Unsure if any of the above is legal.

[usernametaken]

don't forget Magenta lights can pull you over as well (in Vic at least)

[usernametaken]

[Smoke Pursuit]

You have to pull over...

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

You have to pull over...

But if you're worried - keep an eye on the other driver via your rearview mirrors. If they look ok, just crack the window down a bit & ask for some id (as you are a bit worried about their bonafides).

[mik]

i reckon it would`nt be too hard for someone to do the pull over driver routine with gizmo`s these days, i have my android phone on auto updates and it updated my torch app with one of these simulated police lights, of a night time seeing the flash through the windscreen some one could get sucked in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BixhkThJkRk

[Iggypoppin']

If in doubt you can drive to the nearest police station I'm sure. Me, I'd pull over straight away but I always ask to see the officers ID and I always remain in the car, doors locked and window cracked until I can see the ID.

[red_hotxr6]

So unmarked police cars only have 1 person in them or do they have to have two police officers in them?...and its law, you HAVE to stop? I remembered many moons ago i was in my cortina and it was conking out alot, i risked running a red light at aspley/carseldine, just because i did not want to be the person at the lights, stalled and blocking traffic, got done, off course by an unmarked police officer, only 1 in the car..thank god i got off with a warning when he saw i couldnt restart the car..but yeah, unmarked and 1 person...
Look i was just wandering, because off all these idiots that think they can get away with a lot of crap, and to stop a female, at night, and prey on them, Do you have to stop....??

[Peuty]

Call Policelink if in doubt.

[Smoke Pursuit]

They only need to have 1 person in them.

If you don't stop you risk the charge of evading police or possibly having them run you off the road.

Common sense really.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by DASH GT

They only need to have 1 person in them.

If you don't stop you risk the charge of evading police or possibly having them run you off the road.

Common sense really.

I'm fairly confident there is a loophole, whereby if you drive sensibly to the nearest police station, whilst calling (via a hands free kit), or to the nearest throughfair, they would be leanient...

I'm sure it relates to being in a poorly lit area, or an area that doesn't have a lot of traffic round (ie a country highway at night)

If you didn't stop, the police would call for back up.....Providing you're on the phone, there would be a record of the conversation, therefore would go towards you being fearful of your safety therefore the leniency.

In saying that, the best advise would be to call the coppers and ask their opinion.

[gtfpv]

wasnt there a story on the news a few years back about this ? i remember them saying a driver is entitled to drive slowly within the law to the nearest public place .

[poppa smurf]

I dont reckon I would continue if there were the red and blues in the rear view, they tend to get a bit grumpy when you dont stop

I've heard that being chucked on the ground and tasered a few times can really upset your day

[DBourne]

Originally Posted by poppa smurf

I've heard that being chucked on the ground and tasered a few times can really upset your day

Or be considered foreplay to others

[vanman_75]

You can drive to nearest police station ..but I have also wondered what the police would do if you were to choose that option..

[The Monty]

There can be any amount of officers in an unmarked car, depends what it is doing for the day. If it is unmarked, and they are plain clothes, they will usually have ID visible. If it has red and blue lights on the roof, I think youd be better off pulling over.

[No.6]

Drive to the nearest police station, or public place.

Keep driving until you hear a siren.

Keep driving until the car is joined by another, marked unit.

Pull over and only allow a very small gap in the window, ask for ID, or if you still arent sure, call 000.

These were the steps i remember given to female drivers back when there were a number of incidents of crims acting as unmarked cop cars.

[Jimwarlock]

You could always argue that you weren't confident it was a police vehicle trying to pull you over.
But the thing is those cars are pretty obvious. We all know what they look like and they all look professional.
It's not some dodgy light bulb on the roof of the car.

Also the officer will identify themselves. They all have PA systems and have to be wearing full uniform.

I see the point of concerned posts, but really that sort of circumstance just doesn't occur.

FYI the consequences for impersonating a police vehicle or even having flashing red and blue lights are crazy high

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by Jimwarlock

You could always argue that you weren't confident it was a police vehicle trying to pull you over.
But the thing is those cars are pretty obvious. We all know what they look like and they all look professional.
It's not some dodgy light bulb on the roof of the car.

Also the officer will identify themselves. They all have PA systems and have to be wearing full uniform.

I see the point of concerned posts, but really that sort of circumstance just doesn't occur.

FYI the consequences for impersonating a police vehicle or even having flashing red and blue lights are crazy high

The consequences of mugging , rape , bashing are probably higher and I doubt a person that would do those things really gives a crap about crazy high fines ..

[red_hotxr6]

I just wondered if you had to stop, i mean, if you were driving from ESK to IPSWHICH, in qld and got these flashing lights before wivenhoe dam, what are you going to do....there is nothing there at night and if you are a lady/girl alone like what the heck..if its " a bad guy"..you are gone...But if the law says you have to stop, then i suppose you have to stop.............and take your chances..

[usernametaken]

talk about paranoia...

I can assure you that if you don't stop - you will be stopped.

None of this 'driving miss daisy' to the police station.

You will be intercepted before you get there.

pretty simply really.

edit:

most unmarked cars these days will have two aerials on the back and maybe one one the front. They'll also have either one or two mobile phone aerials on the rear window (or disde if it's a station wagon)

They have 3 flashing LEDs on the a number plate mounted bracket and either a central mounted or two side mounted internal flashers (with two one the rear window)

They will also have headlight and tail light (usually reverse lights) flashers installed that blink them on and off rapidly.

most will either be commodores or to a lesser extent fords.

The police car should park out onto the road from behind you to protect the officer from oncoming traffic when talking to you.

Anyone that pulls over for a crappy iphone app is a fool.

So please don't fall for the paranoia that is being peddled here.

It will only get you in trouble with the law.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Slightly cracked window with car running, anything happens drive off.

Ive pointed out where I was intending on going when being pulled over and they just followed me... this was in brisbane so a fair few more options

[red_hotxr6]

Ok, general consensus is, STOP....

[poppa smurf]

I dont think you are being paranoid at all.....police here are using older model vehicles with no aerials .....all they have is a light board on the dash

my two cents worth (and please remember this is coming from a little blue comic book character)

is to

pull over when instructed

lock all doors, and leave windows up but crack the drivers side

leave the vehicle in drive with engine running

ask for ID before you go any further......any doubt get your freckle to hell out of there

lot of weirdos out there so play it safe......look after yourself and try to not see every vehicle as being out to get you.......

[aussie muscle]

i was pulled over by an unmarked Subaru WRX, blue in colour. from outside it looked like a standard boy racer car. The officer that hopped out was in uniform and put his police hat on once out of his car. The red/blues were hidden in the grille and windscreen.