Speeding troopers
Why do law enforcement cars travel at such a high rate of speed on the interstate and other state roads, but do not have their blue lights on? If they are not in emergency mode, shouldn’t they obey the speed limit like everyone else?
In 2005, former Lexington Police officer John C. Lamb II pleaded guilty to two moving violations for speeding without emergency lights and sirens when his cruiser broadsided Rachel L. Burns’ vehicle, killing her. Kentucky state law does have statutes that exempt emergency vehicles (including state troopers) from traffic regulations. To be exempt from the speed limits, KRS 189.940 says the emergency vehicle “shall give warning in the following manner: By illuminating the vehicle’s warning lights continuously during the period of the emergency; and by continuous sounding of the vehicle’s siren, bell, or exhaust whistle” unless using the siren is harmful to a victim’s health. It also states that “the driver shall not extinguish the warning lights during the period of the emergency.”
Filed under: Kentucky info
My mother was a public school librarian. I earned a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Kentucky. The Herald-Leader hired me as a news assistant 25 years ago; soon after, I moved to the news research department, where I’ve been ever since. We used to clip newspapers. Now, almost all of our research is online. We've come a long way.
So the answer is no? It is illegal for them to speed without the siren and lights on? Because who doesn’t see that every day? A police office flying on New Circle passing cars that are going 60 like they are standing still? Even after that girl was killed nothing was done.
Good article….re the speeding police. Your answer did not really answer the question.
Myself as other drivers have had Lex Police speeding well over the 55 and 60 mile limit on New Circle road without any lights or sirens and in one case to stop in McDonalds.
Yesterday and many occasions prior on the I 64 and 75 Ky state police have traveled in the left lane with excessive speed. Yesterday I followed the car for several miles in excess of 85 mph. You may want to continue to answer the question Good Work!
You missed the obvious answer: “Because then can”.