Can a Police Officer Wave You Over on a Major Highway for Speeding?

While it might seem surprising, the answer is often yes, a police officer can legally wave you over to pull over for speeding on a major highway. My own experience in California highlights this reality. One fateful day while riding my sport bike, I received the single speeding ticket I've ever gotten, all because a police officer waved me down.

How the Ticket Occurred

Many years ago, I was speeding on a state highway in California. Just as I passed a parked police unit, a CHP officer (California Highway Patrol) was standing outside another car and issuing a citation to the driver. Unmistakably, the officer “waved me down” to “pull over.”

I decided to obey, stopping as he asked. However, instead of pulling over immediately, he drove up to me and issued me a speeding ticket. The incident left me wondering: what if I hadn't stopped? Would he have pursued me, or would he have relied on other means to stop me?

Legal Authority of Police Officers

Even if a police officer is not in a vehicle, they retain their authority to direct traffic and pull you over. For instance, officers often direct traffic on foot. They have the lawful duty to control traffic, and failing to obey a lawful order can result in additional charges, such as a failure to comply with an officer's directive during a radar-detected speeding stop.

It’s important to note that the specific statute cited for speeding may vary by state, but there will be applicable laws in most cases. Therefore, if you are pulled over for radar-tested speeding, you cannot avoid the citation simply by not stopping.

The Role of Technology and Coordination

Modern policing involves the use of technology and coordination. During a radar sweep, a traffic officer can call in your vehicle information (license plate and description) to other officers in the area. Even if one officer identifies you, another monitor might note your actions and initiate a stop. So, you can't just “get away” from the first officer if you keep driving.

Furthermore, officers are trained to determine what is safe during a traffic stop. If you fail to pull over after being waved down, they have the authority to use their lights and sirens to pull you over and add additional charges for not obeying lawful orders.

Conclusion

My own experience underscores the practicality and legality of police officers waving drivers down for speeding on major highways. While your radar detector might not go off, the officer has the authority to issue a ticket based on visual evidence.

For safe and legal driving, always be prepared to pull over if a patrol officer indicates that you should do so. Ignoring their directive can result in additional penalties and risks serious trouble with law enforcement.

Key Takeaways:

A police officer can wave you down to pull over for speeding. Officers retain their authority to control traffic, even if in foot patrol. Uncooperative behavior can result in fines and additional charges.

Stay informed and drive safely.