Why Police Officers Select Specific Drivers to Pull Over for Speeding: Insights from a Former Law Enforcement Officer

Speeding is a common motive for police to pull over drivers. However, not every motorist who exceeds the speed limit or drives erratically gets pulled over. Instead, certain behaviors and characteristics can increase the odds of being stopped. This article, written by someone with firsthand experience as a police officer, aims to provide insights into why specific drivers are chosen for a speeding citation.

Identifying Drivers

When officers are looking to pull over a speeding driver, they often start by visually observing a car going faster than everyone else on the road. It's a natural habit to notice faster vehicles and become curious about their speed. However, there are other factors at play, such as potential intoxication, evidence of evading a crime, and erratic driving behavior.

Random Selection and Visual Cues

When officers must randomly choose a driver to stop for speeding, they often rely on visual cues and sometimes modern tools like Google. Formerly, they might toss a small rock and observe where it landed to make an unbiased selection. Today, this might be done through algorithms or random numbers.

Physical Appearance and Vehicle Color

Different vehicles can also attract attention from law enforcement. A brightly colored car, such as a red Corvette, is more likely to catch an officer's eye than a car that blends into the environment. This visual aspect can add to the likelihood of being pulled over for speeding.

Speeding and Law Enforcement Discretion

While some speeding incidents might be as simple as exiting the speed limit by just a few miles per hour, others involve more substantial infractions. Law enforcement often has discretion in determining which speeding violations to address. For example, officers might tolerate those who are only slightly over the limit (6 mph or less) and only issue citations for those who exceed the speed limit by a significant margin (10 mph or more).

Personal Experiences and Enforcement Motives

Back in the day, when the author was part of the police force, they learned that officers were instructed not to write tickets for speeds 5 mph over the limit. This typically meant that anyone caught going 6 mph over would receive a warning unless there were extenuating circumstances. However, officers often turned a blind eye to those going up to 10 mph over, believing that most drivers would learn to slow down if given time.

Radar Detectors and Enhanced Enforcement

The presence of radar detectors can also attract police attention. Officers like to know if drivers are trying to avoid speeding tickets. If someone is caught using a radar detector along with the speeding violation, they are more likely to receive a citation. In one instance, the author would void a ticket if the offending individual smashed their radar detector after being cited for speeding with a detector.

In another situation, the officer caught a teenager driving his best friend's car in a drift right in front of them. The officer recognized the vehicle and spoke with the driver, explaining that he had done the same thing before and would face severe consequences if he was caught. This approach often led to a stronger message than just a citation, as the driver would understand the financial and legal implications.

Conclusion

The selection of drivers for speeding citations is multifaceted and often driven by discretion, personal experience, and situational factors. While some behaviors and vehicle characteristics may make certain drivers more likely to be pulled over, the ultimate decision often depends on the circumstances and the discretion of the law enforcement officer.