Police Car Etiquette Outside Jurisdiction
Police car jurisdiction laws vary widely by state, county and municipality as do the basic rules of police car etiquette when that car leaves its jurisdiction. Police are expected to abide by the laws of their jurisdiction but should understand the jurisdiction rules of their state, county and municipality as well.
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Common Courtesy
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When outside their jurisdiction, police cars are expected to drive and behave with common courtesy, respecting the rules of the road. As they are still representatives of the law, it is important that they behave in a respectable manner.
Authority
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The authority of a police car, once it has left its jurisdiction, varies widely by location. In New York, a police officer can arrest someone anywhere in the state, as long as reasonable suspicion of crime exists; in Texas, the same is true within the county limits. Some states allow police officers to arrest someone outside their jurisdiction if they followed them from within their jurisdiction.
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Responsibility
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No matter what the jurisdictional regulations, police have a responsibility to uphold the law wherever they are. If they are outside their jurisdiction and witness wrongdoing, they should immediately inform and assist, -- if permitted -- the local authorities.
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References
- Photo Credit two police cars image by Xavier MARCHANT from Fotolia.com
