Sheriffs going back to request radar use

Harris County Deputy wrote:

MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972
As Amended
SEC. 63-3-517. Applicability of speed restrictions to emergency vehicles; duties of drivers of emergency vehicles.
The speed limitations set forth in this article shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles when responding to emergency calls and the drivers thereof sound audible signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle. This section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street, nor shall it protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequence of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.
SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 8180; Laws, 1938, ch. 200; 1948, ch. 328, Sec. 4.
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This is a prime example of "THE PROBLEM"... Simple po's think they ARE the law.. I've had to put a couple in the cooler for contempt!(cops like you!) I am NOT on the mason wagon with the majority of crooked judges, therefore no officer, in my district had better be caught "speeding" to anything UNLESS it is a do or die situation! Cops forget too often that they are common citizens with the "JOB" of enforcing the law. It is the court that decides if they were correct in their judgment. I just petitioned the city, where I live to rid us of a potential liability,(two reckless idiot cops on the city force) and they are no longer. Seems that they had a similar attitude to you! I have been approached with a bill that would punish active employees of government two-fold for their crimes while in office. And sign it I will! Sinc, JD

Is your delayed response to this subject a result of your confinement in drug and alcohol rehab center? Since you don't know anything about me, your comment is an indication of just how ignorant you truly are. I have assisted in the removal of several judges who thought they were above the law. They either resigned before being indicted or they were removed from the bench by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The appearance of your unprofessional demeanor would indicate you are or were a justice of the peace. The sad thing about JP's is that all it takes to get on the bench is to be popular.

Harris County Deputy wrote:

...And, if he was speeding, how do you know the deputy wasn't en route to a call? Just because he doesn't have his lights and siren activated, doesn't mean he isn't responding to a call for service....In most states, police patrols are exempt from the speed limit.
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Well, maybe that's the way it is in Harris County, Texas. Before you go to lecturing the good folks of Mississippi on what the law is in our fine state, I suggest you be more knowledgeable about it.

Allow me, then, to quote from the Mississippi Code, section 63-3-205:

"No driver of any authorized emergency vehicle shall assume any special privilege under this chapter except when such vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law."

Simply stated, in Mississippi, police are not exempt from speeding laws. So if Mr. Mississippi Policeman is responding to an emergency or in pursuit, he is within his right and duty to speed. Otherwise, the lawman keeps his speed at or below the limit, period, no matter that there are lights on top of the car, no matter what kind of fancy decal on the door, no matter that he has a badge on his chest, no matter that he has a weapon on his hip, no matter if he's late to meet the other mounties at the local all-you-can-eat buffet.

I've reported several MHP for speeding and was told by the deputy director, Donnell Berry, if MHP is responding to an emergency, they are required to have lights and siren on. So you would be very, very wrong to say, as you did, "Just because he doesn't have his lights and siren activated, doesn't mean he isn't responding to a call for service."

Of course, Mississippi cops, particularly the highway patrol, speed regularly and with impunity -- that means nobody can do a thing about it. It's just one of the little perks cops have, I guess.

But I thought before you went to shooting off that Texas-sized mouth, you'd appreciate knowing what the law is in Mississippi.

You drive careful, now. Y'heah?

Mencken, if you read all of the previous comments then certainly you noticed where I posted the following section of the Mississippi Code, which re affirms my earlier statement concerning speeding:

SEC. 63-3-517. Applicability of speed restrictions to emergency vehicles; duties of drivers of emergency vehicles.

"The speed limitations set forth in this article shall not apply to authorized emergency vehicles when responding to emergency calls and the drivers thereof sound audible signal by bell, siren, or exhaust whistle."

This section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street, nor shall it protect the driver of any such vehicle from the consequence of a reckless disregard of the safety of others.

SOURCES: Codes, 1942, Sec. 8180; Laws, 1938, ch. 200; 1948, ch. 328, Sec. 4

The whole point of the lights and siren is for liability purposes. Police officers are supposed to set an example for everyone and I agree there are many who don't and shouldn't be in law enforcement.

And, FYI, I am from Mississippi, why in the hell else would I be participating in a forum from Mississippi?

I have been involved in the writing and construction of over 310 Mississippi Codes. I can tell you the meaning of all of them.
The speeding laws apply to EVERYBODY, including officers. Exceptions are made, when necessity demands it, in "life and/or death" situations ONLY.
Any person that says Police Officers can speed "any" time they want to, knows absolutely nothing about the law! Do they get away with it more often than the common Citizen? Absolutely, until they crash into the wrong person. I/you can hold an officer liable as easily as I/you can the common citizen. DB