Speeders and 911

[Ducky]

Ok, like most of my questions, this one has the potential for great stupidity, but here I go anyhow.

I was just in the middle of nowhere on a two lane highway, speed limit 55 (I was doing 60) and a sport bike blew by me like I was standing still. I mean that literally, this guy was pushing 100 easy. After a two second internal debate with "Better safe than sorry" winning, I hit 911 and called it in with location, direction, description, etc. If this guy so much as twitched wrong there would have been all of a smear left, no protective gear at all, riding in a t-shirt and (I think) shorts. My question is, do calls like that do a damn bit of good? Are they appreciated or more of a nuisance?

[cajunguy]

In my department, when such a call is received (and we do get them), the info is passed on to the road deputies in that area, and also on to the local PD (if inside - or if they are headed into) the city, and/or on to the State Police if on a state or interstate highway.

Now as to if "Zippy" is ever caught or not, obviously that depends on luck. (Or after another call comes in that theres been a crash down the road involving some fool on a crotch-rocket who just tried to push an 18-wheeler with his face.)


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[Cidp24]

Here, the call gets put out but with only 4.5 miles of Interstate, by the time you get an officer headed that way he is in the next jurisdiction. The rest of our area is too congested for extreme speeds. We also transfer the call to the next jurisdiction. These types rarely get caught because they are moving so fast.

[121Traffic]

It's appreciated. Something like that though, without someone keeping up, it'll just get aired as a Be on the Lookout/BOLO to that area's cars.

[Ducky]

Yeah, I didn't expect him to get caught really, my honest thought was it might help with the accident reconstruction or other crisis scenario.

[Twan007]

yeah, same here as 121 - we put them out as BOLOs - because with them moving so fast, there's really no way you can get a car up there quick enough - and even if you could "head them off" who's to say they haven't already changed direction, turned off, etc.

but, don't think that they're not appreciated - b/c like you said Ducky - if it comes down to it, that call could show how long he was driving like a donkey for...

[Captain America]

Yeah, I didn't expect him to get caught really, my honest thought was it might help with the accident reconstruction or other crisis scenario.

It would Ducky. It would also help if the idiot becomes involved in a crash down the road with another motorist to establish your jackass was operating in a reckless manner beforehand.

[MacLean]

Here that would be broadcast as information on the chance someone was nearby, but not assigned to a specific car.

[Second Chance]

Here that would be broadcast as information on the chance someone was nearby, but not assigned to a specific car.

Same here.........., but if the caller is following, then a unit is assigned.

[lewisipso]

It would be appreciated here.

[Five-0]

We get traffic complaints all the time, and we do respond to them. Most of them are possible DUI complaints, but aggressive/reckless driving complaints are also taken. When we observe the suspect doing something unlawful we act. Hell when I see a crotch rocket doing triple digits I radio it in and get units in front of it alerted.

[gopherpuckfan]

Same here.........., but if the caller is following, then a unit is assigned.

Same here. IF it's State and it's on a highway/interstate. If it's in our area, our dispatch will send somone regardless. They're usually GOA.

[berserk]

Here they air the call and cancel it. Occasionally, if someone happens to be in the area, an officer will pipe up to go check for the car. I've found them once or twice, and it's usually not too hard to justify a stop.

For the most part, the car will be GOA or there won't be anyone available to check for it. Like Second Chance said, if the RP is following then a car gets assigned. Of course, if the RP has to double the speed limit to follow the "suspect," then it turns into a different kind of discussion once we find them both.

[jmur5074]

Here the call is assigned to a sector car. But the sector car is typically close to the call 1 out of 50 times, and the suspect vehicle is almost always GOA.

[Ducky]

Yeah, not only was I not going to follow his sterling example of doubling the posted speed, my vehicle would likely explode if I tried. I just hoped I wasn't causing the dispatchers to roll their eyes in annoyance at me.

[Jks9199]

Depends on the circumstances. If it's some variant of "unknown blue car driving aggressively on Main Street"... it goes out as a lookout, and if someone's close they'll try to look for it, maybe. If it's a more specific violation, like "driving at 95 because they passed me while I was going 55 as if I was standing still", with a direction of travel, decent vehicle description and/or tag, and other good info... It's much more likely to be acted on. If you're still following or still have 'em in site... someone can be dispatched to it.