Another Instance of Police Impersonation in Virginia

WTOP ^ | 12/29/04

[TexKat]

LAKE RIDGE, Va. - There appears to be another instance of a police impersonator in Virginia. Just two weeks after an impersonator stopped a woman driver in Dumfries, a similar incident occurred in Lake Ridge. Authorities say a man dressed like a cop used a flashing blue light in his car to pull over a woman on the Prince William County Parkway. It happened around 8 a.m. Monday.

The man apparently came up to the woman's car, flashed a piece of paper and told her to drive to the other side of the road. After telling her she was speeding, he got his car and drove off.

Investigators are looking at possible connections between an incident on Dec. 14 when a suspect used a flashing blue light to pull over a woman on Route 234. The suspect grabbed the woman's shirt, but she was able to drive off.

[TexKat]

FYI

[TexKat]

Police Impersonator ping.

[oceanview]

this happens in alot of places it seems - but the police refuse to use only marked cars to make traffic stops. they don't seem to care. in NYC now, they use fully decked out yellow taxi cabs, with medallions, as unmarked police cars.

[KoRn]

People who do this need life without parole. If this becomes too common people may not stop for police out of fear of this.

[lightman]

When in doubt, drive well under the speed limit to a well lighted, highly visible location, like a convenience store. A real cop will not consider that action "fleeing and eluding" but a phony will not want to follow through with his devious plans.

Some States have increased the penalties for misuse of emergency lights. Problem is, anyone can buy them http://www.galls.com/

[solitas]

People who do this need life without parole. If this becomes too common people may not stop for police out of fear of this.

I think it'd be really funny for an impersonator to stop a car, approach it, try something funny through the window, and suddenly find himself trying to breathe with a big fresh hollow-point hole through his chest (disclaimer: I'm NOT implying that anyone should DO that kind of thing).

I wouldn't stop for a dashboard flasher. Always acknowledge the pursuer and carefully drive to a very public place.

If you think they're bogus: hit 911 and ask 'em if you've been called-in - NO cop would pull you over without having first called your registration in for a check. It's more for their protection (in case something goes wrong) than yours.

[KoRn]

Good advice. I wouldn't stop for a dash board light either. In VA we have VERY obvious police lights, people know it when they have a @#*$ cop behind them pulling them over lol.

[ditto h]

Perhaps, if the police won't stop using unmarked cars, the department should be sued. We need to know who is pulling us over, and if the city will not tell us who the police are, they are at fault. Every district is trying more and more to make money. If you drive 23 miles an hour in a 15 mile an hour school zone, and are pulled over, you will get a $ 500.00 ticket. If you are caught using a cell phone, you will be fined $250.00. These people won't pull over tailgater's, but will try to take all of your money. We are rapidly moving toward an area of critical mass.

[solitas]

In Connecticut, most of the locals are well-marked; the smokies are both well-marked and unmarked with behind-the-grille strobes and rear-deck rear-pointing flashers and flip-flop headlights and pukey colored crown vics.

Someone with a bit of entrepreneurial sense ought to make a bumper sticker:

"If you're an unmarked car: I WON'T RUN - and you can follow me to a safe public place."

[steve-b]

Perhaps, if the police won't stop using unmarked cars, the department should be sued.

*** DING DING DING *** No more calls; we have a winner!

The police enable scum to trap people in this way by using unmarked vehicles for traffic stops.