Question

If the police can pull you over for going 1 mile over the speed limit, why don't they do it?

Answer 1

The approach of law enforcement agencies to traffic enforcement, including the decision to pull someone over for exceeding the speed limit, can vary based on several factors. Here are a few reasons why police officers may not pull someone over for going just 1 mile over the speed limit:

1. Discretion: Police officers typically have discretion when it comes to enforcing traffic laws. They may prioritize more significant violations or focus on areas with higher rates of speeding or accidents rather than strictly enforcing the speed limit for every minor infraction.

2. Safety considerations: It can be challenging and potentially unsafe for officers to pull over every driver going slightly over the speed limit. Frequent stops for minor violations can impede traffic flow, cause congestion, and increase the risk of accidents.

3. Resource allocation: Police departments have limited resources, and they often prioritize their efforts to target more severe traffic offenses or address other pressing public safety concerns. They may allocate their resources strategically to have a more significant impact on traffic safety.

4. Margin of error: Speed measuring devices like radar guns and speed cameras have a margin of error. To account for this, most jurisdictions allow for a small tolerance above the speed limit before issuing a citation. This buffer helps minimize the number of citations issued for minor speed deviations.

5. Officer training and guidelines: Police officers receive training and guidelines on traffic enforcement. They may be instructed to focus on drivers who are exceeding the speed limit by a certain threshold, rather than strictly enforcing every minor violation.

It's worth noting that traffic enforcement practices can vary between jurisdictions, and there may be areas where officers enforce the speed limit more strictly, including for minor infractions. It's always important to adhere to posted speed limits and drive safely, as exceeding the speed limit, even by a small margin, can still be unsafe and potentially result in a citation.