Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Southern California Criminal Defense Blog

Criminal Law

: Southern California Criminal Defense Blog

The Proper Use of Police Officers' Emergency Lights When Pursuing Traffic Offenders in California - California Vehicle Code 2800.1

By Walin & Klarich

In California, ?an officer must activate a red light when in pursuit of a traffic offender who attempts to flee.? (People v. Copass (Dec. 14, 2009, No. B211281) 2009 WL 4757252 (hereafter Copass).) But what if a police officer loses a traffic offender during a pursuit and deactivates the light, only to moments later spot the traffic offender and reactive the light to resume the pursuit? The California Court of Appeal recently determined a police officer can deactivate the red light during the period the officer momentarily loses sight of the offender. In Copass, a police officer observed a motorcyclist traveling at 90 miles per hour. The officer activated his red light, and a chase ensued. At some point the police officer lost sight of the motorcyclist, and the police officer turned off his emergency lights while continuing to search for the suspect...continue to full post

Full post as published by Southern California Criminal Defense Blog on January 27, 2010 (boomark / email).