Cops and Nurses

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So a lot of the nurses I have spoken with believe they have a greater chance of being given a warning, instead of a ticket, for speeding if they have their RN badge visible when they are pulled over. Who here has been pulled over on their way to or from work and been given a pass? Who has bee ticketed? Is there any truth to it?

Saw a cop the other day and he said to anyways tell a cop if you're a nurse. He said it's an unspoken rule to never give a nurse a ticket. Lol

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Epic CT.
When I used to work an 11a-11p shift I used to get stopped all the time on the way home- probably 5-6 times in 1 year. Unfortunately, I drove past the "night life" area on my way home and I think the cops were looking for drunk drivers, which is fine by me!! I was always pulled over for "speeding" (which was me probably going 30 in a 25 mph zone) , but I never even got a warning. They would run my check my license/reg/insurance, run my plates and send me on my way. I will admit to unzipping my jacket in the winter so they could see my badge, but I never expected to get any special treatment. I worked in the ER at the time.

The nurses in our unit have a good relationship with the LEOs in the town the hospital is in, which of course was not the town where I kept getting pulled over :sarcastic:. The badge still worked though!! :)

THIS. Once or twice I got pulled over because I went over the line because I was exhausted from both school and working right after that. (Night shifts, they're killer!). Both times, I was let go with a warning.

The first time was funny though, the police officer had a rookie he was training and he even told me (after going through procedure and finding out I was working 12+ hours and going to school) that he pulled me because the rookie needed practice.

The second time...the cop could see my dark circles underneath my eyes from a mile away. They paired well with my bright hospital scrubs.

As for those who have the opposite opinion of this...I think there are a lot of drivers out there who have unintentionally sped. Whether it be for an emergency or they just thoughtlessly did not want to be late for work/school. We a human, it happens. We don't mean to put people at risk, but as my parents always taught me, "most people think about only getting from point A to be point B".

The point is, I think cops don't make exceptions for just 'nurses', but perhaps make exceptions for people who make honest mistakes and show off that "professional courtesy", no matter if they get a warning or a ticket. (Though, be extra courteous if they do let you go. :yes:)

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Specializes in Pedi.
I got pulled over going 80 in a 55 mph zone. State Police office did a u-turn to pull me over. He asked me where I was going insuch a hurry. I told him I was a nurse and was heading for work. I got a written warning....it indicated I was going 60. Apparently you can't get just a warning for going 25mph over the limit.

Another time I was driving home after a week from hell at work. I got pulled over. The officer asked me if I knew how fast I was going...no I told him...and promptly burst into tears going on about just wanting to get home...horrible week at work...favorite patient died....the poor officer didn't know what to do. So he told me to slow down and let me go.

No one drives 55 in Massachusetts except really old people. If you drive 55 you are a hazard.

And, if nurses and cops are the same, may I please have a pistol?

THANK YOU! I wish all these posters who "never" speed luck if they ever come to our great state and attempt to drive 55mph on I-93... especially if it's during rush hour when people are doing 80 in the breakdown lane.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Epic CT.
True.

On the other hand...

When the cops are babysitting, I bring them a comfortable chair... I offer them refreshments... I key them into the staff restroom... I've drawn evidentiary blood for cops many, many times even though I don't have to...

I presume that they see that most of us go out of our way to make their jobs easier when they deal with us.

And when we get a uniformed cop as a patient, they get VIP treatment by the ED nurses

They are especially grateful for the coffee. I know every time I see a cop in the ED or ICU, I offer them that, since I know they probably have a long shift ahead of them. :yes:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Oncology, Epic CT.
THANK YOU! I wish all these posters who "never" speed luck if they ever come to our great state and attempt to drive 55mph on I-93... especially if it's during rush hour when people are doing 80 in the breakdown lane.

Arizona is like that too. There is a patch of highway called I-10 heading to Tuscon. Lots of people go above and beyond the speed limit (65, then goes up to 75 in the more rural areas). It is more dangerous(higher risk of being rear ended!) to drive below the speed limit (or at it) then just a little bit or so above.

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Specializes in Psychiatric/ Mental Health.

Had just finished doing a 12hr overnight shift, then had to attend a 4 hr training after my shift. I was attempting not to fall asleep at the wheel as I drove 45 minutes home. I was speeding, ten miles over the limit. Cop in some small podunk town ticketed me. Was in my scrubs, badge on, even explained to him what was going on. Didn't matter, got a $135 ticket ;(

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Me to my very nice patient's very nice LEO husband: "So, Mrs. Patient tells me you're a member of the city PD."

Him: "Mrs. Patient is telling the truth."

Me: "Well, if you ever catch me speeding, do me a favor and remember that I took *really* good care of your wife, ok?"

Him: "Well, if you're a nurse, and you're not going more than 15 over, you'll be fine. I don't ticket nurses anyway unless it's really bad."

Obviously this was all done in a lighthearted manner.

I never drive through his city, so it's all a moot point, but I've had other police officers tell me they don't ticket nurses as a rule. Whether it's because I'm a nurse, or because the officer is in a good mood that day, I'm not going to argue with not getting a ticket. To ticket or not to ticket is the LEO's prerogative. What criteria he uses to decide is not my business.

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Specializes in Surgical/MedSurg/Oncology/Hospice.

I admit I leave my badge on (and even flipped out so it hangs outside my coat in the winter) just in case of: 1.) If I get into an accident and am unconscious they'll be able to easily identify me (rather dark thinking, I know, lol) and 2.) maybe they'd go easy on me if there was a ticket situation...it's those drives home after working several +12's in a row that make it hard to stay in the lines and not keep hitting the soft shoulder or the rumble strips occasionally :wideyed:

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Specializes in Medical Surgical.

I spent the night with a pt who was bleeding to death. Literally. It was the first time I ever experienced a home death of a liver failure pt. Poor pt bleed all over the house and self while I tried desperately for hours to help his fear while he bled profusely all over everything in sight. Finally after sedating the poor guy and leaving him in the care of his family, I sped home. I was pulled over and all I could say was "It was a bloody bloody night" and started crying. Poor cop though I was having some sort of psychotic break and let me go with a verbal warning.

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Specializes in kids.

THANK YOU! I wish all these posters who "never" speed luck if they ever come to our great state and attempt to drive 55mph on I-93... especially if it's during rush hour when people are doing 80 in the breakdown lane.

Those are breakdown lanes? :roflmao: I always thought they were right side high speed lanes!!!:yes:

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Specializes in Acute Care - Adult, Med Surg, Neuro.

I'm wondering if this has to do with the fact that a large proportion of cops are married to nurses (at least in my anecdotal experience).

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Bothers me too. I wonder how the general public would feel if they heard this? In the first place you all shouldn't be speeding or breaking ANY laws. ... You all could kill someone with your speeding. Talk about hypocrisy. You're not special so I fail to see why you receive special treatment from cops.

I too was taken aback at how some seemed to be bragging or blase about being pulled over for excessive speeding! :bugeyes:

It might be courtesy if you get off the hook because you're rushing in for an urgent medical call/situation. Otherwise, if a cop decides not to give a ticket, that's not courtesy. That's mercy.

Nurses have treated enough 'traffic pizzas' to know the importance of traffic safety. All these statements leave the impression (true or untrue) that nurses are habitual speeders who expect special treatment because of their status.

It may not be true, but that's how it comes off.

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