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?
Many years ago I had a roommate whose father was a retired firefighter. He gave me a sticker to put on my car, something like "I support CA123 Fire Station". One day I'm in nightmare Southern California traffic and a police officer was standing in the road directing traffic around a closure. Myself and one other car were attempting to do a U turn to avoid going through what the police officer was directing. He let one car through and then came over to my car, seeing the sticker.
"Who do you know that works for CA123?"
"Oh, ---- -----, my uncle." (twinge of guilt in stomach--I'm a BAD liar)
"Hmm, don't know him. Ok, make your turn. I'm only letting you and the car in front of you do this. The other car was my daughter."
I went on my merry way. Years later I sold the car with the sticker removed. Who knows how long it would have helped me?
I've rarely gotten stopped for anything, once for a "rolling stop" and he did let me off with a warning when he saw my hospital parking tag hanging from my rear view mirror. The funniest thing though was that I almost always worked New Year's Eve 3-11 or 11-11, so I'd invariably get caught in the roadblocks they set up to catch drunk drivers. One year I got waved through as soon as he saw my parking tag. Another year I did get stopped and asked for my license, but the officer saw my scrubs and asked me if I was coming from work and when I said, "Yes sir," he said, "Well, you haven't had time to party yet, go on," and waved me through.
Absolutely. Once when I was lost on my way to an interview so he let me go immediately. Another time I wasn't familiar with the area, and was running late, and thought the speed limit was 55. I was going 60. The cop said the limit was 45. Whoops. He specifically said, "I don't like to give nurse's tickets."
I've never been pulled over, but I know of one nurse who has gotten pulled over a few times and let off with a warning.
Funny that I came across this thread today though, to get to my work I have to drive over an island. From bridge to bridge it's only 7ish miles across and the bridges are directly connected by a stretch of thruway where the speed limit is 65, until you get close to the bridges where it drops down to 55.
I was on my way to work, and a state trooper was driving behind me, following me closely. I would even say borderline tailgating me. I wasn't speeding since I was approaching the bridge where the lanes get cut down from 3 to 2 lanes. However, I usually do 5-8 over on this road because if you don't people will tailgate you and I personally think THAT'S more dangerous than going 5 over. I was still pretty nervous about a trooper driving behind me so I switched lanes. What does the trooper do? He just speeds off, probably doing close to 80! I assume he had no where important to be since he wasn't running his lights. I guess they kind of get free reign to speed on duty because who is going to pull over a trooper? no one.
Depends on the officer. Was pulled over and ticketed for speeding once (not even 10 over...). I asked one of the cops that I saw at work later that night about the officers who worked that particular road - was told that it wasn't a prime location for them and most officers hated it. The ones that were assigned there had a reason to be, let me just say... I was on my way to work, had my scrubs and ID on, stuff piled on the seat next to me. He did cut it down to the minimum he could. I actually think it was because I was remorseful about speeding. (Why me? I don't know. Flow of traffic, officer!)
Another time I was on my way home from work and a State Trooper pulled me over. He point blank asked me if I was on my way home, what hospital, and which department. Didn't have to ask if I was a nurse! He did run my license, but let me off with a warning. And a lecture about driving tired. Which, frankly, I deserved...it had been a VERY long night and I was coming down with a cold. Looking back, I really should have just crashed for an hour or so in my car before driving home. Didn't say that it was professional courtesy, he gave me a different reason, but hey, I'll take it. (I keep on wanting to write to his Barracks and say that he was incredibly polite and a credit to the system. But I can't remember his full name!)
But the ERs that I've worked we have always been nice to the LEOs. Ice packs, if they need some meds I have a rather large stash of OTC stuff in my locker which I freely share, and we'll do anything that doesn't require being in the system. I, at least, always offer them food, drinks, coffee, good chairs, and the other big thing? I don't gang up on them with their prisoner. Innocent until proven guilty, I know, but when you go running from the cops, get taken down either by human or dog, and then try to deny running as I'm cleaning you up in preparation for suturing those multiple puncture wounds from the dog...although I do maintain my "Nonyvole's a nice nurse!" by giving the prisoner some water or juice or something as they're leaving. And if the LEO allows.
I have been let go. I was asked to show my work badge. Which I did. And the officer said " you never know when your gonna need a nurse". I have also been in scrubs running late to a night shift home health position. I had a very young officer pull me and ticket me. He asked where I was going. I think the courtesy of letting a nurse off is better for hospital employed nurses! I think if a nurse is called into work fora critical need I understand letting them go. But we should all be treated fairly nurses or not! We are all living a life with our own challenges right?m
Not that long ago I was driving to pick up my son & I was speeding. A cop pulled me over & I handed him my license & insurance. He looked at my signature on my license & he said you should be a doctor, I laughed said I'm a nurse actually. So he ran my information, came back & just gave me a verbal warning. I wasn't even in scrubs & haven't been working for over a year.
I got pulled over in my clinical uniform on my way home from the hospital. I was exhausted and ready to get home and I *Barely* ran a changing yellow. Officer pulled me over, shined his light on my badge, asked me when I graduate and gave me a warning. I think He knows I was pretty tired and may have had a taxing day. Sweet guy.
When I was a CNA, I was pulled over by a cop and I have my badge, he asked why I was speeding, I told him I was rushing to go see a pt that wanted me by his side. He let me go. Two hours later, I was in my pt's room when the same cop that pulled me over came to the room. He happened to be the son of my pt, and he was very thankful for not giving me a ticket. What a small world.
NightNurseRN13
353 Posts
Never been pulled over in the first place, never given them a reason to, but I understand that stuff happens. I'll def. keep my badge in sight from now on...just in case.
off to knock on some wood now.