Do Nurses Get Traffic Tickets?

Published

We were having a discussion at work where one nurse stated she always hung her RN work ID from her rear view mirror in case she got pulled over. She said once the law enforcement officer saw that she was an RN, he/she would not ticket her. Another nurse said she got out of tickets by saying she had been called into work. Lol... she said this even worked when she was driving in the opposite direction of the hospital. A male coworker questioned whether this applied to males as well. I have not gotten pulled over (knock on wood) in the 4 years I have a nurse, so this was news to me. :redpinkheJust curious...what are your experiences with being pulled over as a nurse?

We were having a discussion at work where one nurse stated she always hung her RN work ID from her rear view mirror in case she got pulled over. She said once the law enforcement officer saw that she was an RN, he/she would not ticket her. Another nurse said she got out of tickets by saying she had been called into work. Lol... she said this even worked when she was driving in the opposite direction of the hospital. A male coworker questioned whether this applied to males as well. I have not gotten pulled over (knock on wood) in the 4 years I have a nurse, so this was news to me. :redpinkheJust curious...what are your experiences with being pulled over as a nurse?

I have been pulled over three times since I've been a nurse. The first time I was speeding, and was in regular clothes. I did not say I was a nurse. I got a ticket.

The second time I sped up as the light was changing from yellow to red. I was wearing scrubs. The cop asked me what I did for a living. I said I was a nurse. He said, "You're lucky. I don't give tickets to nurses." He let me go.

The third time, I was running late for work, and was going about 10 miles over the speed limit. I was wearing scrubs. The cop asked why I was speeding. I told him the truth. He asked where I worked. After I told him, he let me go.

So yeah, I think they have some type of unofficial rule amongst themselves, where they let people of certain professions off. I'm sure it depends on the cop, the offense, and the attitude of the nurse/person though. ;)

Edited to add~ The three times I got pulled over were within a 14 year period. And each time, I fully expected to get a ticket. I never once thought my being a nurse, would get me off. It just so happens that it did, two of those times.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I was in scrubs and even pulled my stethoscope out of my glove box and held it over my steering wheel while I pulled out my registration, and I still got my ticket for going 12 miles over. I even have a CHP sticker on my license because my BIL is an officer. Don't get cocky. Follow the law.

Oh, and hanging something on your review mirror is illegal in my state.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

we had a doc (one of the nicest people you'll ever meet, wish she was still here) who loved to zoom down the mountain on her way to work. She got stopped by a county sheriff who didn't know her, when she said she was on the way in to the ER, he got on the radio to ask if anyone knew her. At least 3 officers from different agencies got on the air and said DONT YOU DARE ticket Dr. Nice Lady!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med./Surg., Diabetes, Med. ICU, home hea.

Oh, HECK yes! Last time I got a citation was when I was doing home health, my lab coat on, stethescope around my neck.

Since, I've become much more skilled at evading detection! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I tend to have a lead foot and have gotten pulled over three times in scrubs, no ticket and twice in plain clothes and only got one ticket. I think I might have been too bit subtle the first time by just attempting to flash my stethoscope so the second time I said I was a nurse and only got a warning. I use my cruise control a lot because if you stay within 10 miles of the speed limit it seems like they won't pull you over.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in High Risk OB.

I have been pulled over a FEW times in my 25yrs of driving!(i have a lead foot, sorry:)I have received warnings but only once have I received a ticket and that was just last month on my way to work AND it wasn't even for speeding! It was at 645am trying to get off the exit in the city and I was stopped for "unsafe lane change"!! I did have to merge into traffic to get off, as everyone does at this exit AND to make things worse, I knew he was behind me!! The cop was a jerk! asked me where I was going and I told him(had my scrubs on and my badge in the passenger seat) and he came back with huge chip on his shoulder and a ticket in hand!!!! Didn't say Boo to me and walked away! Needless to say I'm fighting it and just got my court date! :mad:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele.
We were having a discussion at work where one nurse stated she always hung her RN work ID from her rear view mirror in case she got pulled over. She said once the law enforcement officer saw that she was an RN, he/she would not ticket her. Another nurse said she got out of tickets by saying she had been called into work. Lol... she said this even worked when she was driving in the opposite direction of the hospital. A male coworker questioned whether this applied to males as well. I have not gotten pulled over (knock on wood) in the 4 years I have a nurse, so this was news to me. :redpinkheJust curious...what are your experiences with being pulled over as a nurse?

How funny because I was pulled over driving on my way to Disney & while looking for my insurance information I dropped my stethescope and hospital ID..... and I didn't get a ticket, just a warning. I know it was not for my good looks because I was with my child and hubby... lol

but I asked my cop friend and he said that there are many nurses that he had to give DUI and tickets to. so i am taking I am a lucky one.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele.
I got hit head-on by another nurse outside of the hospital one morning. She was coming off nights and "forgot where she was". The cops did not ticket her, despite the fact that I wound up in the ED with whiplash! Anyhoo, she jerked me around with the insurance claim ($5,000 of damage to my car) and I had real problems getting her policy to pay because the cop didn't even write up a report detailing that she was on the wrong side of the road when she hit me. It was a mess and I still get PO'd when I think about it. I truly believe that if she hadn't been a nurse they would have thrown the book at her, but everyone wanted to make "nice-nice" because she was a fellow nurse.

wow!! that is just plain wrong!!!!!!! and terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

I got a speeding ticket after working a night shift (I was helping out, usually work days). Cop saw my badge and asked where I worked. Was really nice and said he would lower it if I went to court. Told me he couldn't let me go because there had been a lot of complaints about speeders in that area.

I think it just depends on the mood of the officer and the situation. I do have some co-workers who have personalized their license plates to say RN something or other. Wonder if this catches them some breaks?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.

I've gotten out of a ticket because of working in the ER, but I've paid several too because I deserved it, I am a speeder unless the cruise is on. I think it's tacky, tacky, tacky to flash a stethoscope or badge to try and manipulate an officer doing his job. Hey, if you messed up just own it and pay the fine. If you are DUI you deserve a ticket, no matter who you are.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i just got a ticket today, from getting home from work for speeding, I'm sorry but I'm a night shift nurse, if i go too slow i will fall asleep on the wheel so i go faster than i should, i got pulled over, begged the officer to give me a verbal warning, i had my uniform and RN badge still on and he still gave me a ticket, plus in the back of my car it says, be nice to me, i may be your nurse one day!, he still gave me at ticket, this the second one in a year I've gotten them and i have had no mercy, since I've been a nurse.... so yes nurses do get tickets:sour:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
i just got a ticket today, from getting home from work for speeding, I'm sorry but I'm a night shift nurse, if i go too slow i will fall asleep on the wheel so i go faster than i should, i got pulled over, begged the officer to give me a verbal warning, i had my uniform and RN badge still on and he still gave me a ticket, plus in the back of my car it says, be nice to me, i may be your nurse one day!, he still gave me at ticket, this the second one in a year I've gotten them and i have had no mercy, since I've been a nurse.... so yes nurses do get tickets:sour:

And I think your mistake may have been begging the officer to give you a verbal warning. I've been pulled over speeding home from a night shift, and I always apologize profusely and prepare to get the ticket. I don't beg them for a verbal warning -- I was speeding. I deserved the ticket. I got the verbal warning.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion