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Expert: - 3/28/2008


Question
If the police get a call about a fight at a party, do they have to have their emergency lights on when they come down the lane to the house? Also, can they mail you a possession after they let you go and didn't make you take a breathalyzer test at the party?

Answer
Hi Sophie,

Police use of lights and siren is dictated by state law and department policy. It's mostly up to the officers. If we got a call about a fight we would probably respond with our lights and siren until we got within ear shot of the fight and then turn them off, hoping not to scare everyone involved away. Its a techniques we use to try and catch people. We also at time leave them on all the way to the call to try and scare people away, usually with a big crowd to thin it out.

As for the citation, if they took your information or were able to get your information and they saw you with alcohol they can mail a citation to you later, we do it all the time. And you don't need a breathalyzer for possession, just to possess it.

Sorry you had such a hard time at a party, maybe it will be more fun next time.

If you think you were wrongly given that citation, take it to court. Thats why we have them in the first place. SO people that who think they have been wrongly charged can try to get things cleared up. Don't just pay it because you want to take the easy way out, if you didn't do it stand up for yourself and fight the citation.

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Chris Wagoner

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I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

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I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

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I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

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I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

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