What's it mean when a cop puts on the white light?

[Imported]

I was driving home last night (11:30PM) and I'm going about 85 when theres a cop in the other lane, so I'm down to around 75. I'm beside him for almost a mile, then inch infront of him. I'm still in the fast lane and he's in the middle, then he flashes a bright white light from the lights on top for about half a second. I'm not sure what it is, and continue at my current speed. About half a mile later, he does it again but for about 2 seconds. Not knowing what the hell he's doing, I let off the gas and he goes into the next lane and takes the offramp. So what's it mean?

And I test drove the Altima today.. sweeeeet car.

 

[aphex]

It means "MOVE THE F**K OUTTA MY WAY"

 

[Imdmn04]

Does the cop get pissed off when everybody slows down when he goes near them,thus slowing him down. Is that why you hear all these stories about them using the siren just to get to dounkin dounts, cuz people are just too goddamn slow driving in front of the cops. If i was a cop, i'd be pissed and start giving tickets out for going too slow.

 

[SHoddyCOmp]

Nonono...when they high beam you from behind it means move the f over

I was jsut cruzing along on the highway at night one time about a week ago in between a cop and a car with some dumb lady that had cut me off getting onto an onramp*. I didnt know it was a cop behind me untill he pulled infront of me and pulled her over.

* Anyway though as to not incorporate THIS story into that one there is this intersection to get onto highway 101 south. I was first in t line to get onto the onramp in a turn only left lane to the ramp. THere was this lady that was beside me but in the straight lane and their stop limit line was a little ahead of mine. The light turned green and she didnt go. Someone behind me wanted to change lanes from the onramp to behind her and she didnt move so he actually had to back up and get into the 2nd lane away from me to get around her. When i get the green to go i wasnt thinking of what she would want to do and ends up that i have to stand on the brakes cause there she is being the dumb ass driver of the month and tried to get infront of me. I kinda had to let her in or she was gonna be part of my passenger door.
That sorta just ties in because the cop flashed me to move over as it was pretty crowded and there was no other way to get to her I unfortunatley dont know really for what reason she was pulled over though

 

[bmacd]

off topic story, but a couple years back, my friend's mom was driving me and some other friends home from a Battle of the Books contest. Knowing she would not make the light (with a cop directly behind her), she stopped at a yellow light and decided not to pass through. The cop turned on his lights and issued her a ticket for obstructing a police officer and he blew out of there.

-=bmacd=-

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: aphexII
It means "MOVE THE F**K OUTTA MY WAY"

 

[Imported]

We were in different lanes. If wanted to pass me, he should of. I wasn't gonna continue at 85 and get a ticket, so I just went beside him.

 

[BCYL]

Originally posted by: bmacd
off topic story, but a couple years back, my friend's mom was driving me and some other friends home from a Battle of the Books contest. Knowing she would not make the light (with a cop directly behind her), she stopped at a yellow light and decided not to pass through. The cop turned on his lights and issued her a ticket for obstructing a police officer and he blew out of there.

-=bmacd=-

Are you serious?

I got ticket for the exact opposite thing a couple of months back... I was coming up on this intersection on a rainy down (actually it was snowing the day before), and it turned yellow... knowing I could not stop in time I passed through the yellow light (the light was still yellow when I EXIT the intersection, I made sure of that)... Right afterwards a cop pulled me over and ticket me becuz he said I had enough time to stop... I told him I couldnt and he said: "I drive a Honda as well, I know they can stop in time"....

 

[her209]

It means, PULL THE FVCK OFF THE ROAD AND BEND THE FVCK OVER!

 

[NewSc2]

cops use the white light as a warning sometimes. one time late at night i was going to run a yellow until i noticed the cop waiting at the light for it to turn green (on the other side). i hit the brakes as hard as i could, and of course made a scene, and the cop hit the white light a few times as a warning (i didn't break any laws, but i almost did)

 

[Zorro]

The white light are called take down lights and they can be used for several different reasons. More then likely for you he was just using them as a warning to you.

 

[chiwawa626]

Yeah one day when im rich and i have a fast car im gonna just race past the first cop i see every month for the thrills

 

[Ladies Man]

Originally posted by: chiwawa626
Yeah one day when im rich and i have a fast car im gonna just race past the first cop i see every month for the thrills

if it's downpouring outside buzz by him...
"do you know why i pulled you over?"
"do you know why i was driving that fast?"

 

[bozo1]

Hehe, all these responses and no one hit the right answer.

In many places, they have started putting sensors on traffic lights that detect the white strobe you are talking about from cop cars, ambulances, fire trucks, etc. It turns the signal green for the direction that cop is going and red for the crossing intersection.

In most cases, if this feature is activated, you'll see a white flood light on top of or near the traffic signals that blinks slowly to let the emergency vehicle know that it has been activated and that the light isn't going to turn red on him.

They've had this at most intersections in my area for about 5 years now.

So, either the cop had an urgent call that wasn't urgent enuf for him to use his lights/siren, or he was in search of donuts.

or

if you were on the freeway (no traffic lights), he was saying get the f&$k out of my way. Regardless, that is the light he was flashing.

 

[dman]

if it's downpouring outside buzz by him...
"do you know why i pulled you over?"
"do you know why i was driving that fast?"

One of Drew Carrey's finer routines. Thx.