I know police can stop you if you’re walking around or driving, but how close do they really have to be? What if there’s a fence or wall between us? Or if we’re on the phone or they see me through a camera? Can they detain someone over an email? Just curious about what the rules actually are!
There’s not really a set distance, it’s more about if you know the officer’s trying to stop you. Things like if they’re in your line of sight, or if it’s too noisy around you, play a role. Just my opinion.
This can depend on the state. Some states say they need to be within hearing range, others say they have to be close enough to touch you. Court rulings also vary. It’s all pretty specific to where you are.
Close enough to get your attention, like with a shout or sirens, that’s usually enough to stop someone.
Olen said:
Close enough to get your attention, like with a shout or sirens, that’s usually enough to stop someone.
I once switched lanes to get onto the freeway and saw a police car up ahead, and they turned on their lights. It could’ve been for me, but they couldn’t really get behind me unless they went way out of their way. So I just kept going. Should I have pulled over and waited or was it fine?
@Ollie
Honestly, cops see small traffic stuff all the time—like people not signaling or drifting in their lane. They aren’t pulling everyone over. And yeah, if they’re ahead of you, they probably aren’t trying to stop you. Seems like it’d be tricky for them to do so anyway.
@Ollie
Exactly. If they were ahead of you, they could’ve been going to another call. No need for you to stop in that case.
Legally, you’re considered detained if a reasonable person would feel they couldn’t just walk away.
Once had a Sheriff tell me to stop by the station—let’s just say I didn’t go.
I think what people forget is a cop doesn’t have to actually touch you to stop you. Even getting pulled over in a car is considered being detained.
Like if they see you, have a reason, and tell you ‘you’re not free to leave’ and there’s no reason to think you didn’t hear it, then yeah, that’s a detention.
Otherwise, it’d be like saying you can just walk away if they haven’t physically grabbed you—doesn’t quite add up, right? And that’s why people ask ‘am I free to leave?’ so the officer has to make it clear if they’re holding you or not.