What should I do if I am pulled over by an unmarked police car?

by Kirk Mason (mason@wsbt.com)

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state police pull driver over impersonating police officer

(WSBT file photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Nov 21, 2007 at 3:34 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2007 at 6:19 PM EST

(WSBT) If you're hitting the highways for the holidays, you should keep an eye out for squad cars, as cops crack down on drivers.

But not every officer will be so obvious.

Edgar from Mishawaka has a Good Question: "What should I do if I am pulled over by an unmarked police car?"

WSBT's Kirk Mason asked a police officer.

When a car with a siren pulls over a driver the thing to look for is the uniform. Unmarked police cars will pull drivers over. But it's against Indiana law for a police officer to pull someone over unless they're wearing a uniform.

“We've had a problem with it and basically we understand — if you want to pull into a lit area that's fine,” said Elkhart County Patrolman Jason Reaves.

Reaves says it's a felony to impersonate a police officer. He has advice Indiana State Police agrees with if you're concerned someone is trying to pull you over who is not a police officer.

“Get on your cell phone and call 911,” he said. “Because I think it's a police emergency.”

Reaves says this is an issue on local roads, especially the Bypass, where it's easy for cars to get on and off the road, disappearing from sight.

Elkhart County dealt with a couple of recent police officer impersonation cases. They arrested a man in Middlebury for battery and impersonating a public servant.

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