What makes police officers more qualified to talk on cell phone while driving while it's illegal for citizens?

Question

What's the name of the training course police officers take to make them more qualified to talk on cell phones while driving, assuming it's illegal in your state?

A lot of states when ahead and made police officers exempt from this law. The intent of the law is to make the roads safer because it's unsafe to talk and drive using a non-hands free phone.

I'm a huge advocate for these exemptions being lifted, they can use an ear piece just as easy as we can. There's no confidentiality concerns using a hands free ear piece, they're dirt cheap now a days, and lastly most of police business is done on radios.

Back to my original question, what class or training do the police receive that specifically makes them more qualified to use a phone and drive as opposed to a regular citizen?

Without specific training (driving and talking on phone) how can anyone say they're more qualified do drive and talk than anyone else?

It's exemptions like that reinforce the sayings that cops believe their above the law.

Answer 1

Police officers ARE more qualified to talk on a cell phone while driving than the average citizen. Most police academies require officers to undergo several months of training (classroom, firearms, physical fitness, driving, etc.) before being allow on the road. This training includes how to operate a heavier-than-normal police cruiser at high speeds and in dangerous conditions (e.g., ice, sleet, snow, oil spill). I will always feel much safer with a police officer talking on the phone while driving than a teenager texting while driving or a soccer mom trying to drive and quiet her kids/eat dinner/talk on a cell phone.



And, just for the record, a significant percent of "police business" is no longer done on radios because it is harder to maintain the confidentiality of the information. Police scanners and CB radios have been commonplace for quite some time.

Answer 2

The laws are written as anyone operating an emergency vehicle are exempt. There is no conspiracy that allows only police to use cell phone, like you make it sound like. Operators of emergency vehicles have extra drivers training than you. How much training have you had? The 6 hours of behind the wheel before you got your license? I had 30 hours of EVOC (emergency vehicle operator course) before I hit the streets. Sure, we aren't specifically training while talking on the phone but we did have 4-5 hours of being yelled at while driving the course. You really don't know about police business, most of it is not done on radios. Most is done by MDT and cell phone. Initial dispatch, running plates and warrants, etc are done on the radio. Coordinating with your partner on shady calls, talking to suspects, victims, witnesses etc on the phone, calling judges to get search warrants, calling other jurisdictions you don't have comm's with to check on a vic, suspect, or witness. Phone use is endless with law enforcement. EMS needs to use the phone to notify the hospitals of what they are bringing in and when they will get to the hospital. Also call information (confidential, inappropriate) and coordinating with other units, sharing info about previous calls, etc. Same thing with the FD. Just get over it, OK?

Answer 3

Well if they can call in a tag number, description and codes during a high speed chase, I feel comfortable enough allowing them to talk on their cell phones,to me it's the equivalent of them having to dispatch.Also if you don't want people's opinions, then don't ask questions.I stand by my statement.

Answer 4

The same reason they can speed and run red lights when there is no emergency?



yes they are above the law

Answer 5

You must be in middle school or something. Oh...and "regular citizens" are idiots.