Can Off-Duty Police Officers Write Tickets in St. Louis?

Can Off-Duty Police Officers Write Tickets in St. Louis?

Although many people assume the answer to this question is no, off-duty police officers throughout the state of Missouri can indeed write tickets to motorists even when the officer is outside the jurisdiction he or she is employed by. St. Louis’ Fox 2 News recently exposed a situation where an off-duty Pine Lawn officer wrote a ticket to a motorist in South St. Louis County. While state law allows municipal officers to pull over drivers wherever they want, this practice presents an ongoing debate among the general public and even among police departments.

While many police departments allow its off-duty officers to pull over motorists for alleged traffic violations, other departments have written policies against this practice. For instance, Velda City is one department that prohibits its off-duty officers from writing tickets citing safety concerns. When an off-duty police officer pulls a motorist over, how is the driver supposed to know he or she is an officer as opposed to imposter? The question is the same one asked by the Velda City police chief. This practice can pose safety concerns for not only drivers but also the officer. Whatever your situation may entail, it is important to remember that you maintain your constitutional rights even if you are confronted by an off-duty officer.