Cop lighting you up in Puerto Rico? No Problemo!

Author: The Gringo

26 Mar

So you are driving along in San Juan and decide that you want to goto the beaches in Condado. Suddenly a cop gets behind you with his lights on. Your initial reaction I am sure is “Damn!”. Don’t worry though… You are in Puerto Rico! The police always drive around with their lights on. Just like you will be, I was so nervous when I drove because all of the cops and the flashing lights, it takes a while to get used to. My understanding is that the lights are supposed to help prevent crime. The thought behind this; if you are about to rob someone, and you see some flashing lights, you will think twice. I agree, but if I were going to rob someone, I would wait until the lights past me by. If you want to get a chuckle out of them, it’s always fun to ask a Puerto Rican about the police and their lights. Everyone thinks it is pretty silly.

To me, it does make it seem like there are more cops on the road. I remember telling people how I thought that Puerto Rico has cops everywhere. I think this is the impression the government wants to give.

Filed under: Driving, Government

Tags: condado, cop, flashing lights, Puerto Rican, San Juan

5 Responses for "Cop lighting you up in Puerto Rico? No Problemo!"

DarK SouL March 26th, 2008 at 9:55 am 1
There’s a law here that forces cops to have the “lightning” on during the night, specially on the highways, I kind of feel safe whenever I see it.
The Gringo March 26th, 2008 at 10:29 am 2
Do you know the reasoning behind the law? I have never seen this anywhere else…
DarK SouL March 26th, 2008 at 2:30 pm 3
Well, considering the high crime rate we have it could function as a deterrent on some areas. On the highways they do it so the patrol is not “hidden” during the night, I don’t know the reasoning but it have saved me some tickets.

Let me rectify, it is widely believed that there’s a law that forces them to have the “lighting” on, but I am not sure if it is a law or a regulation of the police, I have a blodsuck.. erm, I mean, lawyer friend on msn, if I see him online I will ask him about it.
Mike April 14th, 2008 at 1:39 pm 4
No one respects the law until there is a drastic problem that causes multiple deaths. Then there is an outcry for change. PR drivers do whatever they want whenever they want. If you want to pass on the berm then do it unless there are flashing lights.

Here’s another situation. Two lanes going boith directions and there are cars sitting in both lanes at the redlight as you approach. You just pull into the turning lane at an intersection if no one is in the lane and then just go straight through the red light or you could be “courteous” and wait for the light to turn green and then just cut off the car beside you in the intersection. Hey it works EVERY TIME! Just don’t try this when you see flashing lights.
Driving in Puerto Rico April 20th, 2008 at 5:39 pm 5
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