We’ve all tensed up while driving cars after noticing that a cop is behind us. You may shrug it off because you know that you aren’t doing anything wrong. But how long can a cop follow your vehicle to watch for mistakes?

How long can a cop follow your car? 

There is no time limit or mileage limit on how long a cop can follow you before pulling you over. As long as they’re in their jurisdiction, they can follow you during their entire shift. 

When a cop is simply following behind your car, it’s not considered to be harassment, They can even follow you home, if it’s in their jurisdiction. 

By the way, police jurisdiction refers to the territory that they’re sworn to protect. For example, the city police are contained to the area within city limits. 

Anyways, a police officer needs probable cause to pull you over. So if you’re legally following all the rules of car ownership and traffic then you’re good to go. 

But things like speeding, having a headlight out, swerving, or having an expired registration tag provide probable cause or reasonable suspicion. 

However, don’t panic just because a cop is behind you. They might not even be following you, they could just be traveling in the same direction. 

They aren’t legally allowed to pull you over without probable cause, so if a cop is behind you, remain calm and follow the traffic laws. 

If you do get pulled over, be polite and offer to provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance. 

Cops can’t search your home or vehicle without a warranty unless drugs or other contraband is visibile from the windows. Also, you can legally record any interactions with a police officer. 

If you feel like you’re being followed by a fake cop you can call 911 to confirm the status of the the cop that’s following you. Also, you can wait until you feel like you’re in a safe, well-lit, public area before pulling over. 

Also, you can report a complaint about a police officer at the department or civilian complaint board. Be sure to have their name, badge, number, and any contact information of witnesses. 

So a cop can follow you for a long time but they can’t break the law or stop you without probable cause unless they’re prepared to face the consequences of breaking the law.