In a case of convenient cop, this Altima driver tempted fate by tailgating a police cruiser and illegally using a freeway shoulder.

210 commuter and Redditor /u/AsinenePhilosopher shared headshaking dashcam footage from earlier in July (July 13, 2025) to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing a driver in a Nissan Altima willfully choosing to tailgate a police officer shortly before pulling a moving violation using the emergency shoulder.

Check out the poor display of driving behavior below with the original Reddit thread linked here.

The incident happened on the 210 just before the exit onto Livingston Rd/ Kerby Hill Rd. (Exact location on Google Maps linked here.)

As the dashcam footage shows, OP is minding their business in lane #2 when he observes two Nissans, most notably an Altima, zooming past them both following a police cruiser.

The Altima has the you know whats to follow the police cruiser too closely, essentially tailgating them.

To up the ante, the Altima driver then darts into the emergency shoulder to reach the aforementioned exit lane faster.

It’s so abrupt that the police officer has to dart out of the way to avoid a collision.

Yup, that’s a violation of MD’s VC code too, (Transportation Article § 21-304(c))

Of course, the police officer’s having none of this and lights the Altima up.

“The ‘tailgater’ was really up the cop’s a**, and then tried to blow past the cop, who was also about to take that ramp and had to take a bit of evasive action. You can see the cop swerve right at 22-23s, and that’s when they hit their lights,” a top comment from /u/NassauTropicBird points out.

“The second car tailgating just as bad too, just got lucky cop already pulled over the first XD,” /u/OK_Physics_5237 points out.

“It’s sad people need to be taught following distance in the first place. Use your brain drivers! These new cars and bikes need a 3 sec gap,” /u/ColorBlindGuy27 spells out.

As mentioned, using a shoulder to exit the highway like that in Maryland will net you a $110 fine before all the fees and 1 point on your driving record.

In addition, tailgating nets you an even larger $500 base fine and two points (3 if you cause an accident).

No one’s 100% a saint on the road, but to wilfully break the rules of the road, especially behind a cop, we have no sympathy for.