Live PD is the ratings-winning law enforcement ride-along show that ordinarily airs fresh episodes on Friday and Saturday evenings at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network.

Videographers embed in real time with officers on patrol from eight different police agencies. A Live PD recap follows below. Live PD has also spawned several spin-offs.

Given its often intense action, unpredictability, danger,  plus quirky and humorous, and sometimes mundane, interactions between cops and citizens, Live PD is perhaps the closest thing that even approaches appointment TV anymore in the fragmented entertainment space.

With 32 live feeds coming into the studio, most segments air on a reported five- to 20-minute tape delay. When nothing of interest is happening in real time, pretaped segments air, which Live PD describes as incidents that happened “earlier.”

For viewers, Live PD is addicting, which perhaps is an unfortunate choice of words in this context. While millions of Americans experiment — and more than experiment — with drugs when younger, Live PD reveals a self-destructive cohort hooked on narcotics (and/or booze) well into middle age and beyond.

Many thanks to Twitter user TG LivePD (@TLivepd) for compiling and sharing video clips on social media.

As the Live PD disclaimer indicates, not all outcomes are known or final, and criminal charges, if any, may have been reduced, dismissed, or never filed.

When alleged criminal activities are depicted on Live PD, all persons are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.

Rules of the Road?

Many subjects who appear on the show in law enforcement interactions are covered with tattoos (as are the cops more often than not), love cigarettes, and often have warrants. They often carry contraband on their person and/or in their vehicles, the latter which are often unregistered and/or uninsured.

Transporting contraband such as controlled substances plus no valid license/registration is usually an ill-advised combination as is contraband plus vehicle equipment malfunctions.

Alleged drug traffickers who fail to abide by routine traffic laws or, as noted, lack working vehicle running lights or other related equipment, can also wind up in big trouble following a probable cause search.

Two Beers, Not My Pants

“I only had two beers” is a familiar mantra from motorists pulled over upon being asked by cops if they had anything to drink that evening.

Another mantra is “not that I know of” when cops question a subject as to whether there might be illegal drugs in a vehicle or even on their person. In the alternative, subjects also often claim that drugs “belong to a friend.”

From time to time, they also claim that the pants that they are wearing in which cops find drugs belong to a friend.

Not my jacket or not my purse are also familiar refrains.

In addition to the drug epidemic across across the country as well as alcoholism, the obesity epidemic is also frequently on display.

When a subject begins a sentence with “I’m going to be honest with you, officer,” you can generally expect that things will quickly go sideways.

Some combative subjects argue themselves into an arrest (i.e., talking themselves into handcuffs) even when cops are about to let them go with minor infractions, citations, or warnings.

Some suspects seem more concerned about smoking one last cigarette before jail than they are about going to jail.

Several of the cops, who are impressively observant when they question subjects, have become social media celebrities as a result of their participation in Live PD.

As an aside, officers across the country have a tendency to ungrammatically add the preposition “at” to the end of a sentence. I.e.: “Where do you live at?” or “Where is he/she at?”

Expect the Unexpected

Traffic stops — the primary enforcement actions on Live PD — are often like a flea market. Viewers never know what the officers might find inside a vehicles after either a consensual search or a probable cause search pursuant to a K9 alert or another factor.

Moreover, as suggested above, no license, no registration, and no insurance consists of a trifecta in many of those stops. (A disproportionate number of pick-up trucks seem to have issues when stopped by law enforcement officers).

Mismatched plates, expired (and/or doctored) temporary tags, and the like are also frequent infractions.

Somehow, a driver’s license became an optional credential for many motorists.

Motorists sometimes claim to have a valid driver’s license, but for some inexplicable reason, they aren’t carrying it with them. Or it was stolen. Is it any wonder that the cops often ask the person behind the wheel if he or she has a drivers license on them?

Officers often give break to those who are driving illegally, however.

Judging by these traffic stops, driving while buzzed seems to be a growing, as it were, problem across the country. Weed laws vary significantly from state to state. Some jurisdictions have decriminalized possession of small amounts.

Some, but not all, of the subjects that police make contact with express excitement about being on Live PD (although occasionally they think they’re on Cops).

In switching quickly from sequence to sequence, and as you’ll see below, Live PD does not always provide an update of how cops resolved a particular encounter, if at all.

As alluded to above, K9s well trained in drug detecting and human tracking regularly assist cops in their investigations on Live PD.

This Weekend on Live PD

If you’re wondering what happened on Live PD this week/weekend, a recap/summary of the Friday and Saturday night’s Live PD follows.

Host Dan Abrams — he of the puns and the double entendres — and regular studio analysts Tom Morris, Jr., and Tulsa PD Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin provide studio commentary as usual.

Live PD, Season 3, Episode 80, July 26, 2019

Again, please understand that what is depicted on the show, and summarized below, including but not limited to any arrests, constitute mere allegations.

  • Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies respond to major collision involving semi. Structural damage to bridge. Blown tire apparently caused accident.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to landlord-tenant dispute.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Man calls cops from convenience store/gas station complaining that female friend allegedly stole his car.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; unregistered truck. Released with no charges.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies stop alleged stolen truck based on running the license plate and initiate felony stop. Turns out that vehicle was not stolen; deputies overlooked the small “b” at end of plate number. Driver released with no charges and advised to register vehicle in Texas.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers search area for assault with deadly weapon suspect.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Car search after report of argument between older couple. Field sobriety test. Male arrested for DUI but denies he was driving.
  • East Providence, R.I. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A guy found himself in trouble all because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.” Officers respond to report of several persons allegedly shooting heroin in business parking lot. Male subject allegedly had bag of heroin in mouth and crack in sock. Subject arrested for possession of heroin and cocaine. Officers investigate whereabouts of female subject.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; driver may have warrant. Consensual car search. White powder allegedly found in purse.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to possible domestic incident at residence.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Traffic stop; unsafe lane change. Driver: “I watch Live PD all the time, man.” Officer Muscutt: “Us older guys, we gotta show the younger guys how to drive correctly.” Driver apparently released with warning.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop on truck; erratic driving. Field sobriety test. Driver apparently detained or arrested.
  • Salinas, Cal. (pretaped segment): Abrams: “If someone is going to steal your car, you probably couldn’t ask for a better outcome then what happened there.” Traffic stop on truck that was allegedly stolen only about 25 to 40 minutes previous. Suspect charged with possession of stolen vehicle and driving without a valid Calif. license. Registered owner came to scene to retrieve vehicle; no apparent damage or missing property.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; expired registration. K9 deployed and alert after consensual search denied. Probable cause vehicle search. Drug paraphernalia and white powder in small baggie allegedly found. Driver arrested for possession of controlled substance, driving on suspended license, and possession of stolen goods. Passenger had warrants.
  • Crime of the Week — San Jacinto County, Tex. Morris, Jr. “He tries to ditch [deputies] by going through, yes, a ditch.”
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to alleged suspicious vehicles in park after hours. Everything is fine; turns out to be a family with small kids. Officer Bishop hands out stickers to each kid.
  • East Providence, R.I. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A playground…found itself with a ‘hole’ different kind of danger.” Strom drain cover dislodged. Teens assist officer in lifting heavy cover out of drain and resetting it.
  • Wanted Update segment:
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to report of male rolling around on ground outside store. Officer Muscutt: “Freedom of the press, bro.” Subject declined medical attention and told to move along.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputies search building for report of minor with gun.
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped segment): Abrams: Deputies “got into a dangerous situation with an uncooperative driver.” Traffic stop; mismatched plates. Driver refused order to get out of car and scuffled with deputies as he drove off, dragging deputies. Pursing deputies lost him. Several days later, however, pursuant to a tip, deputies arrested suspect on warrant for assault on law enforcement officers.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Car search. Weed and alcohol allegedly found. Deputies issue occupants tickets for possession of marijuana.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop. Deputy indicates that driver and passenger stories don’t add up. Consensual car search. Both released with no charges.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “It turned into a truly heartbreaking situation involving a mother and her small child.” Traffic stop; speeding. Trooper detected alleged odor of alcohol. Two year old unsecured in back seat. Trooper claims passenger is heavily intoxicated. Driver admitted to drinking. Driver arrested for DUI and passenger arrested for public intoxication. Child Protective Services takes custody of toddler. Morris, Jr. “It makes your blood boil. And if not for that traffic stop; he might have been going to an accident later involving that car and that child.”
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to domestic incident at apartment complex. Parties go their separate ways. No charges.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of home burglary in progress and shots fired. Occupants of vehicle in area detained at gunpoint. Officers found no damage at residence, which appears to be secure, other than one broken window. Vehicle occupants were apparently uninvolved in incident and released with no charges at this time.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to report of man possibly getting ready to jump off bridge. Report updated that man left bridge and is walking through traffic. Officers detain subject. He is transported to hospital for further evaluation.
  • Williamson County, Tex. –Traffic stop; unreadable license plate. Suspended license and no insurance. Deputy gives driver a break; allows mom to come to the scene to drive home vehicle. Subject released with warnings.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to report of separate groups in cars shooting at each other. Officers find one of the vehicles allegedly involved; a pickup truck. Other vehicle at large.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; expired tags. Deputy Rudderham notices car is equipped with cassette player. End of episode.

Note: Abrams announced that a bonus episode of Live PD will air on Tuesday, July 30, at 8 p.m. A&E typically implements this kind of extra programming as a lead-in to a Live PD spin-off.

Live PD, Season 3, Episode 81, July 27, 2019

  • Salinas, Cal. — Multiple officers respond to report of someone ransacking home. Subject spotted in abandoned car detained and taken into custody for alleged parole parole violation and vandalism. Officer Muscutt says that the subject is a gang member.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of home invasion. Officers clear residence.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; brake lights outs. Graphic: “Waffling relationship.” Abrams: “Almost importantly, it loooks like she is gonna be able to finish that ice cream cone as he goes over and talks to the passenger.” Driver released with warning only.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; expired tag. Abrams: Driver “giving a little history of his life” Released with warning only.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Abrams: “…what can only be characterized as the ultimate slow-speed pursuit.” Traffic stop; electric motorized scooter operating on street. Operator released with safety warning. Abrams: “It would not have been goof if he went right into ongoing traffic as they were sitting there.”
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; not signaling lien change. Abrams describes vehicle as “Juiced-up $200 Subaru.” Morris, Jr. “Kind of like MacGyver–pretty creative.” Released with warning.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to shots fired alert via telephone poll shot-spotter system. Several subjects detained but subsequently released.
  • Salinas, Cal. (pretaped segment) — Officers respond to report of what they say are gang members in SUV brandishing firearm. Suspects detained; positive ID. Arrested on multiple charges.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; driver allegedly ran red light. Officer detected alleged odor of marijuana in car. More than a “little mason jar” of weed found in car. Driver arrested for simple possession and will be released on a summons unless he is determined to be on probation.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop. Consensual car search. Driver on suspended license allegedly relating to intoxication-related infraction, which could be arrestable. Lt. Kennedy gave driver a break by only writing him a ticket and not impounding car. Driver released.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Abrams: “A report of a disturbance involving a woman possibly intoxicated turned out that was a bit of an understatement.” Deputies respond to domestic incident at trailer park. Female allegedly exceeded legal limit on portable breathalyzer. No charges. Subjects ask deputies for a light but none of the officers smoke.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to report of a fight after a traffic stop. Confusing situation. Allegedly intoxicated motorcycle driver apparently driven home from the scene by his grandmother. See clips below for the sequence.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to residence where a stepdad allegedly “hijacked” daughter’s cell phone and hid in room. Evidently not a police matter apparently.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop on pickup truck; reckless driving. Driver who is very apologetic to officers indicates that he is a Live PD viewer. He passes field sobriety testing but arrested for reckless driving. Female passenger may not have valid license and might have possibly been drinking. Deputies give driver the option to call someone to come and get truck otherwise it will be towed.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies respond to complaint of suspicious person in motel parking lot allegedly looking into cars. Subject detained. Deputies detect alleged marijuana odor. Probable cause search. Deputies find large amount of cash plus marijuana and other drugs. Subject possibly faces charges of possession with intent to distribute. Abrams: “This is really turning out to be more significant certainly than when they initially approached him.”
  • Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop; truck has fake plates and is unregistered. Abrams: “The hole just keeps getting deeper, and deeper, and deeper.” Officers release driver with warning.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; motorcycle with obstructed license plate transporting vacuum cleaner. Graphic: “This stop sucks!” Abrams: “Opposite of riding dirty.” Driver arrested as a result of multiple license suspensions and previous suspension-related conviction. Lt. Kennedy apparently had given this man a break some months ago. The bike will be towed.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; SUV spilling liquid from back, no tail lights. No license, no insurance, mismatched plates. Driver tells deputy that he is delivering water to a campsite. Vehicle allegedly comes back as stolen.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to noise complaint at residence. Officers ask residents to turn down music at birthday party and leave. Abrams: “I’m still confused about that Saran Wrap that is all around the outside of that home…if it’s a bug barrier, it’s not very effective.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A man in Oklahoma said that the meth found in his car was his brother’s; that excuse would soon ‘ring’ a bit hollow.” Traffic stop; speeding. Suspended license. Consensual search. Troopers allegedly find meth pipe, white powdery residue, plus penis ring. Larkin: “Everything that was found kind of keeps you up.”
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to report of man throwing up outside abandoned house. Subject allegedly admits to taking “spice.” Paramedics transport him to hospital.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; possible fake tag, no valid license. Driver passed field sobriety test. Abrams: “I’ll admit I’m hoping they may search the vehicle so we can see the mouse that does the backflips for cheese.” Consensual search; officer found BB gun, which was discarded, but no mouse. Trooper gives field sobriety test to licensed driver who came to scene to drive vehicle home. He was cleared to drive.
  • Missing segment — Fairmont, W.Va.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to robbery report and search with K9 for suspect in neighborhood. After foot pursuit, subject detained. Drugs allegedly found on his person. Pending positive ID by victim, subject arrested for simple robbery, resisting, and drug possession.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies respond to report of some kind of alleged and/or possible harassment of a female at gas station. Abrams: “Sounds like it was just a red truck and a pickup, but we’ll see.” Male subject questioned and released.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; officers detected odor of alcohol. Open container found.
  • Wanted Update — Michigan:
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies stop and question man walking in middle of the road. End of episode.

Live PD returns on Tuesday, July 30, for a special bonus episode.