Donald Laws: St Clair man pretended to be cop with emergency lights

A 61-year-old was pulled over while speeding along the motorway with police lights on his car. A search of his home then uncovered a police baton, badge and several more sets of lights.

A 61-year-old was caught by cops doing 160km per hour with flashing blue and red emergency lights on his car.

Donald Laws, 61, claimed he was an Australian Federal Police officer when stopped and produced a fake black badge and wallet.

A search of his home later uncovered a further eight sets of emergency lights, a black police baton, an ACT Police badge in a black wallet, a NSW Police pin and a NSW force insignia patch.

Penrith Local Court heard Laws, who has been unemployed for two years, was caught in Orchard Hills while travelling westbound on the M4 on July 11.

Donald Laws (right) pictured with his lawyer outside Penrith Local Court after his case was heard on September 17.

Police noticed a white Hyundai i40 with NSW plates travelling well above the 110 km per hour speed limit.

They then observed him activate blue and red emergency lights which caused a black hatchback to switch lanes.

He continued in the same lane, leaving on the emergency lights for 10 to 15 seconds.

Police accelerated to catch up with Laws and travelled alongside him at 160km per hour before he finally slowed down.

Laws then changed lanes and again activated the emergency lights.

Police pulled him over and stopped him in the breakdown lane of the M4, about 150m prior to the Kent Rd off ramp.

Laws presented officers with an “Australian Federal Police badge” contained within a black wallet and claimed he was a Federal Police Officer employed by the Australian Federal Police.

He then told officers he had not been employed within the AFP for more than two years but sometimes did work for them as a private investigator.

He was unable to provide any employee or supervisor name or contact details for the AFP. Nor was he able to provide employment documentation.

Police contacted the AFP and it was confirmed he had never been employed.

His vehicle was searched and a red and blue emergency light bar was found on the front dash along with functioning lights on the front grill.

Donald Laws.

Further emergency lights were fixed to the rear window, along with an electronic box within the centre console containing several settings to activate a siren.

He was taken to Penrith Police Station and officers then searched his St Clair address.

In his bedroom, they found a black police baton, an ACT Police badge in a black wallet, a NSW Police pin and a NSW Police force insignia patch.

In the garage police found eight sets of police red and blue emergency lights.

In police interview he admitted to speeding, impersonating a police officer and being in possession of a prohibition weapon.

He was convicted and fined $1100 for the driving offence for which he was also handed a three month license suspension.

His other charges were dismissed under the Mental Health Act and he was ordered to attend doctors appointments and comply with a 12 month treatment plan.