I'm sure we can all agree: When you see the blue and red lights in your rearview mirror, it helps to be a beloved television personality. While anything's possible in the American punitive system, recognizability might just be the key to ensure de-escalation and could very well buy you a "Get out of jail" card. 

But what if it doesn't? What if that same celebrity draws unwanted attention? Would law enforcement have an incentive to make an example of a celebrity? After all, they've had it pretty easy, out there in La La Land, and the rules apply to everyone. Nobody is above the law, so maybe it's the case that the police should crack down even harder on these actors!

The plot thickens when the famous person is famous for playing a police officer. While a strong portrayal might gain you favor, what if you're very famous for playing a bumbling fool of a cop?

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Luckily, Don Knotts broke it down for us back in 2002. In an interview during a press junket for Pleasantville, Knotts was asked about his real-life relationship to law enforcement.

"I get a lot of reactions from them," said Knotts. "Cops used to stop me— and I used to get stopped once in a while. I thought, 'What'd I do?' And they pull up, and they go, 'Hey Barney, can I have your autograph?'"

It seems that despite his commitment to his role as one of the least qualified deputies in history, Don Knotts was still respected by real police officers.

"People are always persistent about an autograph, but that's part of it. I'm happy to sign unless there are too many at one time."