SCOTTISH police officers committed an average of at least five driving offences a week over the past three years, official figures reveal.
Officers behind the wheel have broken the law 751 times since 2010, including drink-driving, speeding, and jumping red lights.
Several officers were allowed to resign rather than be sacked after they were caught breaking the law either off or on duty. Police chiefs handed down fines worth almost £30,000 to offending officers.
Road safety campaigners said police officers should be setting an example to other motorists with their driving.
The figures, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show officers with the former Strathclyde force committed 286 motoring offences.
But Lothian and Borders – despite being a much smaller force – was not far behind with 253 offences.
Five Strathclyde officers resigned or were required to resign for motoring offences over the time period.
A further 42 officers from the former force were given warnings and police chiefs handed out fines worth £10,145 in 2010/11 and £6,270 the following year.
The former Northern Constabulary revealed that on June 5, 2010, one of their officers was given a fine and three penalty points for "going through a red light at a level crossing" while off duty.
A Northern Constabulary officer resigned after driving under the influence while on duty on October 8, 2011.
On April 25, 2011 an officer from the former Central Scotland force was fined £800 and given eight penalty points for dangerous driving.
And in August 2010, an off-duty officer was caught driving at 94mph in a 70mph road.
The force said there was "notice of Intention to prosecute".
The former Grampian force said of its 69 incidents over the period, 20 involved officers on duty.
Margaret Dekker of Scotland's Campaign against Irresponsible Drivers said: "The police have a responsibility to set an example.
"These drivers get advanced training courses so they should be aware of the risks."
Edmund King, President of the AA, said police officers would know the consequences of dangerous driving.
He said: "There will always be some motoring offences that will crop up, but there's no excuse whatsoever for drink driving.
"The police more than anyone else will have seen the consequences of that action."
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: "Any incidents where police officers are found to have broken the law are treated seriously, as this does not reflect the high standards of professionalism expected of our officers and staff.
"Any officers who commit motoring offences will be dealt with appropriately both in terms of criminal proceedings and any misconduct issues that may arise."
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