Depending on your past experiences with police officers, the prospect of getting pulled over may terrify you, or it may sound like just another day on the road. Either way, there are behaviors you should and should not exhibit when interacting with a law enforcement officer.
Do This:
Show the officer you are cooperating and will not be a threat. You can do this by turning your right signal or flashers on to tell the officer you are trying to pull over. Once you find a safe place to stop, turn on the interior lights in your car if it is dark outside, turn off your engine, roll down your window, and place your hands on the steering wheel.Let the officer speak first. Don’t insist the officer explain why he or she pulled you over. Simply hand over your identification, and wait for further questions. You don’t have to be apologetic or happy to be pulled over, but don’t be disrespectful to the officer. If you lose your temper, the officer might handcuff you and arrest you for disorderly conduct. Getting pulled over is a nuisance, but the calmer you are, the faster you will be back on your way.
Sign the ticket. Singing the ticket the officer hands you is not an admission of guilt, it just says that you will either pay the fine or show up for the court case. Don’t argue with the officer, just cooperate and sign the ticket.
If you are considering fighting the ticket, you can ask specific questions about circumstances of your charge. Ask things like what speed you were clocked at, where the police officer was when he clocked you, what device he used, and what his name and badge identification number are. Be aware that if you start asking these questions, the officer may suspect you plan to fight the charge and might take detailed notes himself.
Don’t Do This:
Don’t get out of your vehicle (unless instructed to by the officer). Imagine you are a police officer and have just pulled someone over. As you are walking up to the driver’s side window, you have no idea who you are about to meet. It may be a sweet, apologetic citizen, or it may be someone with an explosive temper. Suddenly the driver’s door opens, and someone starts getting out. Your first instinct would probably be to expect the worst, and defend yourself against it by pulling out your gun. For this reason, it is important to stay in your vehicle and let the officer approach you, unless the officer tells you otherwise.If you plan on fighting the ticket, don’t admit to doing anything wrong. Any admission of guilt could be used against you during the case. A judge wouldn’t understand why you are trying to fight allegations you admitted were true. If you are planning on fighting the ticket, you’ll need help from a resource such as NYTicketHelp.com.
If you aren’t planning on fighting the ticket, it’s ok to say something like, “I’m sorry officer; I’ll be more careful next time.” Some people claim that being polite and apologetic might even motivate the officer to let you off with a warning.
Never try to bribe the officer. A bribe can come in many forms besides money. Bribing an officer is a crime. You can’t take care of the fine right then and there, so don’t attempt to—the officer may think you are attempting a bribe.
Seeing red and blue flashing lights in your rearview mirror is a nerve-wracking experience for most people. Take a few deep breaths, remain calm, and remember these tips—you’ll be fine!
