If you’ve traveled in a car, you might have been stopped by a traffic police officer. However, the officer stopping you doesn’t mean you have done any offense. Sometimes you’re just stopped for a checkup based on their routine to ensure you’re adhering to the motor laws.
You don’t want to give the cop a reason to arrest you. Instead, you want to remain calm and wait for further guidelines.
How to go About Getting Pulled Over
Here are some ideas that you need to grasp at your fingertips:
#1. Don’t Freak Out!
Whenever you notice you’ve been stopped, take a few moments to consider your options.
In case you need to move a short distance to a safe spot, signal to the cop to the right to indicate that you’re working on it.
If you find yourself in the far left lane with numerous lanes to the right, make lane changes as safely as possible.
Note that the officer is aware of your actions.
Often, officers will help you make a right turn, alerting any vehicle behind them that he is pulling you over.
Therefore, stay calm.
#2. Keep an Eye Out for Instructions
Never try to argue with the officer in charge. Instead, wait for orders and don’t do or say anything unless you’re asked to.
You could wish to start with a friendly hello to put the officer at ease right away, but be sure to wait after that.
Officers occasionally, even though it might be unintentional, desire to feel in control of their victim.
And by playing along, you’re already swaying them slightly in your favor, and that’s how you’ll get their favor. In most cases, you should remain in your vehicle.
However, if an officer asks you to come out, do not immediately comply, especially if you believe you have done nothing illegal.
This is because an officer on a power trip may urge you to step out of your car only to get to you, so don’t immediately accept.
However, don’t try to defend yourself, as this may make the officer believe you’re on the defensive. Instead, respectfully inquire as to why he wants you to go.
They may have a legitimate explanation for the request but politely decline and insist on staying inside if they don’t give you one.
This will not only protect you from a physical dispute, but it will also demonstrate to the police that you are not someone who will do whatever he asks of you without question.
#3. Record the Incident
You can decide to be bold enough to take out your cell phone and press the “record” button, then place it on your dashboard if it’s safe.
Say out the day, exact time, and your position before the officer approaches the car. You can either use the phone’s built-in video camera or the voice memo feature.
The tape of your chat with the police is what we’re looking for here since it could assist you in various ways during your trial.
When you’re pulled over, remember that reaching around in the car will make the cop quite uncomfortable.
Speaking about how to make a cop feel safe and comfortable when they stop you, here are some tips:
- Turn off the engine: This shows the officer that you have no intention of speeding away.
- Turn on the interior lights: The officer will search your vehicle for other people or weapons.
- Turning on your lights for the police if it’s late at night is a good gesture.
- Keep your hands on the steering wheel: Cops prefer to see your hands. They know you can’t hurt them with a weapon if they can see your hands. Placing your hands on the steering is a fantastic method to calm the officer down.
- State your intention: Avoid making any sudden movements. Let the officer know if the officer requests your registration and you have it in the glove box. Don’t just rummage in the glove box.
First, give the police a heads up, “sure thing, Officer!” However, I need to reach into the glove compartment. “Would that be all right?”
However, there are some additional tips you can use during your stop. Let’s get right into it!
- You have the right to inquire as to why you were stopped. However, try to keep calm and avoid getting into a fight. If you know you have a good reason to have acted the way you did, explain this to the cop while still calm. Moreover, you can ask for his forgiveness, and he might let you go with a slight warning.
- If the cop has taken your driver’s license, you can pay the penalty right there or at the station. If you don’t pay the fine, you’ll get served with a court summons. Note that failure to appear in court can lead to a warrant for arrest being issued to you.
- Don’t offer the police a bribe.
- The cops can pull you over and ask for a test on your breath. This is done when they suspect you of driving while drunk. You could be arrested if you decline to carry out the test without a good reason. The breath test brings immediate findings. After that, you may be allowed to leave if it is determined that you have not exceeded the legal drinking capacity. Either way, if you don’t pass the test, you are required to appear in the police station and take a last breath test prior to paying the fine. The main reason why an officer can tell you to take drug tests is when they believe you may be under drugs’ influence.
- If you doubt anything you’re about to do, you can get legal counsel from an expert attorney.
Wrapping Up!
Now that you’ve got some handy tips on what to do when a cop asks you to pull over, it’s time to put them to practice.
By doing so, you’ll have prevented the situation from escalating and even won yourself a space on the safe side!
Go CHAMP! You’ve got this!