What to do when you’re pulled over: Advice from the Cops

[Joeychgo]

What to do when you’re pulled over: Advice from the Cops
By BENGT HALVORSON


As you coast to a stop on the shoulder of the roadway, you know that sick feeling -- you've been busted. And now, it's time to pay.

We thought it might be a good idea to share with you some advice on how to behave once you're pulled over. So, we asked a few state troopers for their list of do's and don'ts. Here's what we gathered:

Pull over as soon as possible.
As soon as you even think that you might be the one who the highway patrol car is after, pull over. This shows that you have proper respect for emergency vehicles' right of way, and doesn't necessarily mean to the officer that you're admitting guilt.

Always pull over to the right.
Always pull over on the right side of the roadway. On divided highways, signal and safely move over to the far right lane, and then to the shoulder. When you come to a complete stop, choose a section of roadway that has a full shoulder, without guardrails if possible. Pulling over on the left may obstruct traffic, and pulling over next to a guardrail may make it difficult for the officer to safely approach your car. Both are mistakes that won't win favor.

Know where your paperwork is.
Normally, when a police officer first pulls you over, he/she will ask for your license, registration and insurance. If you're not well organized and keep the officer waiting while you dig through your possessions, the officer may be less likely to sympathize.

Make the officer feel safe.
Turn your dome light on at night. Always keep your hands in plain sight. Don't make any sudden movements. Roll your window down all the way. Stay in the car. Use common sense and don't put the officer in an uncomfortable situation.

Let the cop talk first.
Don't blurt out things that could incriminate you. Keep your calm, even if you're upset about being stopped. Don't volunteer information, like how fast you thought you were going. The officer may not be pulling you over for what you think he is. Let him talk to you first. React kindly and you may have more of a chance to be sent on your way without a ticket.

Don't argue with the cop.
Challenging the officer is a recipe for disaster, and likely means that you will be written up for the full offense and the officer will be less likely to opt for a compromise in court. So is asking to see the officer's radar-gun calibration records. If you are issued a ticket and wish to contest it, set a date in court.

 

[pepperman]

Good advice.

 

[mespock]

I hope Chickenviii reads this... he'll need it in July...

Oh and Joey... is this something learned from experience...

 

[pepperman]

I wonder if Debi will need any of that advice.

 

[bufordtpisser]

Nah.............

I wonder if Debi will need any of that advice.

She'll just show some leg.

 

[Frogman]

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

Pull over as soon as possible.
As soon as you even think that you might be the one who the highway patrol car is after, pull over. This shows that you have proper respect for emergency vehicles' right of way, and doesn't necessarily mean to the officer that you're admitting guilt.

Do NOT pull over just because there are some pretty lights behind you. As a matter of fact, speed up. Let the cops earn their pay by catching you.

Always pull over to the right.
Always pull over on the right side of the roadway. On divided highways, signal and safely move over to the far right lane, and then to the shoulder. When you come to a complete stop, choose a section of roadway that has a full shoulder, without guardrails if possible. Pulling over on the left may obstruct traffic, and pulling over next to a guardrail may make it difficult for the officer to safely approach your car. Both are mistakes that won't win favor.

DO NOT pull over on the right. If you MUST stop, stop on the road. That way, you can get better traction when you stomp on the accelerator as the cop is walking to your car!

Know where your paperwork is.
Normally, when a police officer first pulls you over, he/she will ask for your license, registration and insurance. If you're not well organized and keep the officer waiting while you dig through your possessions, the officer may be less likely to sympathize.

Show them nothing unless asked for it. After all, the cop might just be pulling you over to compliment you on your car. What business is it of theirs to see your papers? This is not the Eastern Block

Make the officer feel safe.
Turn your dome light on at night. Always keep your hands in plain sight. Don't make any sudden movements. Roll your window down all the way. Stay in the car. Use common sense and don't put the officer in an uncomfortable situation.

Wrong. Do not make the officer at ease. Make sure he stays on his toes the whole time you're talking to him. Help him keep his skills sharpened up. Don't roll the window down unless he demands you do so. Even then, only open it a couple of inches. Don't let all that heat escape the interior of your car. Make sudden movements with your hands, scratch your right thigh, continuously and furtively glance at a fixed spot in your car. Something like the passenger seat will do just fine.

Let the cop talk first.
Don't blurt out things that could incriminate you. Keep your calm, even if you're upset about being stopped. Don't volunteer information, like how fast you thought you were going. The officer may not be pulling you over for what you think he is. Let him talk to you first. React kindly and you may have more of a chance to be sent on your way without a ticket.

Again, this is wrong. As soon as you've rolled the windows down a few inches, demand to know why in hell the cop is wasting your time. Try to change subjects often, especially if it's extremely cold outside, or if it's pouring. Tell him that it's none of his business as to what the hell that smell is. If he insists you get out of the car, you tell him you will... as soon as the weather conditions improve.

Don't argue with the cop.
Challenging the officer is a recipe for disaster, and likely means that you will be written up for the full offense and the officer will be less likely to opt for a compromise in court. So is asking to see the officer's radar-gun calibration records. If you are issued a ticket and wish to contest it, set a date in court.

Argue with them! A good debate can get you out of a ticket, or even out of an arrest. If an arrest is necessary, then you make damend well sure that the cop uses YOUR handcuffs which you know are clean, and have not been used on the scum of the earth.


:lol:

 

[chicken]

i agree with frogman, run like hell, be jumpy and rub your nose, and sniff alot, and the best thing to do is to get a couple of the realistic looking pellet guns and have them scattered all over the car

 

[ketyokeinnor]

This was sent to me by a friend in the ACLU last time i got pulled over....its kinda informative, when its not over exaggerating possible situations....give it a watch, when you have 45min to spare...there's a few good practices in there i didn't think of

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

 

[Calabrio]

This was sent to me by a friend in the ACLU last time i got pulled over....its kinda informative, when its not over exaggerating possible situations....give it a watch, when you have 45min to spare...there's a few good practices in there i didn't think of

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

"Jeez, it's smells like Bob Marley's ass in here..."

 

[fossten]

Okay, after I finished cleaning off my keyboard from reading Frogman's post (thanks man, you made my day!), I have a couple of thoughts.

1. The last two times I've been pulled over, which have been spread over the last 5 years, I've immediately pulled to the right, rolled down my window, got my stuff out, and sheepishly smiled at the officer, profusely apologizing and telling him that he caught me and I was being careless and that I usually don't drive that way. Each time the officer has let me off without a ticket. My interpretation - make the officer feel empowered and that he is doing his job, and he may just exercise some benevolence.

2. If you're ever pulled over for speeding and the officer demands to search your car, ask him for a warrant. He must have probable cause to search your car without a warrant. If he doesn't, you have lawsuit material.

3. Watch out for a trick cops will use with a sniffing K9 unit. The cop will have a twig of pot leaf in his pocket, and will rub his fingers on it and then rub his fingers on the trunk of your car. The dog will sense the scent on your car, and start barking, and VOILA! Probable cause. The best way to combat this dirty tactic is by using a dazer, preferably mounted on the underside of your car. The dog will be terrified of your car, although you will yell "Stop!" at the dog to stay in character. Simply tell the cop (as the dog cowers in pain) that you've always had a way with dogs.

 

[mach8]

Stay in your car, remember that could be one skittish cop behind you, stop where there are witnesses!

This happend a few years ago in northern California, the real northern California, Redwood trees, miles of empty roads, towns 40 to 60 miles apart, NOTHING between them.

Anyways a County Sheriff Officer pulls over a car with two guys in it for erratic driving (I don't know about where your at, but things have got to be pretty bad around this area for a Sheriff to pull you over in the highway).

Well the car stops and both guys come out at the same time, one of them stumbling and reaching below the seat. The Sheriff felt he was going for a gun and blew him away. Turned out both guys were totally drunk but the Sheriffs Officer got off with a slap on the wrist.

I could see where he was comming from but still...............................