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What to do if you are stopped by a Police Officer for
a traffic violation?
1. Keep both hands on the steering wheel, at 10 and
2, and your seat belt on until the Office has
approached your window and ask for your Driver's
License, (D.L.) and Insurance. Police Officers are
trained to prepare themselves during a traffic stop
for unexpected dangers. Often, the Officer will
approach from the back of your vehicle and watch you
through the side mirror. If you take off your seat
belt and start rumaging through your purse or glove
compartment for your D.L and insurance, they can not
see what you are doing and may feel you are hiding
something or grabbing for a weapon.
2. After being asked provide the Officer with your
D.L. and insurance. The first question a properly
trained Officer will ask you is for your D.L. and
proof of insurance. By law you must provide this to
them. An improperly trained Officer will ask you
questions about where you are going, your speed
etc..., see #4. If this happens, respond by politely
asking the Officer why they stopped you.
3. Smile and be Polite. Don't argue with the police
officer. The most important thing you can do during a
traffic stop is to create a situation no one will
remember three months from now.
4. Don't answer any questions regarding why you were
stopped, how fast you were going or what the speed
limit is, where have you been, where are you going,
are you in a hurry, etc... The Officer may be taking
notes (or the stop video recorded) and they are
probably not going to used to prove your innocense.
The Officer can ask you investigative questions during
a traffic stop and the answers to these questions can
be used against you in Court. YOU DO NOT have to
answer any questions asked by the Officer regarding
your traffic stop. If the Officer ask you a
questions regarding your speed, etc... smile be
polite, ask the Officer is there was a reason why you
they stopped you etc..., but you do not have to answer
their question.
If they ask you do you know why you were stopped, you
can say No. But remember. Always be polite and
respectful to the Officer and try to create a
situation that no one will remember a few months from
now.
5. Remain calm given the circumstances. Traffic laws
are more and more being used as a pretext to stop and
question a driver for drug and alcohol enforcement.
Often, another Officer will approach as a back up to
the first Officer. This can be very intimidating.
Officers do this for their protection as well as to
search your vehicle from the outside. An Officer can
not enter your vehicle. They can use high powered
flashlights to search inside your vehicle.
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