What when pulled over?

[bornagain374]

As a teenage driver I plan to never be pulled over, however if I do, what are the steps and procedures that I should take when stopped by a cop? Thank you.

[mcsap]

Pull over as soon as possible and not looking for the next parking lot 2 miles away.

Roll your window down.

Turn you stereo off.

Keep your hands in plain view, as in on the wheel.

Listen to the officer.

Typically, he/she will ask for your drivers lic/registration and ins card.

Don't go digging for these items as the officer first approaches, we think you are trying to hide or pull something ( gun) out.

Truthfulness and honesty go along way. No guarantee but it could increase your chances of not getting a ticket or getting a reduced ticket.

We don't care who you know or who you are related to.

We don't make the laws, just enforce them.

Arguing with us is a waste of time. Sometimes it makes me want to write more.

We have a job to do and are not always going to be silky sweet in our conversations.

Tell your side to a judge if you don't agree, he/she has the authority to overrule us.

Have a nice day and don't forget to buckle up.

[oscarmitre]

It was an excellent question and informative answers. The authorities should issue something like this with entry visas - seriously.

[bornagain374]

Thank you very much for your replies!

[Zwitterion]

It was an excellent question and informative answers. The authorities should issue something like this with entry visas - seriously.

Haha :D

[P01IC3M4N]

don't say "what seems to be the problem officer?" you'll get like 10 tickets if you do. i hate that s**t. YOU are the problem, hence the reason i stopped you.

just be cool the entire time, ticket or not. i've stopped people and cited them. stopped them again a week, month, or even a year later. i won't forget how you acted the first time.

[jaunt10]

jeez, my advice say the least possible. It'll get you in and out faster. There should be a set law as to approach traffic stops. There are all these little cop pet peeves that a civilian isnt going to know. Put it in writing as a law and it will most likely be followed. It seems there are too many different opinions on to how to handle traffic stops at least from the civilian side.

[marine19860222]

jeez, my advice say the least possible. It'll get you in and out faster. There should be a set law as to approach traffic stops. There are all these little cop pet peeves that a civilian isnt going to know. Put it in writing as a law and it will most likely be followed. It seems there are too many different opinions on to how to handle traffic stops at least from the civilian side.

Not always true, i had an officer approach me in a county park and he was gonig to charge me with being there too late and driving through baracades and i was talking to him and we got on a subject of talking about the military and how i was going into the corps and everything and ended up talking about how i can become an officer and we talked for about 1/1/2 hours and he let me know and everything. But its probably one of the few times it happens.

[jaunt10]

i've heard of that happening..i've had my hand shaked and thanked by cops just because they saw my military ID (whenever I say i'm military they want to see the ID). One of my buddies from Louisiana was pulled over and was let off just because the cop was bored and wanted to hear about my friend's day (late at night on those long bridges above the swamps). Those seem like rare cases though.

[sgtbear111]

When the contact is over be careful pulling back into the traffic. The emergency lights from the patrol car don't necessarily slow traffic or give you a lane to merge back into the traffic. The glare from police lights may interfere with your view of traffic before pulling out.

[Drew27k9]

There should be a set law as to approach traffic stops. There are all these little cop pet peeves that a civilian isnt going to know.

There doesn't need to be a law on how to approach traffic stops..most of the things said above are common sense. The one thing that really pisses me off is the loud radio. I usually stand there and talk real low. That usually gives them the hint before I have to tell them to turn it off.

[FPS207]

People who come to a stop right in the traffic lane--especially the LEFT lane--have just guaranteed themselves a ticket. And when I put the lights on because we're passing a safe spot to pull over and the driver just keeps going until they reach a section of guard rail that prohibits them or me from pulling off the roadway and THEN they want to stop...Don't even think about a break after doing that.

And then there's the old "light a cigarette real quick so the cop can't smell the weed/alcohol in the car" trick. That doesn't work either and nothing makes me more suspicious than a freshly-lit cigarette in someone's hand.

And if your driver's license is suspended, just tell me. I tire of the game where the driver pretends to look for it for two minutes then offers a lame excuse as to why they don't have it with them. We both know it's suspended by that point, and if I have to confirm it via the radio, someone's going to jail. Tell me straight up and don't be a donkey and maybe there's something we can do.

I thought I was the only cop these annoyances happened to :cool: DC you said a mouthful and I will just agree with you b/c you don't want me to get started on everything you just said. I am a traffic enforcement cop who works primarily twenty miles of I-75 south of Atlanta Georgia. Need I say more.

[jaunt10]

well hearing "Whats the problem officer?" is going to get me more tickets isnt something i'm going to know right off the bat. Things like that are what I'm talking about. That seems to be a big cop pet peeve that a civilian wouldnt know.