If you’re getting pulled over, there is a reason. Police already have their eye on you. But you should never make them more suspicious of you in this short time you are pulled over, especially if you are not guilty of anything more criminal than not making a complete stop at the stop sign or having a broken tail light. Here are some pointers if and when you ever get pulled over:
- Pull over in a safe and well-lit area.
- Turn off your engine.
- Turn on your interior light if it is dark.
- Roll your window all the way down.
- Put both hands on the steering wheel.
- Remain calm.
- Show respect.
- Answer only what you are asked. It is okay to say “I don’t know” if the officer asks you if you know why you were pulled over.
- Reach for your license and registration only when the officer asks you to. (It’s important not to do this before hand, especially during the time the officer is walking to your car; he or she might think you are reaching for a weapon or trying to conceal something.)
By remembering these basic common courtesies of getting pulled over, your stop will run much smoother and quicker. Sometimes you will be lucky and “get away” with a warning rather than a harsher punishment. Plus, these will make your stop safer (and more “routine”) for you.
If however, things don’t go so well and you end up arrested, you can still try and fix the situation so it does not get any worse for you by bailing out of jail.