Pulled Over? Ways to Make a Traffic Stop Easier

You’re cruising along in a 35-mph zone, maybe going a bit too fast, when you spot the telltale police-cruiser lights in your rearview mirror. No matter what you do, you’re probably going to get a warning or a citation. But what can you do to keep an unwelcome experience from becoming more of a hassle?

• Pull over promptly. That means all the way to the right – and stop. Don’t drive a half-mile while you ponder if the officer is really signaling you. If you’re not the offender, you can go on your way; if you are, you’ve at least started out on the right foot. Besides, in many states you can be cited if you fail to pull over and stop promptly. And always remember to use your turn indicators if you must cross lanes of traffic while pulling over.
  
  
• Reassure the officer. Keep your hands in sight (preferably on the steering wheel) as the officer approaches. If it’s dark or stormy, turn on your dome light. Roll your window down, especially if you have highly tinted glass. This isn’t about a power struggle; too many officers have been killed or injured during routine traffic stops gone awry.
  
  
• Hand over your documents. Cops are looking for the Big Three: license, registration and proof of insurance. Don’t make the officer sort through a loose bundle or an envelope full of oil-change receipts. Although experts used to recommend keeping your registration and insurance card attached to one another in your glove box, it’s smarter these days to keep your registration in your wallet – with your license – in case your car is stolen. When it comes to showing your license, take it out of your wallet instead of leaving it under the plastic cover. Although rare, some police officers have been accused of pilfering cash. That’s why they typically won’t accept your wallet, even if it’s flipped open to your license. Besides, wallets don’t attach easily to police clipboards.
  
  
• Be respectful. Answer questions politely. If you’re wondering why the officer wants to know if you wear contacts, it’s not personal: It’s that “corrective lenses” box that you checked at the license agency last year. Officers are obligated to make sure you’re operating your vehicle under the conditions your license requires.
  
  
• Save your arguments for court. Sure, you can offer clarifications if they’re relevant – for instance, you’re a doctor on the way to emergency surgery. But engaging in a dispute over the “rolling stop” or challenging the calibration of the radar gun won’t score any points, and it won’t stop the officer from issuing a citation. You should also avoid the really toothless excuses: ignorance of the law, or the fact that everyone else was driving 85. The officer saw you breaking a law that’s on the books – not someone else, and not a law written in invisible ink.
  
  
• Don’t be a chatterbox. Refrain from launching into long stories, telling your cousin’s latest jokes or trying to become the officer’s friend. The traffic stop is not your local watering hole or a speed-dating session. On the other hand, if the officer engages in small talk, it can’t hurt to follow suit. There’s a chance you’ll get off with a warning – or that you’ll just go on your way sooner.