Cops only: What to do when you get pulled over?

Question

i was wondering what's the most appropriate behaviour when you get pulled over? How far can you drive before you stop? put your hazards on or not? Turn your lights (inside the car) on if it's at night? Where to put your hands? You know just routine stops. I've never been pulled over and i don't wanna screw up my first one cause i panic and don't know what to do - in case it happens -

Answer 1

Pull over as soon as it's safe to do so. Do not just stop on the street. Pull over in a parking lot or at least off on the shoulder as far as you can. Stay in your car. Don't fumble around or the officer will think you are trying to hide something. Keep your hands on the steering wheel. Just sit still and wait for them to come to you and ask you what they want. Also keep your registration where you can find it quickly. Of course, don't keep anything in your car that you wouldn't want an officer to find.

Answer 2

You should remain calm and do what the officers asks of you. It sounds as though you are talking mostly about being pulled over at night so I would tell you that it is ok for you to slow down and turn your hazards on while you look for a well lit parking lot etc to stop at. This enhances both yours and the officers security especially if there are others there. Turning lights on inside the vehicle and putting your hands on the steering wheel also accomplish the same sense of security. Also understand that we in the law enforcement community don't think of a traffic stop as routine and are always at a sense of heightened awareness during traffic stops. Just be calm and polite.

Answer 3

I'm not a police officer but,..

They want you to slow down and pull over as soon as posible. Come to a complete stop and wait to see if they pass (so many people do not pull over even though it's the law so this causes problems for police officers when they are between them and a goal/problem/lawbreaker. IT IS THE LAW. Pull over,.. it gets on my nerves because people ignore them and then problems happen... like the police car getting totaled... or a Funeral may be going on or Ambulence and fire trucks are behind them. STOP TO SAVE A LIFE.)

If the Police Officer pulls up behind you,.. you should have you hands on two and ten and your foot on the break--or car in park-- (that's how you should be even if they pass). If they get out and walk towards you, you may need to lower your car window. The Officer will give specific instructions for how he would like things. He may say turn off the car but keep the lights on or turn off everything and show the keys, or,.. it doesn't matter it helps him and shows you are alert. Listen to his instructions carefully. Whatever is said on here might conflict with his instructions.

Do not turn on the Emergency Lights unless you have noticed something is wrong with your car (My mom had a speedometer get stuck once). Then tell the Officer what problem you have just become aware of if there is one.

Answer 4

The first thing to do is to keep both hands on top of the steering wheel,do not reach for your wallet or search in your purse for information,wait patiently until the officer is at your driver's side door.
Pull over to the right side of the road(in USA),when safe and put your hazzards on,and yeah it helps to put your inside dome lights on,and turn your car off. If it is cold,and after talking to officer if you have concerns that your car is not running right,or that your battery might die ,ask the officer if you can keep your car running.
If the officer has concerns he will ask you if you carry any weapons. Whatever you do,do not leave your vehicle,and only remove your hand off the steering wheel at the request of the officer. It is all about safety,an officer does not know who they are dealing with when approaching a vehicle.

Answer 5

Having been pulled over (in daytime) by a cop, here's what I did to avoid being shot (yes, my personal paranoia about American policemen).

1. Pull over as soon as possible. Roll down the window. Put vehicle into park and shut off the engine.

2. Keep both hands on the steering wheel and keep them there until he/she directs otherwise.

3. If you need to obtain your license from your wallet (if you're sitting on it or it's in your purse) OR you need to retrieve your registration from the glove compartment, tell the officer where the information is located, then ASK for permission to retrieve it. Wait for their acknowledgement to proceed.

3a. The above actions do a few things. 1. It gives the officer advance notice of your behavior change (reaching for something). 2. If he/she doesn't need to see something (yeah, right), then you won't need to move, helping to ensure their safety from their perspective. 3. Any sudden movements, aside from sneezing, could be interpreted as an aggressive movement and you may have a police gun pointed at you. Not a pleasant way to end a traffic stop.

In fairness, cops usually have a good eye for traffic violations, so if you're pulled over, don't argue about the subject and don't volunteer information such as "...yes officer, I know why you pulled me over...". The burden of proof is on him/her so let them say their piece.

Answer 6

it is best to remain in youre vehicle and keep youre hands on the steering wheel.

Answer 7

Really theres nothing to worry about unless u have somthing, then i sugguest to junk it. and if your carrying then put it all in one bag if not then they get you on trying to distribute..so just relax and chill and go wtih the flow...

Answer 8

you will not be pulled over --you are too sad