When you get pulled over by a police officer, how do you act?

Answer 1

Nervous of course! I mean, you are eye-level with their duty belt, where it looks like a defense arsenal! None of which I want used on me!

Answer 2

My Dad was a cop for twenty years
and I have several lawyers as personal friends

The agreed mode of thought for this situation
is the understanding that -- the officer owns the moment--
it is THEIR call -- no matter what-- and the conduct on MY part
is one of complete compliance to the will of the police .....

The mental frame should also be in full understanding
that the officer has to have a clear understanding that the situation does not have anything that even hints to be threatening in any way----So I turn my car engine OFF---
Sit with my hands in plain view----If it is night or conditions of low light---I turn on the inside lights --- I don't even move to roll the window down until the officer is in position and has a clear view of what I am doing---THEN it is what ever they are needing !!!

If by any chance the officer is out of line on anything that they request or is abusive in any way (and it does happen) there will be the proper time and place for the discussion on this---AT the moment and during the incident is not the time or place to be discussing or having problems with what YOU think of the situation or the manner in which it is being dealt with !!!

Answer 3

For what it is worth I can tell this advice.
When I stopped someone if they were polite, I was very polite. I always told them why I had stopped them and then asked for their license. Usually they would give me some excuse, which was worth almost nothing (although I did tell a guy once it was the WORST excuse I had ever heard and I gave him a warning just because he had the audacity to lay such a lame, stupid excuse on me, but I told him it'd never work again).
The hardest tickets I ever had to write were to people who said "you know what, you're right, I did do that, I'm sorry about that."
That got more people out of tickets with me than anything else, just being honest and acknowledging they made a mistake.
I also had people who talked themselves into tickets. I had already decided to give a warning and they would launch right into the the whole "it wasn't me, you're wrong, yada, yada yada"
Of course we are under pressure from our supervisors to write tickets, and yes Virginia most places have a quota system, sorry but it's the truth. Most of my career there wasn't a quota, but the last year of my career, we had a real WINNER for a Chief of Police and he demanded 1.5 tickets a day.
How do you write half a ticket? We never got a good answer for that one either.
Sum it all up, courtesy, do like the other answerer, have your dome light on, know where your insurance and registration and license are... be polite, it may get you 1 ticket, instead of 2 for speeding and burned out tail light or whatever..... I always told people that I had to write that were decent any break I gave like, your insurance card is expired, go get a new one please.
If you're a jerk, the cop is almost always going to write you if they get the chance, and believe me, unless it's New York City you have a good chance of dealing with them again, kindness pays.

Answer 4

Don't argue, save it for the judge, he gets paid a lot more than the officer to hear your excuse. You have to remember that pulling you over is the officer's job. He doesn't want to be there just as much as you don't want to be there. Think of when you are at work and someone argues with you. Are you going to help them?

Answer 5

Be calm, honest and most importantly respectful. Don't be fidgety because it makes them nervous. Keep your hands on the steering wheel unless told otherwise. Answer questions with "yes/no, sir/ma mm". A police officer has to deal with rude, ignorant people all day long, so when you are polite and respectful they are certainly grateful. You never know, they might appreciate your courtesy so much, that they'll drop your traffic violation down to just a warning. I know that it has worked for me a couple of times!

Answer 6

how do you act or how "Should" you act ? politely, of course, and tell the truth. If you were speeding or went through a red light, the police officer is already aware of it. Arguing your point only pisses of the nice police officer who would not stop you for no reason.

Answer 7

If i get pulled over, it would be for speeding or creeping thru a stop sign, so I already know what they want. Just give me the ticket or give me a warning and let me go, we are not buddies.
Do not give me a ticket and then lecture me about driving, I've been driving for 50 yrs.
I just treat them the way they treat me, If they are arrogant, then I'm arrogant, I do have enough money to get a lawyer. I refuse to SIR anyone, i done that enough in the Army.

Answer 8

For the most part be calm and polite, the officer had a reason or a concern to pull you over in the first place. I would say a majority of the time you will leave without a ticket or any further action.

Answer 9

polite, respectful, calm, if he seems friendly then friendly back

the last time, he said "do me a favor Kurt, slow down a little next time" he was very nice

I wish my wife and my landlord would be that polite to me when I get stopped for something.

I am reminded of some of Dave Chapells jokes here too. If I was black perhaps my experience might be a bit different along these lines.

Answer 10

I try to be respectful, don't move until told to do so, and admit to nothing specifically. ("Yes, I know I was doing 70." "I only clocked you at 60-so let's write the ticket for 70 on your admission")