We all have stories of being pulled over by the police, and we all have our own accounts of what we said or didn’t say that either made the situation worse or better. The truth is, there is no tried and true method of getting out of a ticket, but there are certain ways you should behave when you get pulled over.
In the previous post, Monday Myth: You can you talk your way out of a ticket, we covered some basic principles for how to act when pulled over by the police. Here is a more in depth look at what you can do when you get pulled over. These are not meant as steps to get you out of a ticket, but they will help the police officer understand you are a conscientious and reasonable driver.
First things first:
Pulling Over
When you see those flashing light behind you, you want to pull over as quickly as safely possible. Use your turn lights to indicate you are moving to the side of the road. You want to make this as quick as possible, but not so quick that it is unsafe, or the police office has to brake very quickly to avoid hitting you.
Stop Everything
Once you’re safely stopped, stop everything. Turn off your car, turn off the radi and make sure you’re not on your cell phone. Even roll down your window all the way. Do not start rummaging for your registration and licence. If it’s night time, you might want to turn on your interior light so the officer can see you better. Just wait calmly and patiently for the officer to approach your car.
Stay Calm and Courteous
This might be difficult, but remember that in most of these cases, police officers are doing their job. You should not try to argue your way out of the situation. Do not give false statements or interfere with what the officer is trying to do. Don’t give the officer a reason to keep you longer than they need to. Be polite and listen to what the officer says.
Provide documentation when asked. Let the officer know where the documents are and then retrieve them. The officer will most likely go back to the cruiser to check your papers. Stay in your car, roll up your window and wait.
Remember your Rights
You have the right to remain silent. In a traffic stop you may be asked to provide your licence, registration, insurance and name, as required by law. (This is different than when you are stopped at R.I.D.E. program.) Any questions beyond that you are not required to answer beyond that. You are allowed to state “I choose to not answer that question” or simply, “I’d rather not say.”
An officer might ask to take a look in your car. You do not have to consent to do this. But if the police have reasonable grounds to search your car, or if you have been placed under arrest, they have the right to search you and your car without your consent.
If you have been stopped but not arrested, you are allowed to ask if you’re free to go. If the officer says yes, then you may drive away, calmly and safely.
Do Not Argue the Ticket
Generally once you have been issued your ticket you are free to go. Do not argue with the officer about the ticket.
This is not the time to fight the ticket. All you need to do is keep your ticket as it contains important information. Your ticket will tell you:
- the location of the offense
- the officer’s name and badge number
- the offence
- the fine
- your information
- the number of days you have to decide to fight it
Every situation is different. Remember you have a right to fight your ticket. At Bulwark Legal Services we provide free consultations. You can go to our website and send us a copy of your ticket. We will help you decide the right course of action to take.
By Kimber Lubberts
