Do you know the do’s and don’ts if you must pull over to the side of the road?
Remember these five things to avoid doing if facing such a scenario. And, no matter what you’ve heard, it’s always in your best interests to hire a lawyer if facing charges.
1. Don’t Exit the Vehicle…Unless
After being pulled over by the police, your first instinct might be to exit your vehicle to speak to the officer. But you should stay seated unless the officer requests otherwise. If you leave the vehicle on your own initiative and startle the police officer, the situation could unnecessarily escalate. So, stay in your car unless you’re asked to step out.
2. Don’t Initiate the Discussion
Another thing to avoid is initiating the discussion when the police officer approaches your parked vehicle. Launching into a discussion could make it look like you’re guilty of something or are raring for a fight. You’re better off waiting for the police officer to address you during the traffic stop so that you can address the issue at hand.
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If it’s a matter of running a red light, exceeding the speed limit, or driving aggressively, you likely will only get a ticket. However, being argumentative or combative can make an unpleasant situation more difficult.
3. Don’t Reach for Anything in Your Car or on Your Person
When a police officer questions you, avoid reaching for anything unless you’ve received permission. If you surprise an officer by reaching into your backseat or glove compartment, things could escalate quickly and lead to unfortunate results.
An officer might mistake your reaching into your pocket or a bag on the front passenger’s seat for a nefarious act of aggression.
If you need to reach for anything tell the officer and wait for permission to do so. You can avoid many problems by being aware of the situation and acting responsibly.
4. Don’t Consent to a Search
Based on the law, a police officer isn’t supposed to search your vehicle unless there’s probable cause. So, while it’s usually in your best interests to be agreeable, you don’t have to allow a police officer to conduct a search of your car. You can say no.
If a police officer believes there’s probable cause to conduct a search and you don’t grant permission for them to do so, they must get a search warrant.
5. Don’t Be Combative
It’s essential to remember that most police officers are trying to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. So, they don’t head to work every day looking to give anyone a hard time. If you take a combative and disrespectful stance when a police officer is doing their job by the book, you’ll make things worse. So, familiarize yourself with what police can and can’t do so that you don’t make things more complicated than they must be.
For instance, a police officer has the legal right to pat you down if they think you might be armed. So, if you refuse a pat-down request, you could be in more trouble. Failing to comply will make things worse. Remember, too, that a police officer, while allowed to pat you down, can’t search your car without your consent. They’ll need to apply for a legal search warrant from a judge to search your vehicle even if you don’t want them to.
While no one wants to be stopped by the police when going about their business, encounters don’t have to be combative. That’s especially true if you’ve done nothing wrong or are guilty of a relatively minor infraction on the road. However, you’ll want to contact a criminal defense attorney if you’re facing serious charges.
