Traffic Stops

What to do when you SEE & HEAR the police behind you?

1.                   Pull over to the right when safe

2.                   Turn off your engine / put ignition key on dash

3.                   Stay in your vehicle!!

4.                   Keep your hands in plain view

5.                   Turn on interior lights (night time only)

6.                   Roll down your window slightly and wait for the officer to approach.

Pull over to the right when safe -

You intend to continue driving to a well-lit area where you would feel safer, signal your intention to do so in any way possible - turn signal, hazard lights, slowing down, etc.  Be aware that some officers may construe this as "flight", so don't push your luck by driving too far.

Turn off your engine / put ignition key on the dash –

(An obvious step that many forget.) You're not in a "drive-thru." Officers do not feel safe approaching a car that might back over them or take off. By increasing the officer's sense of personal safety and decreasing his stress level as soon as possible.

Stay in your vehicle –

Exiting your vehicle without being asked by police will probably be taken as a threat. Allow the officer to approach you and thereby maintain control of the situation.

Keep your hands in plain view –

Put your hands on the steering wheel. DO NOT root or rummage around in car for license, registration, insurance or anything else.

Turn on interior lights –

This increases your visibility to the officer.

Roll down your window slightly and wait for the officer to approach –

Do not be surprised if officer approaches on right (passenger) side of car--they often do this to avoid being hit by passing traffic.