How to Get the Best Outcome When You’ve Been Pulled Over
Being stopped by a police officer can be an extremely anxious experience, even if you’re innocent. To make the most of this situation and ensure maximum safety, here are three tips to follow when pulled over: pull off the road promptly; keep your hands in sight at all times and avoid any sudden movements; display politeness and truthfulness towards officers. Let’s take a closer look at each of these and discuss how they can help you get the best possible outcome of this unfortunate situation.Pull Over Immediately
If you catch sight of flashing lights from a police vehicle in your rearview mirror, it’s best to pull over as soon as possible. Locate an appropriate area such as the side of a parking lot or wide shoulder and make sure to turn on your hazard lights for additional safety precautions. Not pulling over immediately may raise questions with the law enforcement officer. When doing so, ensure that you are using caution by signaling before making any turns when safely exiting onto the right side of a road or street – try not to stop in heavily trafficked areas or directly in between lanes!Avoid Sudden Movements
If you have been pulled over, it is essential to keep your hands visible at all times and refrain from making sudden movements. Police officers are taught to be vigilant of their surroundings, so they may approach the vehicle with one hand on their weapon as a precautionary measure. To ease any tension that might arise between you and the officer, display your hands in plain view such as resting them atop the steering wheel or dashboard. Should you need access to something like a driver’s license or vehicle registration documents, let them know what exactly it is that you intend on doing before reaching for anything else; keep movement inside of the car minimal while taking caution not to reach for any other items besides those mentioned prior. Sudden movements can make the officer nervous and may lead to a more serious situation.Be Honest and Kind
When the officer approaches your vehicle, it’s important to be respectful, polite, and honest. Greet the officer and follow their instructions. If they ask for your driver’s license and registration, provide them with the necessary documents. If you have committed a traffic violation, be honest with the officer. Admitting your mistake and being cooperative can help defuse the situation and may result in a warning instead of a ticket. On the other hand, lying or being uncooperative can make the situation worse and may result in additional charges. If the officer asks you questions, answer them truthfully and to the best of your knowledge. If you don’t know the answer to a question, it’s okay to say that you don’t know. Don’t offer any more information than necessary, but always – ALWAYS – let them know if you have a weapon in the vehicle. Getting stopped by a police officer can be nerve-wracking, but there are steps you can take to ensure the most favorable outcome. Immediately pull over and keep your hands visible at all times; avoid any sudden movements that could alarm the officer. Additionally, maintain courtesy and honesty with the law enforcement representative – if you stay composed yet respectful during this encounter, it may very well lead to avoiding penalties or more troublesome matters altogether! If you’ve been charged with a crime, we’re available 24/7! Check out our services here and don’t hesitate to call!
Bradley Corbett
Bradley Corbett is a criminal defense attorney in San Diego. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah in 2004. Later he enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego where he participated in a prestigious internship program with the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Since then he has handled over 2,000 cases.