What to do if you're stopped by the Police
If a police officer stops you on the street, he or she probably has a reason. The officer may suspect that you are in violation of a law. It’s also possible that a crime was committed nearby and the officer thinks that you might be able to help.
In any case, DON’T RUN from the officer. Be calm. LISTEN. Find out what the officer wants. Don’t assume that you know the reason that you are being stopped. Provide identification if you are asked. It’s best if you can be cooperative. Please, DON’T SAY ANYTHING THAT IS NOT TRUTHFUL. This will only make matters worse and you may end up causing further problems for yourself or the officer. In any circumstance, you certainly have the right to ask questions of the officer. But in doing so, please remain calm. Yelling and threatening an officer will only make a situation more difficult.
What Should I Do If I’m Pulled Over In My Car?
If you are driving a car and an officer signals you to stop, whether in a patrol car, bicycle or on foot, you must pull over.
Stay in your vehicle and if it’s dark, turn on the interior light. If you leave your vehicle, you subject yourself and the officer to the dangers of passing traffic.
Keep your hands on the steering wheel. Wait for the officer to approach your vehicle. The officer will request your license, registration and proof of insurance.
We, as police officers, are trained to ask for identification first, and to provide an explanation for the stop second. Provide the officer with the required documents. Then, give the officer a chance to explain why he or she stopped you. Moving violations are the most common reason for stopping a vehicle. However, you may also have been stopped for a registration or equipment violation. A criminal investigation may be another reason for being stopped. Your vehicle may match the description of a vehicle that was involved in a crime.
Remember, in most cases the officer will be in uniform with proper identification. You know who you are dealing with, we don’t.
At some point during the stop, the officer may ask you and any passengers to step from the vehicle. This request may be for safety reasons, or the officer may suspect the presence of illegal contraband in the car. The courts have upheld an officer’s right to make such a request.
Finally, if you don’t agree with a citation, don’t argue at the scene. All citizens have the right to contest a citation before a judge or magistrate. This doesn’t require the service of an attorney and the time involved is often minimal.
Frequently Asked Questions reference being stopped by police:
Q. Why does the officer ask for identification first?
A. The officer is trained to do so. Remember, you have the advantage of knowing with whom you are dealing. We don’t.
Q. When a car is stopped, it appears that the officer is “sneaking up” on the driver. At night, the officers shine their lights into the car. Why is that?
A. Again, officers are trained to minimize their exposure to traffic and to potential danger from within the vehicle. At night, the bright light illuminates the interior of the vehicle which is another safety consideration for the officer.
Q. If I’ve only been pulled over for a traffic offense, why do other police cars show up?
A. It is not uncommon for officers who are in close proximity to back each other up, even if they aren’t requested.
Q. Why does the officer sit in the car for so long? What are they doing?
A. While it may seem as if the officer has you stopped for a long time, in reality, it’s only for a few minutes. Technology now allows an officer to verify your driving status and check your registration directly from the patrol car. This is accomplished through one, statewide computer system.