It’s a beautiful summer night in Lawrence. The temperature is comfortably warm with a refreshingly pleasant cool breeze. It is a perfect night to be out. I’m driving in my car with the windows open and listening to music. I’m on a busy city street and the scent of fried food and rotisserie chicken hangs heavily for a moment inside my car and it is reassuringly familiar. There is a highly charged energy in the air and I feel it all at once; I’m home.
My song is playing so the volume is up. All the way up. I glance at the rear view mirror and see flashing blue lights. I can barely hear the siren over the music and wonder if the lights are on for me.
What did I do? I didn’t do anything, did I?
My mind is racing. He’s right behind me; I am being stopped. My license is valid, car registered, insurance paid, and I don’t think I did anything wrong. Why do I still feel somewhat nervous? I don’t want a ticket; I hope I don’t get a ticket. He’s approaching the car. Here comes the cop. Is he mean? My vision is blinded by the police lights in my mirror. He disappears in the lights for a moment then startles me by his sudden reappearance at my window.
All I see is a stern expression, the badge, and the gun.
Have you been in this situation before and felt similarly? What do you do next? Haven’t been stopped by the police before? What do you do now?
What happens next largely depends on you. Follow the steps outlined here and you can help the officer and hopefully have a positive resolution.
- Wear your seatbelt.
- Pull over to the right and stop – if you don’t you could be arrested.
- Turn on your interior lights.
- Roll down your windows – even if it is raining or cold.
- Present your license and registration to the officer – if you don’t you could be arrested.
- DO NOT answer the question, “Do you know why I stopped you?” simply say no and politely ask the officer to tell you why you were stopped.
- Be honest. If you were speeding or tried to beat the light, admit it. An officer has discretion whether to write a warning or assess a money fine. Your honesty could be the difference between a warning and a ticket.
- Be courteous even if treated poorly. You may make a complaint at the police station but do not argue the merits of the citation while making a complaint. Be clear and explain what was inappropriate about the officer’s conduct. To contest the citation, follow the instructions on the rear of the citation.
- If you are licensed to carry a concealed firearm immediately advise the officer that you are licensed and are carrying a firearm. Keep your hands where the officer can see them (ideally, keep them on the steering wheel) and wait for the officer to give you instructions. Follow the instructions exactly as they are given. This will protect you and allow the officer to preserve his own safety.
If you follow these steps you will more likely than not have a cordial encounter with an officer and avoid having a negative experience. It is the officer’s responsibility to behave professionally and treat you with respect. It is, however, his duty to enforce the law and you may still receive a ticket but you may appeal the citation.
You might know that you have never been stopped for speeding when you were really going faster than the speed limit. Perhaps you were fortunate and got a warning, but deep down you knew, as many people stopped know, that they had done something.
The best way to survive, though, is to avoid the stop altogether by following all traffic laws. If you do get stopped, try these tips and see if it works for yourself.
