Document text
Tips for a painless traffic stop By Dace Cochran Maybe you�ve had the honor of being pulled over by a peace officer who is enforcing a traffic law. Maybe not. Either way, don�t you want to know if there�s a way to enhance your chances of getting out of a ticket with just a verbal warning? Based on having made thousands of traffic stops, and having gone through different types of training, I can pass along a few pointers to help both you and the officer. So here�s what to do when you see those flashing red and blue lights in the rear-view mirror: First of all, try to pull over in a safe spot. The officer has planned ahead, hopefully, before lighting you up so that there will be a convenient place to pull over. Try to remember that wherever you pull over has to have enough room to accommodate your car and the patrol car. If there�s no obvious place to pull over, then give a signal that you see me and plan on pulling over at the next available safe location. After you have pulled over, stay in your seat, in the car. Recent training has shown that police officers are in more danger when drivers get out of the car, so just allow us to come up and talk with you. Only get out if requested to do so. Don't do anything that we might misinterpret as furtive movements, such as reaching into your console or glove box to get your paperwork until requested to do so. In fact, we feel safest when we can approach you and see both your hands resting on the steering wheel. Try to remain calm. This may be the first time you've ever been pulled over, but this may be traffic stop No. 20 in the officer's day. He or she may have stopped you just to let you know your left signal is burned out. Remember, there�s nothing personal involved. We've probably never met you before and we are just out doing the job we get paid to do. Produce your license, insurance and registration when requested. Finally � and this is a big one � don't lie. Everyone hates being lied to and officers are no exception. Sometimes there may be an honest difference of opinion or misunderstanding of a law. If so, then that is why you get your day in court. But if the officer saw you without that seat belt on, or locked you on radar at 75 mph in a 45 zone, just admit it was so. Officers are blessed with a good amount of discretion and when someone out-and-out lies, or tries to shade the truth, the natural tendency is to get out the paperwork and press hard. When someone admits they made a mistake, however � and we all do � then most officers are a bit more inclined to exercise a little of the discretion given them and just give a warning. Dace Cochran, a patrol deputy with the Jackson County Sheriff�s Department, writes a column on police issues. Questions or issues you�d like to see him address? Write him in care of the Mail Tribune, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501, or at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.