There are not too many drivers out there who are entirely comfortable upon being pulled over by a cop. There is something about the situation, whether it be the flashing red and blue lights, or the approach of an authoritative figure dressed in uniform with a pistol swinging from the hip, that tends to make drivers squirm in their seat. A lot of the time, the unease is not at all necessary. Whether you have been pulled over by a cop for a random stop, or for committing a traffic offence, the following advice will stand you in good stead the next time you are pulled over.
When the cop car behind signals for you to pull over:
- Don’t panic and decrease your speed steadily
- Pull over at a safe spot on the side of the road. A flat, straight section of road, with plenty of room to manoeuvre your vehicle clear of the flowing traffic is ideal. Leave ample room for the cop to be able to safely approach your driver’s window
- Bring your vehicle to a stop, and utilise the hand brake
- Leave the engine running
When the cop approaches your vehicle:
- Stay calm and take some deep breaths
- Try and stay relatively still and don’t worry about finding your licence or registration papers just yet. Do not lean over to the passenger’s seat and start rummaging through the glove box or the passenger’s foot-well. Remember that at this stage you are unknown to the cop, and for all he or she knows, you might be looking for a weapon. Officer safety is a fundamental practice of policing, and cops will generally react to sudden movements with the worst case scenario in mind. Placing both your hands on the steering wheel and waiting for the cops arrival at your window is the best approach
- Turn your radio off if you haven’t already
- Now is not a good time to text a friend, light a cigarette or crack open a beer. They can all wait until later!
When the cop arrives at your window:
- The cop will generally signal for you to wind down your window in order to speak with you. Do this. Make sure you wind down your window all the way
- Let the cop speak first to let you know the reason why you have been pulled over. Don’t interrupt the cop
- Answer any questions the cop has for you honestly and calmly.
- If and when requested, supply the cop with your driver’s licence and registration papers
- When speaking with the cop, try not to be argumentative, hostile or aggressive. If you feel the need to get your point across to the cop, do so clearly and calmly
- Do not be overly friendly or flirty with the cop, and do not attempt to make any ‘wise guy’ cracks
- If the cop is issuing you with an infringement notice for committing a traffic offence, do not argue with the officer. The side of the road is not the appropriate domain to dispute the infringement if you feel you did not commit the said offence. There are legal avenues to dispute the infringement. Often arguing with the cop on the spot about an infringement will increase the prosecution case in proving the offence, rather than help your defence of the alleged offence.
- Do not give the cop any reason to deal with you more severely by doing something idiotic like throwing your litter out of your window or honking your horn
When you are free to leave:
- Rejoin the roadway and continue on your journey. Do not give the cop any reason to pull you over once more by accelerating away harshly, or driving away at a snail’s pace, way below the signposted speed limit
Your attitude towards the cop and being pulled over by the cop is key. It is a popular misconception that cops nowadays do not use the ‘attitude test’ when deciding how best to deal with a driver. Yes, to combat corruption issues, cops are trained at police academies to base their decisions objectively (ie: on the driving) and not let the attitude of a driver sway their decision making process. However, if you ask any cop over a couple of beers whether they use the ‘attitude test’ when dealing with drivers, more often than not they will reply with an honest ‘yes.’
Remember that cops are everyday people like everyone else, and are simply doing their job. Treat them with respect and courtesy, whatever the circumstances. By following the straightforward advice in this article, you will give yourself the best possible chance of having a smooth interaction with a cop the next time you are pulled over.