Elizabeth Ann Kommes' 'TROUBLE' with the Law

Elizabeth Ann Kommes is now slightly famous for her license plate read the words "TROUBLE," especially when, according to Michigan police, she proceeded to offer sexual favors and $10,000 to a police officer if he would not arrest her for a DUI. Elizabeth Ann Kommes might have bitten off more than she could chew after the arresting police officer reported this back to the police station, according to ABC News.

Just like Elizabeth Ann Kommes, I have had my share of run-ins with the law but I have learned from my mistakes. I have to admit that I have never offered up sexual favors or cash for a get out of jail free card, but I have learned the best way possible to deal with police officers.

Answer them truthfully

If you are getting pulled over and a police officer asks you if you have been drinking, you might as well answer them truthfully. Elizabeth Ann Kommes told the officer that she had been drinking which is the right thing to do since they can find out one way or another. Breathalyzer tests do work, and they will use them on you if they find probable cause. This does not mean that you have to take any alcohol related test that they give you but be warned that they can take you and hold you in jail. It is better to just offer up the truth than to sit in jail for a long time.

Don't bargain with the cops

Elizabeth Ann Kommes found out the hard way that when you bargain with "trouble" you are bound to get "trouble." Instead of trying to bargain with them by offering up things such as sexual favors or money, talk to them in a mature voice. If there is something that you don't understand, don't be afraid to ask.

Most police officers don't bargain well and they will report you for trying to bribe them. Bribing a police officer can get you into a lot of trouble and may even cause you to spend even more money or jail time that what you would have.

Be courteous

There is no telling what that police officer had to go through that day and he may not be in a very good mood. Treating them with respect may be all they need to let you off with a warning. Elizabeth Ann Kommes was disrespectful when she offered sexual favors and cash for letting her go. Police officers aren't supposed to take bribes and asking them to break the law is disrespectful since they worked hard to get to where they are.

Guiding your path

There is a reason that we have police officers. Police officers are supposed to serve and protect us. If you are acting up like the way that Elizabeth Ann Kommes did when she drove after drinking alcohol, you are making life more miserable for you and everyone else. Let other people guide your path and learn from their mistakes so that you don't do the same things that they have done. A police officer needs and easier load so that he can deal with the more harsh crimes instead of pity traffic trouble such as a DUI.

Searching your belongings

A police officer has to get your permission to search your car unless he has probable cause to do so. If you decide that you don't want your car search, the officer has the right to detain you and have your vehicle towed. Once the vehicle is towed and the police officer believes that there is something in the vehicle that you don't want him to see, he will get a warrant from the judge and then do the search while you are still sitting in jail.

If you don't have anything in your vehicle that would cause you to get into further trouble, allow the officer to run a search or you might regret it later. If you have something in the vehicle but still don't want to get into any more trouble, you best bet would be to cooperate with the police officer and tell him what you have so that when he does the report, it will go more in your favor. If you lie to a police officer and they find the truth later, the report will state that you were not cooperating with them.

Elizabeth Ann Kommes should be a lesson to everyone who has done this or thought about doing this. The results of her actions have had a harsher affect than what it would have if she would have just cooperated with the officer.