Stopped by a Law Enforcement Officer; Is a Citation Coming?

You've just been stopped for driving a few miles an hour over the posted speed limit or for talking on your cell phone or some equivalent infraction. Does this mean that you are going to get a citation? Maybe, but not always; your actions will help to determine the outcome.

More times than I care to remember I have been preoccupied with thoughts or conversations and the next thing I knew, my speedometer read 10 or 15 miles an hour over the posted speed limit. I try to set my cruise control to decrease the frequency of this happening but invariably it does. On occasion I have had a highway patrol cruiser or a city cop appear around the next turn as I notice my speed. Like everyone else, my immediate reaction is to let off the gas and hit the brakes. If it is just your vehicle and the cop, your speed could now be locked on the radar.

Red and Blues -- What Now to Do?

Once the officer activates his emergency lights, your actions from this point will determine whether you receive a warning or a citation; and if you do receive a citation, what type it will be. Many officers will say their mind is made up when they initiate a stop but this is generally not the case. Most officers make the stop with the goal to persuade you not to commit certain activities while driving and to see if there are other issues such as alcohol and drugs.

Once you see the lights flashing, slow down and find a safe place to pull over to the right side of the roadway. Don't pull onto a private drive and continue down it as this will send up red flags to the officer.

Wait in the Car.

Do not get out of the car to explain to the officer what your reason for committing the infraction was. If you get out and head back to the patrol car, the officer's caution and bluntness will increase. You will be told to get back in the car. The officer does this because there are about a dozen tapes the officer has watched where someone jumps out of a car and shoots an officer. Red flags!

When the officer comes to your vehicle, let him open the dialogue and then you can go on to your explanations.

Do Not Get Mad or Huffy

Once the officer begins a conversation with you, if you come off as angry that he is wasting his time and your tax monies or if you act as if you are too important or busy to deal with this, your chance of receiving a citation just went to 100 percent.

Be Polite, Respectful and Engaging.

Most officers will be caught off-guard if you are pleasant, courteous and have a reasonable explanation. "Sorry officer, I wasn't paying attention to the speed and didn't notice I was driving that fast," works much better than "Why the hell are you stopping me when there are so many other crimes out there?"

If you have a friend or a relative that is in law enforcement, if you can casually bring it up, it won't hurt but a lot depends on how you bring it up. "You know officer, my brother is a cop," will probably cement your chance for a driving citation while "My brother's a cop and he always tells me to watch my speed. I guess I should listen closer," may just get you out of the citation. Even comments such as "I respect the job you do or I appreciate your efforts," will be positive points in your favor.

I worked closely with and sometimes rode with the Washington State Patrol, The Texas Highway Patrol(DPS) and many officers from local departments over my 25 year career in law enforcement and can say, without a doubt, that attitude is very important in determining whether you will receive a ticket or not.

Of course if you are driving 80 in a 35 mile per hour zone, and there isn't anyone in your car with a medical emergency, you probably won't be able to talk your way out of the ticket.