UPDATED June 6th, 2018
The million dollar question: what to do if you get pulled over. Getting pulled over can be an incredibly stressful experience. And while police officers are employed to help keep you and all the people around you safe, they can still be super intimidating—we blame the uniform and the fact that they carry a gun. So what do you do when you get pulled over? Well, first of all, pull over. It seems like a no-brainer, but if a cop flashes his lights indicating that you did something wrong, respond quickly by moving to the side of the road. According to Sgt. Andy Breidenich, public information officer with the Troy, Mich. Police Department, you should stop as soon as it is safe to do so. “Don’t let the officer initiate a pursuit; they may think you’re trying to evade arrest and that’s really bad.”
Some people argue that long before a traffic cop leaves his vehicle he has already decided if you will be given a ticket or just a warning. While we’re not sure if there’s any truth to this, we do know that smart and respectful behavior when you are pulled over can go a long way to ensuring your safety. So when you’re in the heat of the moment, behind the wheel with a cop approaching you, what should you do? Let’s start with what NOT to do since it seems like these no-nos are pretty darn important to avoid. Here is what to do if you get pulled over.
