I have the exact same reaction every single time…
I’m cruising along in my car when suddenly I fly past a cop hidden alongside the road and my stomach sinks.
Assuming it’s my unlucky day, the cop either whips out of his or her hiding spot, red and blue lights ablaze, or else they trundle along slowly behind me, striking fear into my heart before finally letting out that lovely “whoop, whoop” sound from their siren.
Lovely.
Regardless of the policing strategy, cops terrify me (you know, in a good way). I mean, I truly respect their authority and all, but when I’m the one breaking the law… well, it’s just very intimidating.
Anyways, moving on. Between the first flash of the lights and the cop standing outside my car window, I always blank on what exactly I need to hand over, whether I should remain still or reach for my wallet immediately, etc. My mind jumps to terrible scenarios where I’m handcuffed and laying across the decklid of my trunk while everyone I’ve ever known drives past honking their horns.
Because of my wild imagination, I’ve come up with a list of what exactly needs to happen when you get pulled over.
1. First up, you need to get to the side of the road (regardless of whether you’re being pulled over or simply letting an emergency vehicle pass). If you’re being pulled over, yes, you’re already busted, but there’s no need to twist the knife. Safely use your blinker to get to the side of the road, the sooner, the better.
2. Once you’re there, remain calm. Just roll down your window and turn off your car (unless it’s freezing cold or blazing hot). Do NOT start reaching into your glove compartment or digging around in your purse until your asked for identification by the officer — too much movement gives the officer reason for suspicion, like you’re going for a gun or something. Be cool, soda pop.
3 .Cops won’t (can’t) search your car without reason, so don’t give them one — don’t go chucking beer bottles out your 
window or shoving them under your seat. Also, if the officer believes you might be armed, they’ll pat you down and who needs that? Simply put: Don’t give the police a reason to search your car. Just be good.
4. If the officer asks you to get out of your car, get out; if they don’t say anything, don’t worry about it.
5. Let the cop do the talking. Don’t say something dumb like, “What seems to be the problem, officer?” or anything like that. They’ll say what needs to be said when it needs to be said.
6. You will be asked for your license and registration — pretty basic stuff. Make sure you always know where exactly your registration is in your car. It should be in your glovebox along with your proof of insurance.
7. If the police person asks “Did you know how fast you were going?” Keep it simple, yes or no. If the officer then tells you how fast they clocked you at, don’t argue. In fact, you don’t have to say anything at all. Saying nothing doesn’t make you guilty, and by keeping quiet, they can’t use anything against you in court…ha!
There you have it — the basics of being pulled over by an officer of law.
You know, for speeding or something. Bank robbers, fugitives, crack dealers and bad guys, hey, you’re on your own!
Lauren McCarthy is the face of McCarthy Automotive
Jesus! Now ya tell me!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKMgcYP4KlM
All kiddin aside, you have really put some thought into this.
How fast do you drive?
🙂
Uh, gentlemen of the comments section…
Keep it clean please and I’ll tell you more about Lauren shortly.
Ah, to be the son/daughter of money.
Must be nice.
Totally agree, Dude. If that was me, I’d be living on my boat down on the Gulf and writing a blog.
Hey, don’t sell her short.
It’s too easy to stereotype without having any firsthand knowledge.
Ahhh, not judging, stating fact! Id BE on my BOAT in the GULF, writing a BLOG. Maybe even for you, if you were lucky.
“My mind jumps to terrible scenarios where I’m handcuffed and laying across the hood of my trunk while everyone I’ve ever known drives past honking their horns.”
– have to admit, I pictured that same photogenic scenario, Lauren… and I don’t even know you : )
Won’t inquire as to how it’s possible, re: the ‘hood of a trunk’?, but do know based on what I’ve heard and seen in the way ‘tactics’ used female and male drivers when they are pulled over, I’ve never once used my good looks or ample bosom try to influence an officer; but if I ever get the chance and he was a she… but enough chivalry (or is it chauvinistic) prose mine.
“What to Do When the Cops Pull You Over”
– multiple choice/choose the best reply –
a) “Hey, how’s Goober and Floyd doin’?”
b) “Am I on ‘Bait Car’?’
c) “That thing got a Hemi in it?”
The least obtrusive if not necessarily best answer would be ‘c’ though your irreverence suggests otherwise & you know he doesn’t have one in his car; otherwise, he’d not have been able to catch you in your own 426, Mopar or no car.
_____
Things John Law has said to me upon pulling me over, my reply or unneeded same the resultant three examples:
County Mounty: “The reason that I stopped you is because your windows are tinted & you have a clear cover over your license plate. But I noticed you’re not from California, so you’re good to go.”
Kerouac: ‘You couldn’t see my license plate was from out-of-state until you pulled me over?’ (I always ‘feel pretty, I feel witty and bright’ behind the wheel or pen, paper or internet.) The officer either had a sense of humor or he appreciated the fact my direct inquiry did not also come gratis with a descriptive term as to his ancestry [ No ticket ]
~
It is mid-afternoon, I on a two-lane stretch of US 50 – ‘The Loneliest Road in America’, heading West some 30 miles from Eureka, Nevada. Alone, no other traffic in sight (and one can see forever out there the middle of nowhere), I decide to open it up & take it to the top. Past 140 mph & nearing the 150 mark, a rise in the highway appears off in the distance so that I cannot see what may or may not be on the other side. I slow down to about 90-95 and who should meet me at the top: Nevada’s finest, Highway Patrol.
I’ve been told (because I asked) police do ‘not’ always have their radar on; this case, I apparently caught such a break. Nevada was probably as surprised/more so than I to meet someone, i.e., an thunderbolt surprise ‘out of the blue’ as it were. I see him whirl around his steed upon the road as I continue West, now out of his sight & down to the posted speed limit.
Presently, he is behind me, I having let him catch up (I must confess that for an brief moment, did consider going all ‘Kowalski’ on him ‘Vanishing Point’ style : ) He follows for less than a minute, paces me at my side, passes & then turns off onto the shoulder, side of the road… the entire process takes less than two minutes. I pass him, he turns around and heads East as I continue westward. Moral: some things may be better left unsaid as well unasked, not to mention untried for you kiddies (of all ages) at home.
~
It was 3 a.m. on a weekday morning in Moab, Utah, mine the only vehicle on the road and doing the posted 30 mph speed limit in the left lane of a two-lane street. A pair of headlights appear out of nowhere, the vehicle tailgates me until I pull over to the right lane (sans signaling) aft about 5 seconds, as he is nigh on blinding me. He follows, then turns on his blue/red lights; at this point, I suspect it is John Law (I’m pretty sharp… am also correct.)
John: “I pulled you over because you changed lanes without using your signal.”
Kerouac: ‘I thought you were some drunk following me so I was trying to get the hell out of your way.’ (What I didn’t mention, but felt like saying – ‘you didn’t signal your lane change either’ – and he didn’t. [No ticket]
My father spent his career in law enforcement, police officer & polygraph examiner. So with an exposure to such being the case mine, say: go ahead, drive it like you stole it… albeit at your own peril; glib tongue too.
A “Vanishing Point” reference, very nice.
Is today Let a Debutante Blog Day?
When the copper comes up to the car I just tell him that unless he can produce current calibration records for the detection device as well as a current certification for his use of same he’s better off going home and beating his wife or heading to Dunkin Donuts.
Most PD’s don’t stay current with the manufacturers calibration or office training requirements.
There are lots of other loopholes too. I’m 20 wins-6 losses lifetime versus the man on speeding tix.
You want to wait until near your court date to pull discovery on their calibration records. For Mayberry RFD this is a decent gamble but for troopers they will always have their units calibrated- they are the state afterall.
You know Dude, take a look at her…
She’s got it all; looks, smarts, style. She doesn’t need any silver spoons, she’s got the Midas touch.