It’s not uncommon to see someone being pulled over for speeding.. It could have been going one mile per hour over the limit in a neighborhood or 15 over while cruising down the interstate.
But if most people will probably get pulled over in their lives, can it be that bad? While speeding itself is a minor infraction, multiple speeding tickets can have numerous negative consequences. They can raise your insurance rates, hurt future employment opportunities or eventually result in having your license suspended.
Maintaining a clean driving record is one of the most important steps for all drivers, as that means you’re less likely to run into any future problems.
This article isn’t going to be how to talk your way out of a ticket, but what you should do in case you get pulled over.
Pull Over to a Safe Area
First things first, you want to make sure you’re getting off the main road. Some people turn on their warning lights to signal they’ve seen the policeman’s sirens before finding a place to turn off to.
If you’re going down the interstate, it will be easy to come to a stop on the shoulder. If you’re in the middle of a neighborhood or busy street, it may take some time to find a spot. See if you can pull off into an empty parking lot or dead end street so you’re not affecting traffic and keep you safe. You’d rather not cause an accident on top of being caught speeding.
Keep Both Hands on the Wheel
We’ve all seen the movies where the police officer says, “Come out with your hands up and where I can see them!”
You’re not going to be stepping out of the car and walking towards the officer (do not do this unless your car is on fire), but the officer still needs to see your hands. The worst thing you ever could have done was kill a mosquito, but the officer doesn’t know that. Keep your hands on the wheel until he asks you for your license and registration.
Be Courteous to the Officer
It should go without saying, but a little politeness never hurt anyone. Responding to the officer’s questions with “yes sir, no sir” or “yes officer, no officer” is an easy way to respect the police officer. It also helps if you put yourself in their shoes and realize that they’re just doing their job for today.
What you shouldn’t do is make a comment about “why are you here when you should be looking for murderers” or start whining immediately. It’s not always guaranteed you’re going to receive a ticket, but you don’t want to hurt your chances. Even a simple “I’m sorry” can go a long way with the officer at hand.
Stay calm and don’t come out looking for a fight. You never know what kind of mood the police officer is in, and a hostile attitude could be an immediate ticket.
Be Honest and Don’t Lie
This is the only grey area of these steps, because your exact words could definitely affect your chances of receiving a ticket, fighting the ticket in the future or neither.
If you plan on fighting the ticket later, you’ll be best to simply not admit anything.
“Do you know why I pulled you over?
“No, officer, I don’t know.”
It’s definitely toeing the line, but you may not know exactly why you were pulled over. You may think you could have been speeding but it also could be that your brake light was out or you have tinted windows. You’re not admitting guilt and it’s always innocent until proven guilty. You’ll want to wait for the officer to tell you why you were pulled over.
What you don’t want to do is blatantly lie to the officer or immediately try and start an argument. That will likely result in a ticket or something worse.
Pull Out Safely
Once the entire process is complete, make sure you’re pulling out safely and continuing on your journey. Most people wait for the officer to pull out first before continuing on and that’s fine. Make sure you’re obeying speed signs from here on out too!
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