State Trooper Troubles Anyone??

**Trogdor** · 12-19-2011

A couple tips for avoiding tickets. I've been pulled over 3 times in the 3 months I've had my Ralliart, and avoided tickets each time. The only ticket I've ever gotten was when I was 18 and I didn't know what I know now.

Traffics stops are surprisingly one of the most common causes of injury or death for officers and state troopers. Safety is the number one concern for them as they're coming up to your car. Keeping that in mind there are a number of things you can do that will help keep them safe, and maybe make them a little more forgiving.

1) Pull over far enough for them to approach the window. Yes, there is a law that states you must move over one lane if you can when an officer in on the side of the road. However, this doesn't always happen. The more room you can give them to stand away from traffic, they will appreciate it.

2) Turn the car off and place the keys on the dash there they are visible. Knowing that you're not going to try to back up and run them over, or speed off is another thing off their list of things to worry about.

3) Have your ID and insurance ready to go when they get to your car. Next time you get pulled over, look where the office had their hands as the approach your car. It's on their belt, so that they're ready to draw their gun if they need it. If you can avoid moving your hands to a place where they can't see them, the safer you both are. So make sure you've already gotten in to your wallet, purse, or glove box before they get to your car.

4) Keep you hands where they can see them. The wheel is always a good place for this.

5) If it's dark, turn your dome lights on. This way they can see in to your car easier and know that it is safe. Also, if you can, try to pull over in a place where a street light is coming in to the front of your car, or in to a parking lot there there is a lot of light.

6) MN has concealed carry laws. If you're armed, let the officer know. They will instruct you on how they want to handle the situation. They may asked you give them the weapon until they have finish, they may simple thank you for informing them. Let them decide what they want to do.

7) Be very clear and deliberate about what you're doing. Say for example, you didn't have time to reach in to your glove box for your insurance card. Before doing this say to the officer, "I'm going to open the glove box and get my insurance card."

CVD · 12-20-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trogdor

3) Have your ID and insurance ready to go when they get to your car. Next time you get pulled over, look where the office had their hands as the approach your car. It's on their belt, so that they're ready to draw their gun if they need it. If you can avoid moving your hands to a place where they can't see them, the safer you both are. So make sure you've already gotten in to your wallet, purse, or glove box before they get to your car.

5) If it's dark, turn your dome lights on. This way they can see in to your car easier and know that it is safe. Also, if you can, try to pull over in a place where a street light is coming in to the front of your car, or in to a parking lot there there is a lot of light.

Mostly great advice except these two.

Do NOT go reaching in your pockets/jacket/glove box for your ID, insurance etc. They see you digging around or leaning over to grab something out of your glove box it makes them very nervous. I have always waited until they ASK for these things. Some times they wont even ask if they plan to give you a warning. They seem to appreciate it. If/when they ask, just tell them what you're going to do and do it with your hands as visible as possible.

Pull over as soon as you can safely do so and keep your hands high on the wheel. Don't bother with your dome light, that's silly. If you've been pulled over at night you know full well that their spotlight does an excellent job of illuminating your entire interior. The added light from your interior lights is hardly noticeable.

And with the street lights etc. Just pull over when they light you up. If they wanted to wait for the ideal spot to pull you over they would have waited to pull you over. Again, they've got the lights covered. Taking an extra 10 seconds to pull into a parking lot is just going to piss them off and make them wonder why you didn't just pull over. ie what did they just try to stuff under the seat while they were screwing around pulling into a parking lot.

I'm not a cop but I've been with HCSO for 5 years.