What to do when you're stopped by police

Jet, Dec 12, 2005

You're driving down the street and suddenly you hear sirens. While checking your rear view mirror, you notice bright red and blue flashing lights are behind you.

If this has happened to you, you're among the nearly 17 million Americans who are annually stopped by the police, according to recent statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice. More than half of all traffic stops are due to speeding, and nearly 60 percent of drivers who are pulled over are issued a ticket.

Whether you are speeding or abiding by all traffic laws, law enforcement professionals say the best thing for you to do is to follow a few simple rules when you're stopped by police:

COMPLY

If an officer signals for you to pull over, you should show the officer that you're following his orders, according to First Lt. Willie Mays, commander of the Michigan State Police post in Bridgman, MI. This includes making eye contact and keeping your hands visible. Mays suggests keeping both hands on the steering wheel.

Another thing drivers should do is make sure they don't have their cellular phones in their hands, advises Nedra Campbell, a civil rights lawyer and author of More Justice, More Peace: The Black Person's Guide to the American Legal System (Lawrence Hill Books,

Chicago Review Press).

"Some officers have indicated that they thought the cell phone was a gun and thus the stop was unnecessarily escalated," Campbell says.

SAFELY PULL OVER

You should pull over to the side of the road, so that you're not blocking traffic.

If you're driving down a dark, deserted road, and you're afraid to stop, it's usually OK to go to a crowded, lighted area.

"Most policemen understand that," explains Mays, adding that some cars are semi-marked, or some people have been known to impersonate an officer.

If you decide to pull over in a lighted area, you should signal to the officer what your intentions are. You can do this by slowing down, putting your hand up in front of the rearview mirror, and pointing to the side of the road to signal that you're going to pull over. You can also turn your hazard lights on.

BE HONEST

There are times when you're driving along, listening to music and before you know it, you lose track of how fast you're going. Whether you realize you were speeding or you really weren't paying attention, the best thing to do is simply tell the truth.

Mays says this is especially important now because many police cars have in-car cameras, so it's all recorded.

REMAIN POLITE

The adage "It pays to be nice" might take you a long way. Sometimes officers might give you a break if you're polite and non-confrontational. Of course, this depends on the situation.

"My theory is, give the person the benefit of the doubt," Mays says. "You don't know where they came from or where they're going. The wife might be having a baby."

It's also a good idea to stay polite, even if you disagree with law enforcement, Campbell suggests. She also explains that disagreements can later be handled in court.

If you're stopped and the officer is offensive, Campbell says jot down the officer's name and badge number and report him or her to the precinct supervisor, and if warranted, the United States Department of Justice.

PRESENT PROPER PAPERWORK

Make sure you have a valid driver's license, vehicle registration and insurance handy.

"Do not reach for your information until the officer has approached you and asked for your information," says Campbell, adding that reaching for your information could lead to unnecessary problems.