Everybody has a traffic stop story. For many people, a traffic stop is one of your only chances to personally interact with an officer. Thus, the impression is a lasting one: He was a jerk.... She had her hand on her gun when she walked up.... Why couldnt he just give me a warning?.... For an officer, a traffic stop is a routine, often forgettable task. But it is also one of the most routinely dangerous, as officers usually have little idea if they are stopping a father on his way to work, or someone who just committed a crime and is willing to do whatever it takes to escape. So officers train to be extremely careful, and to use every tactical advantage they can find, no matter how small. Being blinded by spotlights or having to crane your neck around to see an officer may feel unnecessary, or even rude, but that is not the officers intent. They are simply doing their best to stay safe. You might dislike how the officers vehicle is positioned when he has someone stopped. However, this too is for safety. If someone crashes into the officers vehicle, it will likely be propelled away from the officer who may be standing right in front of the vehicle. It also gives them more coverage if someone opens fire. The best approach when being stopped is to be considerate and responsible. Pulling over into a safe place and keeping your hands on the steering wheel and/or out of your pockets tells the officer that you empathize with his or her safety concerns. Turn off the radio. And remember that your officer has heard every excuse for violating the law-if you were speeding, an honest apology and willingness to take responsibility can be refreshing. It might even earn a warning. But if you disagree about the violation, arguing the ticket on the spot in traffic can be dangerous for everyone-save it for court. That is exactly what a judge and the judicial system are for. And something we dont like hearing.....Dont your officers have better things to do? The answer is no, they dont have better things to do--if you are stopped by an officer it means they are proactively doing their job, and not simply driving around waiting for something to happen. If a more urgent call comes in, they will respond, perhaps even leaving you before they have a chance to finish writing the ticket.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 01:56:47 +0000
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