What Not To Say When Pulled Over By Police

[alienlovechild 75]

In what he calls an "educational video" that is widely circulated on YouTube, comedian Chris Rock offers advice on what to do when you get pulled over for a traffic violation.

"Obey the law" he says. "Stop immediately" and "stay in your car with your hands on the wheel." Finally, "if your woman is mad at you, leave her at home. There's nothing she'd like to see more than you getting your [you-know-what] kicked."

"Everything in that video is absolutely true," said Sgt. Matthew Koep of the South Plainfield, N.J., Police Department. "It's funny, but it's accurate."

Citizens who are generally law-abiding are likely to come into contact with the police only under two circumstances: If they are crime victims or if they get pulled over for a traffic violation.

With a few exceptions, and an egregious traffic violation is top among them, police officers aren't mandated to write tickets. Most would rather send you on your way with a friendly warning--that can save you time and money.

Play Nice First rule: don't argue.

"I get this all the time," said Karen Rittorno, a nine-year veteran with the Chicago Police Department. "'What are you stopping me for? I didn't do nothing.' If they try to take charge of the traffic stop, they're not going to get out of it without a ticket," she said. "We ask the questions, not them."

"All we do is react to what people do when you pull them over," said Dennis Fanning, a homicide detective and veteran officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. "We don't instigate the stuff, but we will react to you. The situation will escalate or de-escalate depending on how that person reacts."

To argue with police is akin to calling them idiots. Don't do that. "That's implying that I pulled you over for no reason and that bothers me," Koep said.

Keep It Honest

Don't lie, either. Police are trained to note the human characteristics of lying, including twitching and looking to the left, and they know the right questions to ask to suss out the truth.

Fanning estimates that nine out of 10 people lie to him. "It's an attack on our intelligence," he said.

Moreover, the truth can set you free. Koep recalled an incident when he pulled a young guy over for speeding.

"He looks straight at me and says, 'You know, officer, I wasn't even paying attention. I just had the best date of my life. I just met my future bride. I'm just on cloud nine right now.'

Of course, don't use pejoratives when addressing the police, unless you are eager for a ticket. But other words may backfire, too. Rittorno works in a crime-ridden section of Chicago where the majority of people she pulls over for traffic violations don't have licenses or insurance, she said.

"So I get a lot of, 'I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean it, sweetheart,'" she said. "I hate being called 'baby' or 'sweetheart.' I'm 'officer' to you."

Police know that people are nervous when they get pulled over, and they expect a certain amount of jumpiness when they approach a car. Rittorno acknowledged she is intimidated in the same situation. "I'm the police and I get scared if I get pulled over," she said.

But did you know they are on edge, too? You know who they are, but they don't know whether you are a good guy or a bad guy. "The only thing on his mind when he approaches you is safety," Thomas said. "You know you don't have a gun in your lap, but the officer doesn't know it."

Stay Calm

When those headlights go on, it is best to pull the car to the right, stay in the car, turn the interior lights on if it is dark and put your hands on the steering wheel.

Don't make any quick movements, and don't turn to grab your purse or put your hands in your pocket or under your seat to retrieve your license until the officer instructs you to. Then, do it slowly.

Don't move to open the glove box either, until directed. And do that slowly, too. Let the police shine a light inside the box before you reach in. Many criminals hide guns in glove boxes.

Don't boast about who you know, either. That can infuriate cops. They consider it a veiled threat to their livelihoods. Fortunately, most municipalities have laws in place to ensure that an officer isn't fired or reprimanded for ticketing, say, the mayor's daughter.

Finally, never try to buy off an officer. "In those instances where they've offered me a bribe," Fanning said. "I loved making those arrests."

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100910-705126.html

[Atencio 43]

A long time ago a buddy of mine whipped a round a turn a little too fast and got pulled over by an officer. The officer told him, "You should be more careful, my wife might be driving on these streets." My friend replied, "You mean working them". The officer spent the next 15 minutes pulling everything that wasn't bolted down out of the car and laying it on the curb as he searched it.

[nab 74]

In what he calls an "educational video" that is widely circulated on YouTube, comedian Chris Rock offers advice on what to do when you get pulled over for a traffic violation.

"Obey the law" he says. "Stop immediately" and "stay in your car with your hands on the wheel." Finally, "if your woman is mad at you, leave her at home. There's nothing she'd like to see more than you getting your [you-know-what] kicked."

"Everything in that video is absolutely true," said Sgt. Matthew Koep of the South Plainfield, N.J., Police Department. "It's funny, but it's accurate."

Citizens who are generally law-abiding are likely to come into contact with the police only under two circumstances: If they are crime victims or if they get pulled over for a traffic violation.

With a few exceptions, and an egregious traffic violation is top among them, police officers aren't mandated to write tickets. Most would rather send you on your way with a friendly warning--that can save you time and money.

Play Nice First rule: don't argue.

"I get this all the time," said Karen Rittorno, a nine-year veteran with the Chicago Police Department. "'What are you stopping me for? I didn't do nothing.' If they try to take charge of the traffic stop, they're not going to get out of it without a ticket," she said. "We ask the questions, not them."

"All we do is react to what people do when you pull them over," said Dennis Fanning, a homicide detective and veteran officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. "We don't instigate the stuff, but we will react to you. The situation will escalate or de-escalate depending on how that person reacts." this is not always the case! when you have CCW in Ohio the police have a "security warning" via entire computer screen flashing red with WARNING WARNING WARNING and take my word for it, some cops get very nervous about that! before CCW i used to get pulled over, and the above is correct in that they always sent me on my way with a wave and warning, but after CCW i had one cop who wouldnt even come up to door, yelled at me "do you have a weapon on you?" (assured him i wasnt armed). he had major attitude, standing at back/side of truck with his hand on his gun and yelling questions at me like "why do you feel the need to have a CCW?" and making comments "Women shouldnt carry guns". he didnt feel citizens should be armed, but especially not women... such BS! and yes, i reported the freak. during the stop i just kept calm and didnt respond to his BS becasue i knew he was trying to get me to react and i had no doubt this jerk would not have had a problem violating the law. i had my kid with me and this cop scared the hell out of him and me. becasue of men like him is WHY i carry a guy.

To argue with police is akin to calling them idiots. Don't do that. "That's implying that I pulled you over for no reason and that bothers me," Koep said.

Keep It Honest

Don't lie, either. Police are trained to note the human characteristics of lying, including twitching and looking to the left, and they know the right questions to ask to suss out the truth.

Fanning estimates that nine out of 10 people lie to him. "It's an attack on our intelligence," he said.

Moreover, the truth can set you free. Koep recalled an incident when he pulled a young guy over for speeding.

"He looks straight at me and says, 'You know, officer, I wasn't even paying attention. I just had the best date of my life. I just met my future bride. I'm just on cloud nine right now.'

Of course, don't use pejoratives when addressing the police, unless you are eager for a ticket. But other words may backfire, too. Rittorno works in a crime-ridden section of Chicago where the majority of people she pulls over for traffic violations don't have licenses or insurance, she said.

"So I get a lot of, 'I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean it, sweetheart,'" she said. "I hate being called 'baby' or 'sweetheart.' I'm 'officer' to you." i totally get this one, nothing will make me go from happy and smiling to a ball of fury like being called "endearments" by some jerk who tries to get familiar with me. i've been known to stand on tiptoe and poke the slimy creep in the chest who does this ("no one calls me b!tch, babe, or mama!") eeek! yes, it makes me crazy

it's much different when family calls you "babe", quite another when some slimy creep is doing it. you may not think youre a slimy creep, but when you do this thing to a woman who does not know you, well, you're creepy

Police know that people are nervous when they get pulled over, and they expect a certain amount of jumpiness when they approach a car. Rittorno acknowledged she is intimidated in the same situation. "I'm the police and I get scared if I get pulled over," she said.

But did you know they are on edge, too? You know who they are, but they don't know whether you are a good guy or a bad guy. "The only thing on his mind when he approaches you is safety," Thomas said. "You know you don't have a gun in your lap, but the officer doesn't know it."

Stay Calm

When those headlights go on, it is best to pull the car to the right, stay in the car, turn the interior lights on if it is dark and put your hands on the steering wheel.

Don't make any quick movements, and don't turn to grab your purse or put your hands in your pocket or under your seat to retrieve your license until the officer instructs you to. Then, do it slowly.

Don't move to open the glove box either, until directed. And do that slowly, too. Let the police shine a light inside the box before you reach in. Many criminals hide guns in glove boxes. shouldnt be opening glove box or any other compartment in your vehicle. your insurance card and registration SHOULD be in your wallet.

Don't boast about who you know, either. That can infuriate cops. They consider it a veiled threat to their livelihoods. Fortunately, most municipalities have laws in place to ensure that an officer isn't fired or reprimanded for ticketing, say, the mayor's daughter.

Finally, never try to buy off an officer. "In those instances where they've offered me a bribe," Fanning said. "I loved making those arrests." who does that??

though there ARE cops who demand things from women and women need to be aware of that! make sure you know how to record on your cellphone and always keep it close. if you can call a friend as soon as you get pulled over (speakerphone) because you usually have a few moments while they are checking your tags. this is where those 3 emergency numbers come in hand (hold number in and it dials automatically). learn to use this feature on your phone if you have it or it's equivalent. also, if you are in secluded area, do not pull over... call the cops and tell them where you are (mile marker on interstate, etc so pay attention when driving WHERE you are) and tell them you are driving to a populated area. do not speed, just drive normal.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100910-705126.html

but best of all, avoid ALL contact with cops.

[nab 74]

A long time ago a buddy of mine whipped a round a turn a little too fast and got pulled over by an officer. The officer told him, "You should be more careful, my wife might be driving on these streets." My friend replied, "You mean working them". The officer spent the next 15 minutes pulling everything that wasn't bolted down out of the car and laying it on the curb as he searched it.

oh he must have come from a college town what an a idiot... he must have been jockeying for a cavity search!

i know one area (college town) people would yell to the foot cops "get a real job" and all kinds of disrespectful ####### then i moved to a military area and cops there would take you in for not carrying your ID, on the beach!!! i just stayed inside and didnt go out alone.

[Atencio 43]

Good call. It was in Claremont, California

[TBoneTX 45,288]

avoid ALL contact with cops.

Si, man.

http://www.flexyourrights.org/busted

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Only workable quote you can do (which WILL tick-off the cop) is when you happen to be driving on an unexpired foreign licence, and you are in the US on an unexpired temporary visa--as state laws DO allow you to retain these for far more than the 30 days (10 in CA) for "document transfer": "I checked with (state top police) and they've said I can keep my foreign licence for (however long) due to my temporary visa". (note: DON't use that answer if you HAVEN't checked, or if you're way past the time-limit on the foreign licence).

(I actually got away with that in GA in second-half-August 1994--the licence in question was an AB licence; the cop's final words to me were "get out of here, it's too much of a headache to write you up--but please keep your speed below 55 next time you go past here")

[The_Dude 1,142]

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they get pulled over for a traffic violation is answering the following question:

Do you know why I pulled you over?

Responding yes is essentially an admission of guilt and you are showing that you knew you were doing wrong. Most likely you'll get a ticket. The best response is "No officer, I have no idea". That sets you up to play the contrite, responsible motorist.

[nab 74]

nice card to keep in your wallet... memorize it. use the card as a reminder... keep it with your registration and proof of insurance

http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/bustcard_eng_20100630.pdf

This link ( http://www.aclu.org/national-security/know-your-rights-when-encountering-law-enforcement ) takes you to a page that has a booklet broken down into the following six parts:

> Questioning

> Stops and Arrests

> Searches and Warrants

> Additional information for non-citizens

> Rights at airports and other ports of entry into the United States

> Charitable donations and religious practices

It is in the following languages:

English

Spanish

Arabic

Urdu

French

Farsi

[slim 1,525]

Wow! Way to go, WSJ. This "educational video" is old as $#!t. But, I wouldn't expect you to know anything about black culture before the invention of YouTube so I guess it's OK.

nab is correct. Here in Ohio, the cops know you have a CCW when they pull you over and some get pretty shaky since someone who's a non-felon that's been background checked, trained and licensed might be carrying a gun in their vehicle. They don't even do that for all the criminals. Way to go cops!

I don't know why anyone would consent to a search of their vehicle for any reason, especially after a cop is offended. Cops have ZERO right to search your vehicle during a traffic stop. ZERO! Implying a cop's wife is a street walker is not a good idea, but that doesn't mean you consented to search.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they get pulled over for a traffic violation.....

Responding yes is essentially an admission of guilt

Exactly. The fif applies to ALL encounters with the po-lice. "One, two, three, fo'..... FIF!"

[slim 1,525]

when you have CCW in Ohio the police have a "security warning"

The best part is I'm sitting in the Sheriff's office about to get released from jail, and I see a post-it on the front of my file. "Approach with Caution."

I'm sitting there with bank robbers, rapists, drug dealers - the whole gamut of violent felons - and little ol' me with a non-violent misdemeanor has an "approach with caution" tag on my file while these guys do not. System flaw? Naaaaaaw!

[spookyturtle 9,465]

You're absolutely right officer, I can't walk that white line, but I bet I could snort it.

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Cop: "Your eyes look bloodshot, Boy -- have yew been drinkin'?"

You: "Your eyes look glazed, Officer -- have you been eating doughnuts?"

[The_Dude 1,142]

Cop: "Your eyes look bloodshot, Boy -- have yew been drinkin'?"

You: "Your eyes look glazed, Officer -- have you been eating doughnuts?"

Only thing dumber to say to a cop than that would be "Si, Man, I like wedgies"

[Amby 490]

I like spooky's reply best!