Pull over as
soon as possible. As soon as you think that
you might be the motorist who the squad car is
after, pull over. Quickly pulling over
demonstrates that you have respect for the
right-of-way of emergency vehicles. It does not
mean that you are admitting guilt!
Pull over to
the right. Always pull over on the right
side of the road when traveling on divided
highways. Signal and move over to the far right
lane, and then to the shoulder. Choose a section
of roadway that has a full shoulder, without
guardrails, if possible.
Know the
location of your paperwork. When a police
officer pulls you over, he/she will ask for your
license, registration and insurance. Know the
location of your paperwork, so you can quickly
retrieve the requested documents.
 Make the police officer feel safe. Stay
in the car. If you are stopped at night, turn on
your dome light. Always keep your hands in plain
sight. Don’t make any sudden movements. Don’t
create the impression that the officer must fear
for her/his safety.
Let the police officer talk first. Do not
volunteer information that could incriminate
you. Keep calm, even if you are upset about the
traffic stop. The police officer may not be
pulling you over for what you think he/she is.
Let him/her talk to you first. React kindly and
you may have more of a chance to be sent on your
way without a ticket.
Don’t argue! Challenging the police officer
is a recipe for disaster. If you argue, you may
receive more tickets, and the prosecutor will be
less likely to negotiate in Court. If you are
issued a ticket and wish to contest it, set a
date in Court.
Finally:
Being calm, courteous and demonstrating respect
for the law and the police officer can go a long
ways towards preventing an unpleasant experience
from becoming worse. The police officer may pull
you over for something as simple as a broken
headlight, or for something more serious such as
a DUI, or even an outstanding warrant. Whatever
the reason, it is helpful to be familiar with
local and state laws and regulations. Please
visit
www.cyberdriveillinois.com to learn more
about the many laws governing the operation of
motor vehicles on Illinois roadways.
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