# Waiting for the police after they pull you over **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954 "2003-07-21T17:11:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/21 "2003-07-21T21:15:53Z")
“I usually have my license, registration, and proof of insurance out by the time the cop gets to my car…” Then he thinks that you get pulled over a lot cause you have all the paperwork ready. Those that don’t get pulled over don’t know where their paperwork is right away. I think he would more likely give a ticket to someone who looks like they already got some… ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/22 "2003-07-21T21:37:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by troub \* > \*\*…He says _**that he was taught when he was learning to drive (mid-60’s or so?) that when pulled over, you get out of the car and meet the officer!**_. \*\* Oddly enough, I heard of this move in the mid-1980s, but by then the “get out to meet the officer” trick was supposedly one way to avoid a conviction for DWI (I have no idea why it could possibly work) or, alternatively, a vehicle search. ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/23 "2003-07-21T22:35:46Z")
Well, I got pulled over for speeding (54 mph in a 40 mph zone) about 3 weeks ago. It was at 720 am on my way to work. I pulled into a lot and got out of my car with my bagel in my mouth. He looked at my license and then asked for my proof of insurance which I went and got out of the glove box. He said he had been writing tickets all morning and I was first person who hadn’t givne any “attitude” - he wrote me a warning ticket which I really appreciated (I didn’t give him any of my bagel) I most always get out of the car. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/24 "2003-07-21T22:40:07Z")
Any UK people here? I always thought you were to get out and meet the officer here in UK. That’s what I always do. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/25 "2003-07-21T23:32:49Z")
Someone actually told me that in addition to all the above (hands on the wheel and telegraph your actions) you’re supposed to take the keys out of the ignition and put them on the roof of the car so the officer knows you’re not going to peel out _a la_ **Worlds Stupidest Police Chases**. Any peacekeepers care to chime in on this? I’m pretty sure if I put my keys on the roof they’d just slide off and land on the ground making the officer think I was trying to pull a fast one, or worse! ---
**Author:** ![Rhum\_Runner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rhum\_Runner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhum_Runner)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/26 "2003-07-21T23:36:12Z")
Sort of on topic, if pulled over on the highway, is it better to pull immediately to the shoulder, or put your flashers on and slow down and move over (letting the cop know you see him and will stop) and get off a the nex exit/rest stop (assuming it isn’t miles and miles away)? I have never been stoped on the highway (knocks on wood) but I would hate to expose an officer to getting hit by a car because he pulled me over, it just seems safer for all involved to get off the road. Again, assuming you aren’t in the middle of nowhere in broad daylight, and that an exit is handy. Any thoughts on that? ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/27 "2003-07-22T00:06:01Z")
All this putting your hands on the steering wheel and not rummaging about for your license and registration must depend on where you live. I’ve been pulled over many, many times, and I always get out my license and stuff before the officer gets to my window, which often involves much digging in my purse and glove compartment. I never put my hands on the wheel, and I never turn on my interior lights at night. I’ve never once had a gun drawn on me. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/28 "2003-07-22T00:10:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fin\_man \* > \*\*I agree with **constantine** and **Bearflag70**. I’ve been taught the same thing. > > If at night, I turn on my inside lights so the officer can see better inside. > > I put my wrists on top of the steering wheel, palms down, fingers spread (to show I’m not holding anything). I have all the other passengers put their hands either on the dashboard or on the headrest in front of them with fingers spread. > > I don’t move until the officer asks for something and then I tell him where it is before I reach for it. Also, if I have anything that could be considered dangerous, I let the office know before moving. > > 2 examples, Friend 1 was transporting a starters pistol for use in theater. It fell out of his glove compartment when he was going for this registration. The cop **DID NOT** appreciate the surprise. Friend 1 got a gun drawn on him. Friend 2 was transporting his 9mm pistol in the trunk. When stopped, he said “Officer, I want to let you know I have an unloaded pistol in the trunk.” The cop said “Mind if I take a look?” After my friend popped the trunk and stepped back, the cop opened the case and examined the pistol. He started asking about how it fired etc. Friend 2 got a warning and a “have a good day”. \*\* 1977, I have just borrowed my buddies 12GA shot gun to go skeet shooting with. I go to put it in my 1976 Capri hatchback. The only way the damn thing will fit is to put the barrel up between the seats (reaches almost to the front seat). I have a case of shells on the front seat. You got it, I get stopped for speed. I turn the key off, interior light on, hang both hands out the drivers window. and wait for the cop. He comes to the window and asks for license and reg. I give that to him, and he tells me he is going to cite me for speed. I say “Excuse me officer but there is something I have to tell you before you step away from the car.” “What?” “In the hatch area is a 12GA shotgun, unloaded, with the action open, and here on the seat is a case of shells. Would you like me to step out of the car?” “Where are you going with this?” ::: shines flashlight around back of car::: “I’m going skeet shooting tomorrow” “Naw, you can stay in the car” :eek: I guess there was not much crime in Santa Moncia in the 70’s… ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/29 "2003-07-22T00:24:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > **Some years ago, the AIM (American Indian Movement, remember the Alcatraz occupation?) thought it was clever to mount a shotgun to the inside of the car door, pointed to the rear of the car. The idea was, when stopped by a cop, to open the door and take the cop down with a blast to the legs or abdomen as he approached the vehicle. Any wonder they want you to stay put?** The AIM was never into assassination as far as I know. Can you provide evidence of this claim? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/30 "2003-07-22T00:41:12Z")
BLOODY HELL! In Australia, it’s get out if you want. If not that’s ok too. Whatever. You’d have to do something really, really aggressive to get a cop to pull his gun. It’d probably be a baton first, if that. Usually it’s just (in or out of the car): “G’day. Know why I pulled you over?” ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/31 "2003-07-22T00:54:16Z")
I once read a book while sitting in Barnes and Noble called “How to Get Out of Speeding Tickets.” The only thing **constantine** did “wrong” according to the book was not directly asking for a warning over a ticket. I guess we’ve slipped off topic but what the hell…Just too add a few things: Pull over quickly but, more importantly, safely. Pull over enough so that the officer has enough room to walk over and stand next to your car with some degree of safety from traffic. Don’t reach for your wallet, just put your hands on the steering wheel. Turn the interior lights on if it’s night and turn the music off if it’s on. Let him be the first to talk and don’t interrupt him/her. If you can tell that the officer is a seargent (3 chevrons? 2?) address him/her as seargent. Don’t guess like I just did. Tell the officer what your going to do before you do it. “My license is in my glove compartment…” Don"t make excuses but directly ask for leniency\> ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/32 "2003-07-22T01:06:15Z")
Actually, I would be very interested in hearing from our PD Dopers: if you’re off duty, in your car, and you get pulled over - how do YOU react? Do you immediately pull over, or do you wave and let the cop behind you know you see him and then pick a safe place to pull over? Do you display your shield right away? Or do you follow the advice above and then show your shield along with your license and registration? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/33 "2003-07-22T02:40:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*The AIM was never into assassination as far as I know. Can you provide evidence of this claim? \*\* I didn’t say they killed anyone, and in fact don’t know if this apparatus ever made it past the design. The _point_ is that the idea was out there and that cops are sensitive to anything that may threaten their lives. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/34 "2003-07-22T03:00:10Z")
**Balthisar** , I had a similar experience. I learned how to drive in New York State, and it was drilled into our heads loudly and vehemently that if we ever even looked like we were thinking about getting out of our car when we got pulled over we’d get shot in the head and die. The only time I’ve ever actually been pulled over, though, was by a Louisiana State Trooper in Arcadia, and I sat in my car for several minutes until the trooper (rather angrily) ordered me out to the rear bumper to talk to him. There should be a national guideline about that, really. It’s confusing. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/35 "2003-07-22T03:30:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > \*\*I didn’t say they killed anyone, and in fact don’t know if this apparatus ever made it past the design. The _point_ is that the idea was out there and that cops are sensitive to anything that may threaten their lives. \*\* The idea was “out there,” huh? Out there where? If you don’t know whether or not this ever made it past the design stage, then what the hell do you know about it? I’m not saying it couldn’t be true, but this sort of “I seem to remember” stuff is not very convincing. Cite, please. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/36 "2003-07-22T03:32:19Z")
I’ve only been pulled over three or four times in my driving career, but of those times I’ve gotten a ticket once. That was the only time I had my license and registration out and ready. The other times, I waited to be told what to do before getting anything out. I’ve always been polite and friendly to an officer who stopped me - he was doing the job that I help pay him to do, after all. The time I was pulled over on the freeway, the first thing I said to the officer was, “Am I over far enough?” because I didn’t want him to be in danger from traffic (he ended up giving me a warning). I have never argued with a cop or tried to tell him he’s mistaken, although on one occasion, I did let him know that I truly hadn’t thought I was speeding. On the two occasions that I actually was speeding, I didn’t try to make excuses. It never hurts to be cooperative and polite to someone who has to do an unpleasant job. It may not get you out of any consequences for your actions, but it smooths the transaction nicely. Tax auditors respond well to this treatment, too. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/37 "2003-07-22T03:32:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\*BLOODY HELL! > > In Australia, it’s get out if you want. If not that’s ok too. Whatever. You’d have to do something really, really aggressive to get a cop to pull his gun. It’d probably be a baton first, if that. Usually it’s just (in or out of the car): “G’day. Know why I pulled you over?” \*\* Damn straight. My old man’s a retired Aussie cop, including a few years as Inspector in charge of Mount Druitt police station (not the safest part of Sydney at the time), and he drew his gun about three times in his whole career. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/38 "2003-07-22T03:43:56Z")
I’d like an answer about the whole “driving to a well lit area before stopping” thing, as women are taught to do this in self defense classes and on Oprah, yet I can see it being a potential problem (especially if there isn’t a stop for a while). ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/39 "2003-07-22T04:19:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cat Fight \* > \*\*I’d like an answer about the whole “driving to a well lit area before stopping” thing, as women are taught to do this in self defense classes and on Oprah, yet I can see it being a potential problem (especially if there isn’t a stop for a while). \*\* Hmm. I’m not a police officer, but I bet you’d be alright if you put on your emergency flashers and drove at a reasonable speed, so it doesn’t look like you’re trying to evade. ---
**Author:** ![xiaoping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/77aa72/32.png) [@xiaoping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xiaoping)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954/40 "2003-07-22T05:25:51Z")
Cops generally don’t think you’re trying to run from them unless you gain speed or you go for several miles without showing intent to stop. So, I would think that if you chose to pull to a lighted area or off an exit ramp that they wouldn’t call the whole force out to get you. However, it is normal just to pull to the side if you’re on a highway (to the right side – at least in the states). I am not a cop, but I do know quite a few. One told me that when she is pulled over, she tells the officer that she is going to reach for her badge, then pulls it out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waiting-for-the-police-after-they-pull-you-over/189954.md?page=3)