Police officers in Texas pull numerous vehicles over every day, and most of these traffic stops are completed without incident. However, every traffic stop has the potential to become deadly, which is why it is important to remain calm in these situations. If you are pulled over while driving, there are steps you can take that will make life easier for both you and the police officer.
Pull over right away
If you notice flashing lights in your rearview mirror, you should pull over as soon as it is safe to do so. When you pull over, try to leave enough room for the police officer to approach your car without exposing them to passing traffic. Once your vehicle has come to a stop, you should turn off your radio, switch off your engine and open your window. Not pulling over quickly, leaving your engine or stereo on and making the police officer tap on your window will get your traffic stop off to a poor start and reduce your chances of avoiding a ticket.
Be polite and remain in your car
Police officers are trained to coax motorists into making incriminating statements, so you should be careful about what you say. You should provide the police officer with identifying information, but you should politely decline to answer questions when your answers could be used against you. This is especially true if the police officer suspects you of impaired driving. You should be courteous and polite throughout the traffic stop, and you should remember that the police officer is only doing his or her job.
Tickets and charges
Most DUI and traffic infraction cases begin with a traffic stop. Once a police officer decides to write a ticket or make an arrest, they are probably not going to change their mind. The actions you take and the things you say when that moment comes could influence the outcome of your case, so you should resist the urge to argue with the police officer because it will likely do more harm than good.