Statistics show men receive more traffic tickets than women, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that women aren’t pulled over just as often. Everyone knows that women can cry their way out of a ticket, but what is a man to do?
Avoid the embarrassment and try some of these options to help get yourself off the hook:
1) Be prepared. As soon as you are pulled over turn off your engine, lower your driver’s side window and place your hands on the steering wheel. Do not rummage around for your documents until the officer asks for them because he may mistake the motion as you trying to hide something.
2) Fess up. The best way to avoid a ticket is to take responsibility. Drivers lie and make excuses all the time so it is a relief to see a driver taking responsibility.
“Cops deal with people from all walks of life, from every strata of society, every single day,” says Pomper. “They’re not easily fooled or manipulated. If you’re simply saying what you think the cop wants to hear, he or she will probably detect it. That’s why, as they say, honesty is the best policy.” Drivers lie to cops or try to make excuses so often, it’s a relief to hear honesty and see a driver taking responsibility, says Pomper.
3) Be polite. Do not act angry that you’ve been caught, but rather kill ‘em with kindness. If you’re polite, and take responsibility for what you did, the officer may cite you for a lesser violation.
4) Name drop. It feels shameless, but go for it. Another option is if you have a police benevolent association, or PBA, card, you should hand it over with your paperwork.
5) Ask for a warning. Request a warning rather than begging to be let off. Asking for a warning makes you sound more remorseful.
6) Road side plea. Almost everyone asks to be let go. Be different. Suggest a lower speed. Officers sometimes reduce the charge to a lesser speed, especially if you mention you will not fight the ticket if he reduces it now. You could also try some negotiating tips that work just as well on the police as they do in a client meeting.
This is not to say you can or should be able to get out of every ticket that comes your way, but there is no shame in trying. Happy driving.
Do you agree? Do you have any tips?
9/2019
16 comments
I was stopped for ‘weaving’ in my lane and the officer asked me where I was going. I told him politely that where I was going and where I had been was none of his business. I was handcuffed and detained for 90 minutes while they brought in dogs to search my car. Nothing was found because I don’t do drugs or alcohol. I was eventually let go after a talk about my attitude. The only attitude I have is that I believe that I am under the protection of the Constitution and that their actions were criminal. Am I required to answer that question??? Apparently not as they let me go.
do pigs have right to search only because your on probation or a felony record
I suspect they can do what they want because you are on probation. You probably signed consent forms as part of your probation. This is a nationwide practice…
I’m glad I live in northern New England. I have never had a policeman do anything other than 1) ask me if I knew why I was stopped; 2) ask to see my license and registration if I have not already fished them out of my wallet and the glove compartment. I’ve been pulled over a bunch of times for a headlight being out. Just a policeman doing his job. If you don’t give a policeman attitude, I don’t think he’ll give you an attitude. Just chill out and be cooperative with reasonable, and I do mean reasonable, requests.
Matthew is half right, half-wrong, and has the attitude of a twice-convicted pot head. Yes, you don’t have to give permission for police to search your car. No, they don’t have to tell you the reason you are detained, or anything else at all. As long as they have a legal justification, they don’t have to tell the suspect squat. Keep in mind as well that a vehicle is much different than a home in terms of constitutional protections; it is much easier for the police to search a car. All they need is probable cause. That smell of MJ you just smoked? Guess what, they can rip your car apart…
At the point that you havd the officer your DL, registration, and proof of financial responsibility you have fulfilled your full obligation under the laws. You do not have to, nor should you, speak to him/her or even recognize their presence.
Oh my god please don’t take any of Matthew’s advice. It makes no sense. The easiest way to get the whole traffic stop over with if you don’t have anything illegal in your car is by just letting them go through it. It will be done much faster than if you don’t cooperate. If you do have something illegal then yes, don’t consent to searching the vehicle so that you can use that later in court. But by all means, if you have nothing to hide just let them check. Unless you look skanky or otherwise suspicious there’s no reason for them to tear apart your car.
Some cops are just mean bullies and I have been pulled over because I was driving with a black man. They pulled his license! He was my passenger! No ticket, just some asshole bigoted cop that was throwing his weight around. Trust no one and go with your gut. As always play nice in the sandbox.
They have a responsibility to protect the Public at Large & that now means they can check EVERY person in the vehicle on Public Accessable highways & Biways.
Never consent to a search, ever! 2 reasons: 1 – it’s your constitutional right. 2. If they break/damage something you can’t sue them. Judge will say that you consent to the search. What you could do is be polite about it. “No, I don’t consent to searches. If you could get a warrant then you can search my vehicle”. If they’ll throw you something like “If you have nothing to hide, you shouldn’t worry about it” you can always reply with “I believe in the eyes of the law everyone is innocent until proven guilty. Also, I don’t consent to searches because if you damage something I won’t be able to sue. With a warrant that’s a different story” 🙂
Thank you! I have not experienced this but I am so grateful to know what to do (Or NOT do)!
Admit you did something to the police?!?!?! What? The author of this article has had the wrong synapse fire in his head at some point…And he obviosly doesn’t know or understand his Constitutional rights…NEVER talk to the cops duing a traffic stop other than when they ask you if you know what you’re being pulled over for, you reply, “No.” After that the cop tells you. Say nothing else until the cop finishes his citation and has you sign on the dotted line as a reciept of the ticket (that is not an admission of guilt, rather just acknoweledgeing you merely recieved the ticket, you can and should fight the ticket in traffic court). The police are not here to “protect and serve” the people. They “protect and serve” the jursidiction that they are sworn to. I am not saying they are bad people, by no means. If you do try to engage in “small talk” it can and will be used against you in a court of law.
What if they have you get out of the vehicle? OK, here goes…try to make sure the windows are up and doors locked…When they ask if there is anything they should be made aware of in the vehicle, reply, “Are you detaining me, officer or am I free to go?” If they choose to detain you, now ask, “What’s the charge?” or simply, “On what grounds?” BECAUSE they must now have a damn good reason to detain you and notify you of that reason. If they ask to search the vehicle, reply, “I DON’T CONSENT TO SEARCHES.” You are not going to arbitrarily give them permission to enter your home without a writ or warrant. So why would you permiss them to enter your vehicle or search your person without a writ or warrant? You can word it like this, “Ofiicer, sir, I know you’re only doing your job, but, I don’t consent to searches.” LEAVE IT AT THAT. If they get angry or maybe handcuff you, that’s ok…DON’T PHYSICALLY RESIST…Resisting only makes things worse…If they are going to search without your consent, they are. Fight it at the hearing or trial later. You merely, verbally did not give them permission to search. STAND YOUR GROUND BY NOT GIVING IN (don’t give them permission). They may call for backup to try the numbers game (swarm you with police to try and intimidate you into letting them search, even tho you know full-well there is nothing illegal in your vehicle or on your person). Don’t say anything. They will talk and talk, maybe holler…They may beat you, who knows…In the end it will be worth it. Trust me. Most of the time, they will just have to let you go and you still just recieve the traffic ticket (which you will still fight in court and probably get that beat down).
The bottom line is the author of this article has the complete wrong idea. The only way he is right is when you are pulled over, shut off the vehicle and place hands at 10 and two on the wheel and keep them there. Passengers always keep hands visable. On that he was right.
Hey Einstein … “a beating by the police is worth it” ? Worth what? Proving you are a moron? If you don’t have anything to worry about in your car, what’s the issue? Let the police look! OH, BUT … if you have ALREADY broken the law by having something illegal in your car … TUFF SHIT, DEAL WITH IT. Nobody likes a smart ass, and playing your “constitutional rights card” in order to hide an illegal act you have already committed is wrong. You do not deserve the privileges of the USA. When you get the chance, why don’t you just leave this country and go someplace your stupid approach to authority is appreciated. Go fight your revolution where they use real bullets – you won’t live long enough to read another web page. Oh, but to quote your words … “They may beat you, who knows…In the end it will be worth it. Trust me.” Over a traffic stop? You are an idiot.
Hey Ricardo:
Maybe it’s YOU who should leave the country, back to somewhere the people completely trust the ruling elite, with their bought & paid-for justice system, so that you can encourage others to act like the sheeple you are showing yourself to be. I’ll be willing to bet you know NOTHING of the 1st, 2nd, or 4th amendments, either
Also – try a little humor. I know its tough but if you can get the officer to laugh, you stand an excellent chance of not getting ticketed. AND – know that a lot of folks get tickets as a result of their PASSENGERS nasty remarks to the police. If your buddy starts mouthing off to the cop, loudly tell him or her to shut the “F” up. The officer will absolutely enjoy the exchange.
look I have been pulled over countless times and gotten plenty of tickets and very few warnings, due to being male , driving sporty cars, BREAKING THE LAW and deserving to be pulled over and issued a ticket, as well as being pulled over for no reason than to help a rookie earn his stripes and try to get a drug bust or dui… i never consent to the searching of my vehicle without probable cause and always say no because in the past i have said yes and had property damaged and also illegal items in the vehicle so of course id say no. Its been several years since that time of my life and i still refuse because it is my constitutional right the 4th ammendment to be exact and most of the time when you refuse consent they get the K9 out and i drop the line “lets see if you are the honest type or the dishonest type’ because of all the absolutely false positive “hits” cops have said they had the dog alert to and if they decide their dog had hit and search they have just violated my 4th ammendment right because i know there is not then nor has there ever been any illegal substances in my car nand i have and install surveilence systems for cars so i have proof of harrassment so take it or leave it like or dislike my opinion and to each his own
Comments are closed.