You are driving down the road when all of the sudden it happens. You look in your rearview mirror seeing those red and blue lights illuminated behind you. It’s a situation that can make your heart sink and your hands sweat. However, it is very important to remain calm and know what to do to ensure the safety of the law enforcement officer and yourself. This is why we have put together a list of actions you should take when being pulled over.
- The moment you notice that you are being stopped by law enforcement you should turn on your blinker to acknowledge the police over and began to move the vehicle to the right side of the road. You will then want to stop at the first place that you feel is safe for the officer to get out of his vehicle. If you prolong stopping this could indicate a red flag to the law enforcement officer who is pulling you over.
- Once you have pulled over safely you will want to place your vehicle in park, set the emergency brake, turn on hazard lights, and turn the engine off. By doing this you are showing the law enforcement officer that you are trying to be accommodating and will not try to drive away.
- Now you and your passengers will want to remain in the vehicle and you should lower the driver's side window. (It is very important that your window is able to roll down for you to communicate with the officer. If you are having issues rolling down any of your windows then there could be a problem with your window’s regulator or switch. It is very important that you get this fixed so that in the event that you get pulled over you are prepared.) Lastly, you should turn on the dome light in your vehicle to illuminate the inside of the vehicle and place your hands on the wheel. This allows the officer to see your hands and the inside of the car so he can ensure that no one is in danger.
- Wait patiently for the law enforcement officer to approach the vehicle and give you instructions. During your interaction with the officer, you should be courteous and avoid talking back. It is crucial that you follow the instructions given to you by the officer to ensure the safety of the officer and yourself. In the event that you feel like the interaction between you and the officer did not go in the manner, it should. Then you should express these feelings to a judge.
- Once you are released by the law enforcement officer you should safely return to the proper driving lane using your signals.
By following the steps above you can work to keep everyone in the situation safe. At Eurasian Auto Repair, we truly value our customers and because our business is so closely related to keeping you safe in your vehicle we also wanted to share ways to stay safe even if it does not regard a mechanical or electrical problem. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment give us a call.
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