What Should I Do If I Get Pulled Over by the Police?

STEP #1: NEVER try to elude a police vehicle once you are aware of the lights and/or siren.

STEP #2: Don’t delay pulling over. This makes cops think that you may be trying to hide contraband or that you may be reaching for a weapon.

STEP #3: Always be sure your license, registration, and proof of insurance are up to date and accessible.

STEP #4: Keep your hands in full view on the steering wheel as the officer approaches.

STEP #5: Do not jump out of the car and approach the officer.

STEP #6: Be polite. Do not get out of your vehicle unless ordered to do so.

STEP #7: Do not consent to a search of your vehicle, ever.

STEP #8: If the officer asks whether you’ve been drinking or smoking a controlled substance, your answer is “no”. If they continue to ask such questions, do not respond. Period.

STEP #9: Do not talk about anything during the stop; do not admit anything.

STEP #10: Never smoke marijuana in your car. The smell adheres to the upholstery and your clothes for days, and officers may be able to smell it.

STEP #11: Do not EVER carry drug paraphernalia in your vehicle. You can swallow a joint; you can’t swallow a glass pipe. Under some circumstances, possession of paraphernalia is a crime.

STEP #12: Don’t carry your entire stash around with you; if you or your vehicle are searched, the less they find, the better off you’ll be.

STEP #13: If you are issued a citation, do not argue with the officer about it.

STEP #14: After you documents have been returned to you or a citation has been issued, ask if you are free to go. If so, GO!

STEP #15: Remember that cops do “profile” vehicles they consider suspicious even though they will never admit it. If you’re going to the store for milk at night, take the late model sedan, not your cherished old pick up truck.