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Prince William County Traffic Stops

In Prince William County, a traffic stop is usually fairly short and efficient. They can expect that the officer will approach them, possibly but not necessarily ask them a series of questions, either issue them a speeding ticket or a warning, and send them on their way. A Prince William County traffic lawyer can help you understand the standard operating procedures and how to handle a traffic stop cordially.

If you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror, you should safely pull over to the right side of the road as soon as possible. If you are unable to safely pull over immediately, then you should signal to the officer that you see him and find the next available safe place to pull over. You can do this by putting your hazards on so that he is aware you are not just ignoring him.

Day Stops vs. Night Stops in Prince William County

If you are pulled over during the day, then the best thing to do is just pull over as soon as you can get somewhere that is safe for both you and the officer. If you are pulled over at night, a safe place becomes a little different because you run the risk of not being able to be seen by other drivers or worrying about your personal safety with regards to the police officer. If you are pulled over at night, you should still put your hazards on if you do not plan on pulling over right away, and then pull over into the next public area where there are people, such as a gas station.

You can ask questions, but the best thing to do is just stay quiet and cooperative. Leave the argumentation to your Prince William County traffic attorney It is okay to ask why you were pulled over if either that or what you are being charged with is not clear, but no matter what you do, you should not argue with the police officer over anything.

How to Handle Yourself When Pulled Over in a Daytime Stop

During the daytime stop if you are pulled over you should roll down your window and turn off your radio. You should keep your hands on the steering wheel where the officer can see them. Officers do not know anything about you and they are going to be concerned about their own safety. You need to keep in mind that you do not want to do anything that may appear to an officer as something that can be a threat to them. This includes any sudden movements, reaching into areas where the officer cannot see, searching under your seat or the backseat or anywhere else. Just keep your hands on the steering wheel and wait for the officer to speak to you.

If the officer asks you any questions related to why you were stopped or your driving, you should say that you would rather not answer any questions but you do wish to cooperate. When the officer asks you for your license and registration, then you should grab it from the glove box. You should not turn your car off, because neither you nor the officer is going to want to be stuck on the side of the road if your car does not start again and you need to call a tow truck.

How to Handle Yourself When Pulled Over in a Nighttime Stop

During the nighttime, you should do basically the same thing as a daytime stop. You should roll down your window first. You do not have to roll it down all the way, but at least enough to be able to speak with the officer without being obstructed and to be able to pass the documents. You should turn on the inside car light because this will show the officer that you are not trying to hide anything. You should avoid any sudden movements, and if you are going to reach for the registration or for your license, it is better for you to say that that is what you want to do or ask the officer if it is okay for you to reach into the glove box.

You should not turn your vehicle off, especially for older vehicles, because if your car does not start, then you are stuck on the side of the road with the police officer waiting for a tow truck and nobody wants to be in that situation.

If You’re Pulled Over by an Unmarked Car

You may ask the Prince William County police officer who pulled you over if you can see his badge, you may call in to the police station and ask them if there are any vehicles on that road, or ask if they can send backup. The best thing to do is to tell the officer if you plan on doing this. If for whatever reason you do not think that he is a real police officer, a real police officer should be completely understanding of your safety concerns. You may ask him to see his badge and he should show it to you.

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