Getting stopped by the police for the first time can be incredibly nerve racking. For teens who are unprepared, chances are they’ll have sweaty palms and loads of questions running through their heads, from wondering if they should reach for their license and registration to questioning where it’s best to pull over. Make sure you discuss the following guidelines with your teen drivers, so they know what to do if they ever see police lights flashing in their rearview mirror.
When teaching your teen to drive, it’s important to discuss how to handle being pulled over. These tips will help them get through the ordeal. Here’s what you need to say.
STEP 1
Turn on your emergency signals to let the police officer know you acknowledge that you’re being stopped, then pull over to the right side of the road or freeway. Pull over as far as possible to make it easier and safer for the officer to walk up to the side of your car. If you have to merge over to get off the road, do so slowly and safely using turn-signal indicators. In general, travel at a slower speed as you find a space to park.
STEP 2
Turn the engine off. Roll the window all the way down - not just a crack, which looks suspicious. If it’s in the evening, turn on the car’s cabin lights on so the officer can clearly see you and anyone in the back seat. Place your hands on the steering wheel where the officer can see them.
STEP 3
When the police officer asks for your license and registration - then and only then - do you reach for your documentation. In fact, once they request your documentation, either ask for permission to reach into your purse or glovebox, or announce that you are doing so by saying something like, “Okay, sir. My paperwork is in the glovebox. I’m just going to reach over and grab it for you.” Another example: If you have your license in a backpack in the backseat, let the officer know and announce that you’re going to reach for it.
Unfortunately, police officers deal with some pretty bad people on a regular basis and will not necessarily know if you’re reaching for paperwork or a weapon, so make every action deliberate and don’t make swift or sudden moves.
STEP 4
Do not admit to any wrongdoing if asked, “Do you know why I’ve pulled you over?” Just say, “No, sir (or ma’am),” or “I don’t know.” Admitting to anything at this point will make it difficult to try and fight the ticket later if you choose to do so.
STEP 5
This is an extension of the previous step. Sometimes, the officer won’t simply ask, “Do you know why I’ve pulled you over?” They might ask questions like, “Do you know how fast you were going?” or “Did you see that stop sign back there?” Again, simply answer no. Either way, you’ll likely receive a ticket if you’ve done something wrong, but not admitting to guilt at this point may save you some headaches down the road.
Parents, please note that while you may not want to teach your kids to lie, not admitting to guilt when pulled over is suggested by former police officers, lawyers and other experts in these matters. It’s also advised for adults who get pulled over.
STEP 6
Apologize, but keep it short. When told why you’ve been pulled over, a good response is, “I’m sorry, officer. I’ll pay more attention next time.”
STEP 7
Watch your tone and language. Don’t argue or talk back and be polite at all times. Also, don’t use terms like “honey” or “sweetheart” when speaking to female police officers.
STEP 8
Don’t refuse to sign the ticket. Signing is not an admission of guilt; it’s a simple acknowledgement that you’ve received the ticket or that you promise to show up to court. In the latter case, if you refuse to sign there’s a chance that you can be arrested right then and there.
STEP 9
When the stop is over, get your things back in place and collect your thoughts, then safely merge back into traffic.
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