Mike Carruthers

Good to have you on.

If you get pulled over by the police, there are a few things worth remembering.

First of all, police learn in their earliest training that approaching a car they've pulled over is extremely dangerous.

Why?

Because they have no idea what's going on in your car.

You know you're a nice person and all things are fine, but they don't know that.

You could be a drug dealer or a kidnapper or an escaped prisoner.

Many police officers have been attacked, shot, and killed on traffic stops.

So what does that mean to you?

Well, anything you can do to show that you're not a danger will help the situation and maybe even get you out of a ticket.

So roll your window down all the way and turn on your interior light.

This way the officer can talk to you and can see you and notice that you don't have anything to hide, like a weapon.

Put your hands on the steering wheel because police are trained to watch your hands and see where they go.

If you start rummaging through the glove compartment or start putting your hands in your pockets, you escalate that fear that you could have a weapon.

You should stay inside the car unless you're asked to get out.

And be calm and polite.

Don't volunteer more information than required and only provide what's legally asked.

You should know your rights, too.

You can politely refuse an unwarranted search, unless they have probable cause, and you have the right to remain silent in many situations.

And if asked a question you're not sure about, you can choose not to answer or respond with, I prefer not to say.