12 Dos and Don’ts if You Are Pulled Over for Speeding
Being pulled over for speeding is never a fun experience, and emotions can run high throughout the entire ordeal. However, it is in your best interest to try to remain calm and respectful during this interaction. Being pulled over for speeding can certainly be nerve-wracking. It’s helpful to follow certain guidelines that can make the whole situation a bit easier. Check out these 12 dos and don’ts you should consider if you are ever pulled over for speeding.
The Dos if You Are Pulled Over for Speeding
1. Stay Calm
The first thing to do when you see the flashing red and blue lights behind you is to stay calm. We understand that your emotions may be running high. However, for your safety, it is essential that you remain calm and compliant to avoid escalating a simple traffic stop that can be resolved in minutes.
2. Pull Your Vehicle Over to the Shoulder of the Road Safely
Along with keeping your emotions in check, after seeing the flashing red and blue, you should pull over to the side of the road once a safe opportunity presents itself. Once you are pulled over safely on the shoulder of the road, you should turn off your car and roll down your window. This will make it clear to law enforcement that you are complying and have no intention of fleeing the scene.
3. Stay in Your Car
When law enforcement approaches your vehicle after pulling you over, it is important that you stay in your car. For your own safety, it is essential that you stay seated during any type of traffic stop and that you only get out of your car if you are asked to do so by an officer.
4. Keep Your Hands Visible to the Officer at All Times
Along with staying in your car after being pulled over for speeding, you should also try to keep your hands visible to the officer at all times. The best way to keep your hands visible to the officer is to simply keep them on your steering wheel. Only remove your hands from the steering wheel if the officer asks you to obtain documentation.
5. Be Polite to Law Enforcement
During this whole interaction, you should also be compliant and polite to the officer who pulled you over. We understand that this may seem difficult, especially if you believe you didn’t break any laws. However, it is still in your best interest to be courteous and follow instructions to avoid further tickets or charges. If you believe that your speeding ticket is unwarranted, you can work with a traffic ticket lawyer and take this up in court at a later date.
6. Write Down Your Account of the Interaction
A final action you should do after being pulled over for speeding is to write down and document your account of the traffic stop. In your documentation, note the date, time, location, the name of the officer who pulled you over. If possible, it is also a good idea to take a picture of the area where you were pulled over.
The Don’ts if You Are Pulled Over for Speeding
7. Don’t Remove Your Seat Belt or Move Around
Along with certain things you should do when being pulled over for speeding, there are certain things that you should not do. One thing you should not do when pulled over for speeding is move around a lot. Once your vehicle is safely pulled over to the shoulder of the road, the best thing to do is to leave your seat belt fastened and limit your overall movement as you wait for the officer to approach.
8. Don’t Argue With Law Enforcement
Once the officer has approached your vehicle, you should refrain from arguing with the officer about being pulled over or them writing you a ticket. Any confrontation should be avoided both for your physical and legal safety. Now is not the time to fight your ticket; you can challenge your ticket in court with the help of an experienced traffic attorney.
9. Don’t Withhold Information or Documentation
Along with not arguing with the officer, you should not withhold any information or documentation the officer requests. For example, if the officer asks for your name, driver’s license, proof of insurance, and car registration, provide these items to them promptly.
10. Don’t Engage in Lengthy Conversation
While you should always remain compliant and polite, it’s also better not to engage in a lengthy conversation with law enforcement when being pulled over for speeding. Generally, you ought to let the officer do the talking. You don’t want to say anything incriminating should you decide to fight your ticket in court.
11. Don’t Admit Guilt or Wrongdoing
Along with keeping the conversation to a minimum and refraining from arguing with the officer, never admit guilt or wrongdoing if you have been pulled over for speeding. It’s crucial to not admit that you were speeding at any point during the traffic stop. Officers are trained to ask questions in a way that encourages you to admit guilt. Although you must provide certain information and documentation to the officer, you do not have to acknowledge any wrongdoing. It is better to stay silent than to risk incriminating yourself.
12. Don’t Lose Your Ticket
Finally, if you ever get pulled over for speeding, don’t lose the ticket law enforcement writes you. This ticket will have the instructions on what steps you need to take to address your charges. Failure to follow the instructions on your ticket could lead to more trouble down the road.
