What To Do If You Are Ever Pulled Over
It is very easy to panic if a police car flashes its lights and signals for you to pull over. Even if you have done nothing wrong, it is natural to feel anxiety, but it is important that you do not do anything stupid and know what steps you need to take. This could make all the difference to the interaction and what happens next, so you should always be sensible whether or not you have done anything wrong. So, read on to discover what steps to take if you are ever pulled over by the police for any reason.
Pull-Over & Stop In A Safe Place
First, you need to pull over and stop in a safe place. Do not worry if there is nowhere for you to pull over as continuing driving is not an admission of guilt and just shows that you are alert to what is around you. Once you have stopped safely, you should turn off the engine, wind the window down the entire way and turn on your interior light if it is dark.
Cooperate
Whether or not you have done anything wrong, you should cooperate with what the police officer wants from you whether this to hand over your license and registration or to step outside of the vehicle. While you should cooperate, you should not consent to your vehicle being searched – if they have a legitimate reason to search our car, they are going to do it with or without your permission.
Do Not Admit Guilt
Many police offers are trained to get motorists to admit guilt, so you need to avoid doing this without lying and while remaining cooperative. You can choose not to answer any questions and this is not an admission of guilt and ensures that you do not say anything that could be used later in court.
Do Not Refuse A Breathalyzer
Often, people are pulled over because the officer believes that they are driving under the influence. You can refuse a sobriety test (such as walking in a straight line), but you will have your license automatically suspended if you refuse a breathalyzer or blood test. This is why you should never refuse a breathalyzer even if you have been drinking. Often, these tests are inaccurate and inadmissible.
Seek Legal Support
A minor traffic violation usually results in a warning, but a charge like driving under the influence will require legal support. In this situation, you should go with a lawyer that specializes in this field, such as Gilman Law P.C. that will know how to fight on your behalf and minimize the results of a drunk driving charge. These are often complex cases, and a specialist will know how to get the best outcome for you.
Hopefully, this is information that you will never need but it is important that you know what you should (and should not) do if you are ever pulled over. Whether you have committed a crime or not, you always need to take the appropriate steps to resolve the situation and avoid getting into further trouble.
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