Best Way to Get Out of a Speeding Ticket

(ModernSurvival.org) – What’s the Best Way to Get Out of a Speeding Ticket?

Know Your Rights
Know an Officer
Know an Attorney
Be Friendly

Answer: Be Friendly. Here’s why…

Getting pulled over by a police officer is a stressful situation for everyone involved. For the person being pulled over, there is a chance of receiving a fine and a permanent stain on their driving record. For the officer, there is always a chance that the person behind the wheel could become violent.

To make the situation easier for everyone involved, and perhaps even avoid receiving a speeding ticket, here are a few simple rules to follow during a traffic stop.

Turn the signals on.

As soon as the lights come on above a police car, the driver of the vehicle should immediately switch on the turn signals. This lets the officer know the driver received the message and is looking for a safe place to pull over.

Try to stop in an area large enough for both vehicles to park that gives the officer room to move between the vehicles without risk of being struck by traffic.

Turn the engine off and put your hands on the steering wheel.

By turning the engine off, the officer knows the driver isn’t going to attempt to speed off as soon as he gets out of his squad car. Roll the driver’s side window down, then place both hands on the steering wheel so the officer can see them. This shows care and respect for the officer.

Wait to look for papers until the office is there, and communicate each movement with them. This will make the officer feel safe. Remember, officers get shot on routine traffic stops all too often. They don’t know if the occupants of the car are looking for vehicle registration papers or a gun.

Be friendly.

Police officers are human, and treating them with kindness and respect can go a long way. Not only will being friendly ease the tension of the situation, but it will also help the officer look at you as a person and not just another stop.

Mistakes to Avoid

While there are a few things anyone can do to help themselves get out of a ticket, there are also some actions that will almost certainly get them one. Here are a few don’ts when getting pulled over.

- Don’t make excuses. Take responsibility for the mistake. Officers have heard every excuse under the sun, and making excuses can be taken as a sign of disrespect and immaturity.
- Never give the officer attitude. If the goal is to get off with a warning, having a bad attitude is a surefire way of failing.
- Don’t flirt or attempt to bribe the officer. These actions are disrespectful and will insult the officer’s integrity.
- Don’t make sudden movements. Sudden movements will make the officer feel unsafe, putting them on guard and reducing the likelihood of getting off with a warning.

Going out of your way to make the officer feel safe shows respect for them, and increases the odds that they will let you go on a warning. There is always the chance that these tips won’t work and that the officer will issue a ticket regardless of how friendly you are. Even if a ticket is issued, following these guidelines could lead to a little leniency from the officer.

For those who have a concealed carry firearm on their person when being pulled over, there are some extra precautions that can help them avoid a scary situation with the officer. To see what these are, check out our article on how to survive getting pulled over.

~Here’s to Your Survival!