JIM “PAPPY” MOORE: Be Nice. Be Friendly. Answer Questions. Produce Documents.

I probably enjoy more than I should watching obnoxious drivers get what’s coming to them when they are rude, nasty, mean, obnoxious, and resistant to Law Enforcement Officers doing their job. Online you can watch videos from LEO’s body cameras which tell the whole story in 3 to 15 minutes. These are textbooks examples of how NOT to act when stopped by Law Enforcement. You should have teenage drivers view these videos so they can see how to avoid ending up in the backseat of a patrol car, in handcuffs, in a few minutes.

First, come to a complete stop. Put your car in Park. Put both hands on the steering wheel. Don’t start reaching for things, opening consoles or glove boxes. Open your window and wait. When the officer appears ask him or her “what can I do for you today, officer?” Then listen carefully to what he or she says.

Second, when they say “let me see your driver’s license and proof of insurance,” be sure to first tell the officer where they are before you go digging for them.”They’re in my glove box (or my console, or in my purse, or in my wallet)”. Then say “can I get them?”

Third, get the items requested and provide them to the officer. Do not ask “why did you stop me?” He or she will tell you why they stopped you. They might ask if you know why they stopped you. A good answer would be “no sir, I do not.” They will tell you, maybe in detail. You didn’t give a signal, you went over the speed limit, you changed lanes dangerously, etc. Arguing is the last thing that should be on your mind. Same of making excuses. Understand that he or she was paying attention and watching you more closely than you were watching yourself. Candor and cooperation are your best responses. “I did not know that, officer. I probably should have been paying more attention.”

Cooperation and Contrition go a long way toward ending a traffic stop on the best possible terms. Now, this may not get you out of a ticket. If you were going 60 in a school zone, you’re getting a ticket. If you were going 55 in a 45 zone, you may get a warning.

Don’t get mad at the officer. Get mad at yourself for sloppy, inattentive driving. They can’t “catch you” if you’re not doing anything wrong.

Besides, even if you get the ticket, you may be able to do something that would allow or incentivize the Justice of the Peace or other Judge to let you take a safety course and go a period of time with no other infractions and get your ticket resolved on a basis that doesn’t hurt your record. Think “long game,” and know that being nice at every level gets you good results. And being a jack ass at every level gets you bad results.

Besides, nobody likes jerks, so don’t be a jerk. Walking up on a car he or she has stopped is one of the most dangerous moments LEOs have. Make it easy and pleasant for them. They can make it easy for you. Or hard if you’re a jackass.