Traffic Ticket Tip: Utah Defense Attorney Tip of the Week
July 5, 2011Police Pointers: For the Next Time You Encounter an Officer
In any given year, police pull over millions of drivers for a number of reasons. It is estimated that around 32 million drivers are pulled over each year, which means that many people have encounters with police officers on the road. Knowing what to do when an officer pulls you over can give you comfort in a pretty uncomfortable situation.
What Doesn’t Work
Jumping to conclusions is almost never helpful in an already stressful situation. The natural response may be to get angry or feel defensive when getting pulled over. Taking an angry or disrespectful tone is a bad idea because officers deal with unpleasant situations everyday.
Bribing an officer is illegal. According to the Utah State Legislature, Code 76-8-103 states that bribery is considered a felony. If you are pulled over, do not attempt to bribe an officer to get out of a ticket.
Telling any trooper they look good in their pants. They don't. Nobody does. They’ve had the same belly-button-high waistband design since 1988. Flattery is not going to get you very far if it comes across as disrespectful or crossing a boundary. Flirting your way out of a ticket is not an original or a bright idea.
What Works
When dealing with officers, it is important to remember that most people respond to a respectful tone. There are times when we may not know the reason why we are being pulled over, and instead of jumping to conclusions and feeling angry, it is more helpful to treat the officer kindly and with respect. At the end of the day, we are all human beings.
Patience. Most police officers become officers because they care about the safety and well-being of others. Having patience and understanding is crucial to having a positive experience, and in an event that things escalate on the officer’s end, you have the argument that you remained calm and kind.
When you get the bad end of a meeting with the police, take immediate notes about as many details as you can remember. Officers usually don’t remember the stuff that wins your case, just the stuff that hurts you.
In the event that you feel threatened or believe that you were a victim of police brutality of some sort, it is important to know who to turn to for help. At Intermountain Legal, we provide criminal defense for those who have altercations with police officers. Whether you are dealing with a resisting arrest charge, you have been charged with giving false information to a police officer, or you have been charged with filing a false police report, the expert team of lawyers at Intermountain Legal are here for you. Contact us today to schedule your consultation with one of our professional lawyers.
