Being pulled over by police can be an intimidating experience, and that is only amplified if the stop happens at nighttime. Both drivers and police can be a little more on edge during nighttime traffic stops when visibility isn’t clear as during the daytime. To ensure the traffic stop goes smoothly and you put yourself in the best position to avoid a citation, we’ve compiled some tips for handling a nighttime traffic stop.
What To Do During A Traffic Stop At Night
Hopefully you’ll never need these tips, but if you ever find yourself being pulled over at night, keep this advice in mind.
1. Pull Over Quickly – It’s typically easier to see police lights at night, so you should have no problem recognizing that you are being pulled over. Try to find a safe, well-lit location where you can pull over for the stop. If there’s no safe or well-lit location available immediately, put on your flashers or your turn signal to show the officer that you are aware of their presence as you work to get towards a safe location for the stop.
2. Turn On Your Overhead Light – Once you’re stopped, turn on your overhead light so that the officer can see where your hands are during the interaction.
3. Take Out Your ID – The officer will likely take a second to run your plates before approaching your vehicle, so you’ll have a little time to grab your wallet or purse if it’s in an easily accessible location. If it’s in the back seat or glove compartment, you can wait until you speak with the officer before asking to collect it.
4. State Your Actions – On that note, if you have to reach for your glove compartment or under your seat to retrieve something, ask the officer if it is okay for you to collect it from that location. No sudden movements to concealed locations.
5. Be Polite But Uninteresting – When interacting with the officer, it helps to be polite but interesting. What we mean by that is, treat them with respect but don’t offer up any information that could hurt your case. Don’t say things like “I only had two beers” or “I was speeding because I’m running late” because that only helps them build their case. Outside of providing your name and identification, you don’t need to answer any questions from police. Don’t offer up information that will later be used against you.
6. Contact A Lawyer – You may not need to contact a lawyer during the traffic stop for a run-of-the-mill stop like speeding or rolling a stop sign, but if the police suspect you are under the influence, you may want to speak with a lawyer before you proceed with chemical testing. Once the stop reaches this critical juncture, you are within your rights to ask to speak with a lawyer before proceeding. Take advantage of this moment and call Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm at (952) 224-2277. We can at least lay out your options clearly so you understand what you’re up against at the moment.
For help contesting a nighttime or daytime traffic citation or arrest, reach out to Appelman Law Firm today.
