| During your tenure in driver's education training class, | | | | positions when the officer approaches the windowo |
| you are learning a great deal about obeying the law | | | | When the police officer requests your license, |
| and how to handle the car. But do they always cover | | | | registration and/or your proof of insurance, tell the |
| the specifics of what to do when you see flashing | | | | officer where it is before you reach for it especially if |
| lights behind you? Flashing lights indicate that police | | | | your hands have to go out of sighto Smile, be polite |
| officers are on the job and they are there to do their | | | | and listen to the officer-- don't joke, don't argue and |
| job. Their job is to cite you for a traffic violation. | | | | don't get belligerento If you have passengers in your |
| First, take a deep breath, not every time the flashing | | | | car, be sure to tell them to can any of the above |
| lights appear behind you is related to receiving a traffic | | | | behavior and that they should also keep their hands |
| violation. In fact, a police officer can turn on their lights | | | | where they can be seeno If it's night time, turn on the |
| and signal a driver to pull over in order to alert them to | | | | dome light inside your car-- if the officer shines a bright |
| a problem with their vehicle. | | | | light in your face, don't get combativeo If you have to |
| In The Event of the Real Thing | | | | reach into your purse to get anything, open it wide |
| However, when you do see the flashing lights behind | | | | enough that the officer can see inside of ito If the |
| you, it's important to follow a certain etiquette and | | | | officer asks you to step out of the car, cooperate.o If |
| protocol to avoid getting more than the traffic ticket | | | | you want to debate the offense, be reasonable and |
| because contempt or resisting a police officer is a | | | | never yell |
| much more serious charge. You do not want to run | | | | Your Driver's License, Your Life |
| the risk of increasing the potential fine you are already | | | | If you still end up getting a traffic ticket at the end of |
| courting when the police officer turned on his lights and | | | | the day, you have the option of fighting it when you |
| pulled behind you. | | | | get to court or just copping to it and taking a traffic |
| So, remember what you learned in driver's education | | | | school course to help offset the fine. You can also |
| training when those lights start flashing behind you and | | | | take traffic school online-- also known as defensive |
| be sure to obey the following advice:o Continue driving | | | | driving online in some key states, like Texas. Also, |
| until you find a safe place to stop; never just slam on | | | | understand that if your traffic ticket is for expired |
| the brakes.o Be sure to pull your car off to the right, if | | | | inspection, expired license plates or other failed |
| you need to make a turn to pull into a parking lot for | | | | paperwork, getting it all up to date and in order before |
| stopping, be sure to signal.o Always signal when you | | | | you pay your traffic violation fine may actually get the |
| are ready to pull over or off the roado Do not remove | | | | fine reduced or dismissed. |
| your seat belt and do not get out of your caro Keep | | | | Teen driving is a privilege-- drive safe, protect your |
| your hands on the steering wheel at the 10 and 2 | | | | driver's license and your life. |