“You’re driving along peacefully when a casual glimpse in the rear view mirror reveals flashing red and blue lights. Even if you’re perfectly innocent, you are gripped by gut-wrenching panic. It is an inevitable experience, and fear feeds on ignorance. However, have you ever wondered about the point of view of the man in blue?
I talked to Gary Weinmann, a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, who described what separates a motorist who is stopped from one who is not. If you are a teenager, the odds of being stopped are significantly increased, especially if you are out late at night. “If it is 10 p.m., especially on the weekends, and I see a car full of teenagers, I am going to be watching them closely,” Weinmann said.
So when the inevitable happens, the officer’s first recommendation is, “Don’t panic, you’d be surprised how many kids stop right in the middle of the road or hammer the brakes and screech into someone’s driveway or over a curb.” The next thing to remember is to stay in the car, turn off the engine and keep your hands on the wheel. “The primary consideration in a police officer’s head during a pull-over is his own safety,” Weinmann said.
No reason to get argumentative
Once the officer has approached the car, let him initiate the dialogue. You may feel that you have been stopped unfairly, but you may also be surprised. “Many teens, as inexperienced drivers, often forget or disregard simple rules like signaling before a lane change, or stopping for a complete three seconds at a stop sign,” Weinmann said. Besides, if pressed for a reason, the police officer is armed with the all-inclusive “reasonable suspicion” clause. There is no reason to get argumentative, though. Some teens might think it’s unfair, but that’s the officer’s job — to “protect and serve.” I’d rather the police pulled over everybody than risk being in danger.
“Most police officers are not egotistical, thinking they have the supreme authority and that they can push people around,” Weinmann said. He claimed to take into consideration that teens are relatively new drivers. “Usually if the ‘requirements’ are missing, or the vehicle has some defect that makes it unfit for operation, the responsible party is the parents,” he said.
What about the old myth that the racier the car, the more likely you’ll be pulled over? “That’s nonsense,” Weinmann said. “We are not concerned with what the vehicle looks like, as long as it’s fit for operation and the motorist is obeying all traffic laws.” Here’s a scoop for people that like to play the odds. According to the officer, “If you go to court to fight the ticket, there is a fifty-fifty shot the police officer won’t show up, and you won’t have to pay. But if he does, the judge will always find in his favor, and you will have to pay the ticket and court costs.”
So in the end, I wanted to know how best to avoid meeting with him on the road, and Weinmann had this to say, “Stay within ten miles per hour of the speed limit. Also, just remember the little things: rolling through stop signs, changing lanes without signaling.”
How does the officer respond to charges that many police officers are rude and don’t give a motorist a chance to explain their side? “If a police officer feels that a citation is in order, he is going to issue it. Officers are only human beings, and if you get upset or angry, it makes it harder for the officer to do his job in an efficient manner.”
So for all the teens out there driving, drive safely and keep it cool when you see the man in blue.
This column on legal issues is made possible by the Los Angeles County Bar Foundation.”