Equipment violations. Everyone knows the movie scene where a cop smashes a taillight to justify a traffic stop. But in real life, there's little need for that, our experts say. People commit a multitude of code violations all on their own. Leading the list are heavily tinted windows, burned-out headlights, broken windshields, expired tags, the lack of a front license plate (in California and some other states) and loud exhaust modifications.
A Traffic Cop Critic's List Police officers aren't the only ones keeping track of what gets drivers in trouble. The executive director of the National Motorists Association listed some attention-getting moves that the police experts didn't mention, including:
Cruising in the left lane of a multilane highway instead of using it only to pass slower traffic on the right. Driving more slowly than the normal traffic flow. Peeling out from a stoplight or stop sign, and squealing tires in general. Racking up lots of unpaid parking or traffic violations. These are things that make your car stand out and catch an officer's eye. The ED adds that plastering the back of your car with offensive bumper stickers and decals will definitely draw unwelcome attention. Another expert adds, "This is particularly so if your sticker conflicts with the cop's views or is a rival of his favorite sports team." (hmm, I guess I shouldn’t have my Yankees sticker in Boston).
Watch Your Mouth Traffic stops often have a tipping point. Because officers have legal discretion in what they can cite you for, saying or doing the wrong thing can compound your problems. A traffic cop might add extra violations if the motorist is belligerent. Act like a jerk and "They'll write you up for everything else they can." Say that a police officer uses this time-honored opening line: "Do you know why I stopped you?" Take a minute before you answer, Carroll says. If you admit guilt or name a specific speed that you were driving, your fate is sealed. Instead, respond courteously but remain vague, he advises. However, "If you have clearly done something wrong, and you sit there and you're evasive with the cops, it's not necessarily in your best interest," he says.
Copyright© 2012 Edmunds.com Reprinted with Permission.