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Traffic
Stop Safety Tips
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What to do if a Police Officer pulls you over.
There are many traffic laws and regulations in
place to help ensure the safety of Stephenville motorists. Law Enforcement Personnel
are charged with the responsibility of enforcing the law. Although a traffic stop
can be a very stressful occurrence for a motorist, please be aware that traffic stoops can
be very dangerous for police officers also. By observing a few guidelines, you can
help ease your own tension as well as that of the officer.
When a police
officer signals you to pull over:
Pull over as far to the right as possible.
This provides a margin of safety for the officer to approach your vehicle.
Turn off the ignition.
Turn on you interior light (if the stop occurs
at night).
Place your hands on the steering wheel until
the officer can make a safety evaluation as he/she approaches the vehicle.
Avoid making any sudden or reaching movements.
Please stay in your vehicle.
The officer does
have the authority to ask you to get out of the car. If the officer asks you
to get out of the car, walk to the rear of the vehicle to the side away from traffic, or
as directed by the officer using the car as a barrier. Do not stand between your
vehicle and the police vehicle for safety purposes.
Once the officer makes a safety assessment,
he/she will request your operator's license and proof of insurance.
Please provide all the requested information
(license and proof of insurance).
The officer will then inform the motorist of the
violation for which the traffic stop was made.
Do not attempt to argue with the officer.
This may only aggravate and already stressful situation.
The officer may issue a warning, or the motorist
may receive a traffic citation (See Citation Procedure).
Once business wit the officer is completed, the
motorist should proceed with caution back into the flow of traffic.
Explanation of
Citation Procedure
The officer may or
may not elect to give a citation. If a citation is issued, the motorist will be
requested to sign the bottom of the citation. This is not an admission of guilt. The signature simply confirms that the motorist
promised to appear in court at the time and date specified on the citation. The
motorist will have his/her day in court if he/she disagrees with the citation.
If the motorist
refused to sign the citation, this means the motorist is refusing to promise to appear in
court at the appointed time, The officer then has the right to take that person to
jail to post a monetary bond.
If the citation is
signed and the person fails to appear in court, he/she is in violation of the law and is
guilty of the traffic violation. The judge will issue a warrant for arrest.
If that motorist is
stopped by an officer and there is a warrant out for his/her arrest, the motorist will be
taken into custody.
If you have any
additional questions,
please contact the
Stephenville Police Department
at 254-918-1200.
Or ask any
Stephenville Police Officer.
