Ask Oppo: Traffic Stop Etiquette

"Thomas Nourse" (thomas)
07/06/2016 at 16:35 • Filed to: None

Over the weekend, I had an unfortunate run-in with the local constabulary. The circumstances surrounding the traffic stop are largely irrelevant to the question at hand, but I’ll go ahead and share the details. I was following a large truck through a controlled intersection where the height of the truck and the height of the traffic light conspired to block my view of the signal and I missed the change from green to yellow, thus leaving me in the intersection when the signal went red. The officer who initiated the traffic stop didn’t witness the entire sequence of events as he arrived at the intersection just in time to see me going through the red light. I believe the officer was justified in stopping me and I wouldn’t have faulted him for writing me up either - I should have backed off when I lost view of the signal. After some explanation on my part, he was kind enough to allow me to carry on with a verbal warning.

Having said that, the traffic stop didn’t start so smoothly. When the officer first hit the lights, I couldn’t see anywhere to safely pull over. I was on an overpass with little to no shoulder and I really didn’t want my screw up to block a traffic lane and slow everyone else down. I slowed to about 10 under the posted limit and hit my hazards to indicate that I was going to pull over as soon as it was safe. As soon as we crossed the overpass, there was a decent amount of shoulder and I pulled as far right as possible and stopped at an angle with the front of my car pointed towards the grass. I always pull over at such an angle for the safety of the officer and as an indication that I have no intention to flee, but this must have set off some alarm bells for the one who stopped me. He approached with extreme caution and dismissed the normal pleasantries while jumping straight into demanding answers as to why it took me so long to stop and why I stopped in such a manner. I explained my motives and he appeared to ease up a bit. We were able to conduct our remaining business rather lightheartedly. As he sent me on my way, the officer thanked me for the considering his safety, but left me with the advice to pull over promptly and without the odd angle from now on. I may be misquoting a little but the gist of it was “some officers get a little too jumpy when they see erratic behavior like that.”

I guess I understand that position, but I would still maintain that stopping at such an angle puts two rather large hunks of metal (his car - which is usually stopped at an angle pointed towards traffic - and mine) between him and any vehicle that may drift onto the shoulder during the stop. What say you oppo? Am I wrong in thinking that stopping in such a manner provides additional safety for the officer (and myself if I’m asked to exit the vehicle)? Or does the potential unease of the officer outweigh the potential safety benefits?

DISCUSSION (17)

ttyymmnn > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:41

I’ve never been pulled over on a busy road, but I would let the officer use HIS car as a traffic barrier, since that’s what they are trained to do. As he said, anything that seems out of the ordinary would raise his threat level. Perhaps your angle prohibited him from seeing you inside the car. Unsighted, there’s no way to know if you’re reaching for a gun, etc. It sounds like once he realized he wasn’t in danger he calmed down and you both handled it professionally.

Also, don’t follow so close that you can’t see the light. I don’t think that argument would stand up in court.

crowmolly > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:43

I’ve driven a little bit forward to get out of lane but I’ve never done the angle thing.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:43

Stopping at an angle is weird. Weirdness makes cops uneasy. It also makes it more difficult for them to see you and what you are up to since the angle is off. They like to use your side mirror to watch what you are doing as they approach. If you are parked all wonky, then they can’t see you until they get to your rear fender.

Cops are now trained to use their vehicle to block traffic during a stop. If you pull as far right as possible, the police car can be positioned to provide protection without blocking traffic.

My uncle, the cop, says to roll your windows down, turn off the engine, and put your hands on the steering wheel. Don’t go digging for paperwork until the cop approaches and you tell him exactly what you are going to do. Rummaging around in your glovebox makes cops nervous. It’s always best to put a cop at ease.

HammerheadFistpunch > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:44

probably depends on the cop. I think he understood that but its hard not to try and want to save a little face by not admitting that it was an okay thing to do. I’ve never had an issue but I’ve never had to drive a distance to pull over.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:44

Stopping with your car pointing off the road would help a little bit if someone hit your car, but it also requires him to walk closer to traffic to get to you than if you pulled off straight. As long as you pull off far enough, his car will provide sufficient deflection to keep him safe. As for driving for a bit to find a safe place to pull over, I’ve not had an officer complain about that, as long as I made it clear I was going to pull over with the 4-ways.

Also, some things I’ve learned is shutting your car off and putting the keys on the dash where the officer can see them(preferably as he approaches your car, so at the base of the A pillar on the left or middle of the dash on the right) puts them more at ease as it clearly indicates that you have no intention of running.

Honeybunchesofgoats > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
07/06/2016 at 16:48

I heard and do the same thing with the keys.

PorkchoPlissken > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:48

You’re not wrong in the least for considering the officer’s safety, but its always a good idea to pull over as soon possible. At the very least, he or she can can approach, then give other instructions if they find it necessary. In Austin, I’ve witnessed officers give instructions via loudspeaker from inside their cars, which is a great idea.

shop-teacher > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:49

In the future it’s probably best to pull over right away. If the cop wants you to move to another area, they’ll tell you. They are trained to leave their car hanging out to block traffic, so the odd angle of your car isn’t necessary and makes it harder for them to see you. The one thing cops hate is not being able to see you.

Thomas Nourse > ttyymmnn
07/06/2016 at 16:49

I was definitely in the wrong and would not have fought the ticket had I been written up.

Xyl0c41n3 > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:52

I would forego parking at the strange angle in the future. The officer might think it’s due to being under the influence or some other shady business.

As for waiting to stop in a safe place? I think you did perfectly ok there. In fact, that’s what I’ve heard over and over again on local media outlets from numerous police chiefs in my region.

There was a while here where people were impersonating officers and pulling people over to rob them. They’d use bubble lights or LEDs that mimicked real police lights. A lot of these incidences occurred at night when it was harder to tell if it was a legitimate unmarked patrol car or not.

Needless to say, the actual LEOs were pissed that this was going on, both from a public safety standpoint of residents who were being victimized, and from the danger it presented to them as officers because people could potentially be too scared to obey lawful traffic stops.

The bottom line to all of that was that the cops reiterated over and over to pull over in safe, well lighted areas, even if that meant having to drive a little further. Since this was an extreme scenario, they also advised calling 911 and asking the dispatcher to relay to the officer that they were, in fact, attempting to comply with the traffic stop.

Thomas Nourse > shop-teacher
07/06/2016 at 16:53

That makes sense.. Although without a legal limit for window tint on the back glass in my state, it’s rather difficult to see anything in my car when approaching from the rear regardless of the angle. Now that I think about it though, that angle would make it near impossible to get a view of the passengers using the side mirrors.

Party-vi > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 16:58

I did something similar after I saw the lights go on behind me once - officer was livid that I didn’t immediately stop and block traffic (no shoulders where I was at). Amazingly I was left with just a warning.

Thomas Nourse > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP
07/06/2016 at 17:05

Oh, I always do the engine off, hands on the wheel, keys in sight bit as well - although having the keys in sight shouldn’t be too reassuring with the proliferation of keyless systems. The only thing I ever do with my hands other than put them on the wheel is turn my dashcam towards the driver side window if it’s running and I don’t know why I got pulled over.

shop-teacher > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 17:05

Another tip to help them see you, is turn your dome light on.

I always put my windows down, turn my dome light on, shut the engine off, toss the keys on the dash, and place my hands on the wheel palms up.

LOREM IPSUM > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 17:07

Instead of the emergency flashers, use the right turn signal next time. That should help explain your intent a bit better.

Don’t bother with any funny angles either. The officers safety is his own responsibility.

ttyymmnn > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 17:37

I know, you said. That’s just the father in me coming out.

BayAreaMiataBoi > Thomas Nourse
07/06/2016 at 18:26

Advice from a cop: “Pull over right away. If you are in an unsafe spot, I will tell you when and where to move.”
Basically your dialog is limited to: “Yes sir,” “No sir,” and “Thank you sir.” (or M'am.)
And when you stop, remove the keys from the ignition and put them on the dash, and put both hands on the top of the steering wheel.
(Because the cop wants to be +completely+ in charge of the situation, and anything other than that could result in his or her death, with subsequent bereaved spouse and children crying at the funeral. . .)