Do you get tense when stopped by a police officer? Here are some points to ponder about being stopped by the police. Don’t panic; look for a safe place to stop your car on the right side of the road. As long as you slow down, the officer will be patient until you find the closest safe place to stop. Females alone after dark can reduce speed and drive to the closest place where people are present. If there is serious doubt, a call to 911 could be in order.

You might be a deacon or elder in your church, but the officer doesn’t know you. Reaching into your glove box or console, under your car seat or back seat will make any police officer uneasy. If you need paperwork, wait until the officer approaches and the officer will let you know how to proceed.

Loosen up; being stopped by a police officer does not automatically mean you are going to receive a traffic citation. It is helpful to roll your driver’s window down, return your hands to the steering wheel, and if it is after dark, turn on the car’s interior light. Telling the officer he should be out catching armed robbers rather than harassing law-abiding citizens will most likely not make the officer your best friend. Ridiculing a police officer is like a man telling his wife she is fat. Temporary satisfaction may be derived from either situation, but one thing stands clear, you will be the biggest loser.

A police officer has discretion in issuing traffic citations. The decision is made based on the seriousness of the violation, and often after talking to the driver. Mentioning your neighbor is a judge, you are buddies with a state legislator, or that you have a cousin twice removed on your mother’s side that used to drink coffee with an ex-police officer is not going to do anything except prolong the traffic stop. I also would not ask the officer if he is one of the Village People.

It may be true you were in a line of cars all going the same speed, but pointing it out to the officer is like explaining to your elementary school teacher you were not the only person talking. It may be very embarrassing to get stopped by a police officer. It may be more embarrassing if you have passengers, but don’t let your ego get in the way of your common sense. Showing off for someone in your car will not impress them any more than it will impress the police officer. A Greek philosopher put it best: “I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.”

The police officer has a job to do, and nothing positive will come from giving the officer a difficult time. The officer is not going to adjudicate your case on the side of the road. To that end, if everybody were guilty, we would not need courts.