When Stopped by an Officer
50 Spring Street
P.O. Box 636
Tel: 508-748-1212
Fax: 508-748-0786
When Stopped by a Police Officer
The following information should not be considered legal advice. This page is intended to provide a source of information to the general public.
Motorists should be aware, state law requires a motorist to pull over to the right hand side of the road and stop when signaled to do so by a police officer. You are required to stop whether the police officer is in a police car or on foot.
Each year, police officers in the United States are killed and thousands more are assaulted in the performance of traffic stops. In 2002, ten police officers were killed and 6,412 others were assaulted as a result of traffic stops (Federal Bureau of Investigation-Uniform Crime Reports).
As a result of the inherently dangerous nature of motor vehicle stops, police officers are extremely cautious when they stop a car. Officers cannot know what do expect from a driver and passengers during a traffic stop. The way you act during the stop may determine the police officer’s reaction. Becoming argumentative, ignoring the officer’s instructions or commands, suggesting the officer should have better things to do, or suddenly reaching under the seat or into other areas of the passenger compartment, are not appropriate conduct during a traffic stop and may increase an officer’s concern for their safety.
In order to reduce the levels of anxiety during the traffic stop a motorist should follow some common sense guidelines. The Marion Police Department suggests you do the following:
When
signaled to do so, turn on your right signal and pull your vehicle
completely to the right hand side of the roadway.
Place the car in park, turn off the engine,
and roll down the driver’s side window.
After
dark, put on your vehicle’s interior lights.
Retrieve your driver’s license and vehicle
registration when asked by the officer to do so.
Do
not exit the vehicle unless instructed to do so by the officer.
Keep
your hands in plain sight.
Do
not make any sudden movements or gestures that could be construed as
threatening by the officer. (i.e. reaching under the seat or inside your
clothing).
If
the officer issues you a citation, do not argue or attempt to plead your
case. You have the right to appeal your citation or pay the fine amount.
If the citation contains a criminal charge, you have a right to a show
cause hearing. Instructions are provided on the back of the citation.
When
instructed to do so, put on your proper turn signal, check your mirrors
and pull into traffic when it is safe to do so.
Copyright 2000, Marion Police Department