AvoidingATrafficTicket

Avoiding A Traffic Ticket
American Iron Magazine, March 2005

Excuses are like opinions, and we all know what opinions are like. Cops hear a lot of both when
stopping drivers for traffic violations. What you say and do can make the difference between
getting a cheery, "Don't do it again; have a nice day Ma'am," or the dreaded, "Please press
hard sir, four copies." If you've heard the latter, then perhaps this advice comes a bit too late
for you, but don't despair! It could help you avoid a ticket in the future.
One of the most common questions folks ask me at parties, or while standing on the sidelines at
my kids soccer games is, "What is the best way to avoid getting a traffic ticket?"
There are many law enforcement agencies in America charged with enforcing traffic laws. Some
agencies, like State Patrols, focus almost exclusively on traffic enforcement and collision
investigations. Larger city departments answer a high number of 911 calls for service, leaving
patrol officers little time to enforce all but the most serious traffic infractions.
Regardless of the agency, there are certain common threads that connect all traffic stops. One
thread is the myth of the routine traffic stop. Too many police officers are dead and injured to
ever label traffic stops routine. The truth is that police conduct thousands of traffic stops a day
and the vast majority are without incident. This has a tendency to lull officers into a false sense
of security; the officer must remain cautious and not let down his guard. Citizens sometimes
mistake an officer's caution for rudeness. Remember, you may know that you're not a criminal.
You may know that you don't intend the officer any harm. The officer, however, doesn't know
this and he isn't about to bet his life on it.
The first piece of advice that I'll give you is to put yourself in the officer's position. Remember,
the cop doesn't know you and it's odd if you think that he should. Often the things that cause a
rider to be ticketed, rather than given a warning, stem from the rider's failure to consider the
officer's perspective. If you can understand that the officer must consider you a potential
danger until he can assess you, you will be in a much better position to get that warning.
Veteran Motorcycle Traffic Officer Wade Murray advises riders that, "Just being polite and
adult enough to admit to getting caught goes a long way with me." Often it comes down to
simple courtesy. The following are some dos and don'ts, which may come in handy if a police
officer pulls you over. Follow these tips and your chances of "getting off with a warning" will
improve dramatically.

Don't: call the cop a liar: You're in a hurry to get home. You're not exactly riding recklessly,
but you're pushing red lights, rolling through stop signs, and stretching the speed limit a bit; we
all do it on occasion. An officer observes one of your red light indiscretions.
You hear the chirp of a siren, which alerts you to the blue lights in your rear view mirrors. You
pull to the side of the road, convincing yourself that you have done nothing wrong and you're
going to convince the officer too.
"Good afternoon Ma'am, the reason I stopped you is that you failed to stop for the red light at
Cherry St.," the officer informs the motorcyclist.
"The light was yellow!" The rider challenges.
You may not have thought about it in this way, but you've just called the cop a liar and they were
the first words out of your mouth. Now what do you think? Is the officer more likely to give you
a warning, or a ticket? Yeah, I think so too!Look at it this way, cops drive around from eight to
twelve hours per shift. You can imagine the number of traffic violations that we see. So many,
that we simply don't have the time to stop them all. Just think of how many violations you see
on your way to work and you'll realize that the cops don't have to make them up.
The officer is trained to detect violations and is usually in a stationary position watching you, as
you zip through the red light busy adjusting your goggles and distracted by that pretty girl
walking down the street.

Do: be honest. This one's a little tricky, so you're going to have to trust me. Any lawyer would
tell you not to admit to any wrongdoing, especially to a cop. I agree when it comes to criminal
matters. However, here in Washington State, as in most states, traffic infractions are civil not
criminal and are punishable by fine and not imprisonment.
People lie to police officers all the time. Often it's the same people who call the police again,
and again. A victim today, is a witness tomorrow, is a suspect the next day. On many days, an
officer's only contact with normally law-abiding citizens occurs during a traffic stop. It's
refreshing and rare to hear, "Officer, I can't believe that I just did that. I'm sorry; I don't
usually ride like that."
Never mind not giving this rider a ticket, I want to give her a coupon for a free latte' at the
Starbuck's on the corner!
An officer can certainly use what you say against you in court. However, if the officer is so
intent on slapping you with paper regardless of what you say, then admitting your fault and
apologizing won't matter; you'd have gotten the ticket anyway.A brief disclaimer: There are
times, (though exceedingly rare, but perhaps I speak only for myself) when cops make mistakes.
Remember, I said, be honest. If you truly believe that the officer is mistaken, don't admit to
having committed any violations, but don't argue with the officer either. A mistake is not the
same as lying. The officer believes in his view and you in yours. Be polite and you still may get
a warning; if you do get a ticket, you can always contest it in court.

STEVE POMPER

AUTHOR

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