Know Your Rights With The Police

[COLGATE4]

6. You're right. Usually the only good reason not to answer

the questions - "Do you know why I stopped you?, Do you know how fast you were going?" is if you may be DUI or some other subset of driving while impaired. If that is indeed the case you will be well advised to limit your conversation with the officer to the strictly necessary, trying not to speak directly to him/her (so they can't see your eyes or smell your breath). If you aren't concerned about this possibility taking a confrontational attitude with "I don't have to talk to you" surely isn't going to make your traffic situation a whole lot better.

Best advice - stay cool, stay calm, don't get confrontational (even if you feel you have been provoked). Produce your license, registration and proof of Insurance. Do as instructed by the officer. Don't make sudden moves or start reaching for things without asking for permission to do so. Pay attention to what the Officer is saying to you - I know of clients who have blown getting a mere warning into getting a ticket for mouthing off while the cop was explaining to them why they were only getting a warning!

If you have complaints about how the procedure was handled, take them up with the appropriate Police Agency AFTER the traffic stop has been completed.