As more students begin to drive on the road, the importance of learning the rights an individual has when getting pulled over becomes imperative. Being detained by a police officer can be stressful and nerve-racking, so students should take steps to understand what to do when red and blue lights appear in the rearview mirror.
When a cop turns their siren and lights on, the targeted driver should first pull safely over to the side of the road. According to Aceable, the driver may be permitted to continue driving until they reach a safe, well-lit area, should then remain in their car unless the officer asks them to exit the vehicle. During this process, drivers should remember to remain calm and collected, leaving their hands visible and thinking about the location of their license and registration. Drivers should only access these documents when instructed to do so by the officer.
When the officer arrives at the car, the driver does possess the right to ask the reason for being pulled over, but will not be entitled to an answer. The driver also has the right to remain silent, except for questions of identity, and everything said can and will be used against the driver in court. However, staying silent may have negative outcomes. For this reason, staying calm and compliant remains important. The driver can record the interaction for safety reasons, according to Rocket Lawyer. If an officer requests a driver to leave the vehicle, they can legally remain in their seats. If the officer wants to search the car, the driver can legally refuse unless the officer has a search warrant.
As well as learning about individual rights, being aware of the consequences for exercising them proves to be important. While some officers may respect the driver’s actions, others will take this as being uncooperative and may arrest them. Ultimately, when getting pulled over by a police officer, a teenager’s main job will be to remain respectful and calm.
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