You saw the lights, you pulled over, and now you wait. Finally, after what seems like forever, a traffic cop ambles over to your car. Now he’s peering in through your open window. Before you have a chance to say the wrong thing — or much of anything at all — you’re being asked for your driver’s license and registration. Getting pulled over is not fun in anybody’s book, but there are things you can do to make it go well for you or to wind up with a very expensive ticket. One of the first things a traffic cop will notice about you as you’re speeding along is what kind of car you’re driving. If your car has a cracked windshield, broken windshield wipers, or a burned out light, you’re more likely to walk away with a ticket. Most important in the traffic stop is how you respond to being stopped. If you listen to what the traffic cop tells you to do and follow the instructions you're given, it signals your intention to cooperate. A rebellious or rude attitude will most certainly prompt the traffic cop to write you a ticket. If you take it even further, you might just be given a room for the night, and it won’t come with room service. As for how you exit the scene, if you pull out in anger and put the pedal to the metal, there's a good chance you’ll be pulled over a second time, and this time it really won’t be pretty. So, the best thing to do when pulled over is to be polite, follow directions, and leave the scene as though you have learned your lesson.
