..Wow ...
Just wow ...
However, let me share a little bit on this subject, based on on my personal experience.Some will agree, and some won't. That's fine, and maybe someone can add something to this.
First, It is usually best to remain in the vehicle, seated, sitting still, and with both hands on the top part of the steering wheel anytime you are stopped. That shows the officer right off you aren't trying to get 'squirrelly' or moving around as if to hide something. Don't even get your wallet out, or registration from the glove box, etc., until the officer has approached and has a chance to 'survey' the situation. Exiting the vehicle as this guy did tends to raise suspicion, and adds the element of 'movement' to a situation that doesn't need that dynamic .. at least not at this point.
Let the cop walk up and look things over a couple of seconds, (slowly roll down your window if it is not open).
The cop will normally greet you, and ask for a license, ask you 'where the fire is' or something.. or you may greet him/her first. At this time with both hands in plain view, I always say "Officer I just want to let you know I have a concealed weapons permit and I am carrying today" Most officers will ask you where on your person the weapon is located. Some might ask at this point that you step out of the vehicle and if so, do it slowly and deliberately - some won't. If they ask for my license, I tell them "It is in my right back pocket" or wherever it is, and I ask if it is "OK to reach back and get it," or on occasion, I have asked if I might step out so I can get to it easier. The cop will tell you what he/she wants you to do. Move slowly when reaching, so they have a chance to really see what exactly you are bringing out. If you have to get your registration, etc., tell them what you are doing before you do it, where you are reaching, and what for. A few might occasionally even ask you to slowly take out your weapon and place it on the hood, or whatever, so just slowly do it.
Make all moves slowly and tell them if you are going to move or reach for something, before you do it.
The stop should go just fine, and 99% of the cops on the road will be grateful for your understanding.
Some will say this is too much, and there's no need for all this forewarning and slow movements, etc. Remember, that cop likely doesn't know you, and probably hasn't gotten a return on your tag number yet to tell them if you are OK, or if you might be a wanted felon with 6 warrants from an adjacent state, for shooting cops. They don't know, yet, and they just want to go home, healthy, to mama and the kids that night, just like we do.
And Yes there is the occasional cop who completely over reacts, like this fellow did, and all one can do at that point is be quiet and follow instructions. The roadside is not the place to argue guilt.
I say all this from having been stopped more than my fair share of times ( LOL) and having had every single time go down without any sort of negativity at all (unless you count the one or two tickets I got as negativity - but I deserved them). I also say it from having been involved with a lot, probably hundreds, of traffic stops, while on the streets with officers.
Very little I know will give you the willies like having someone try to bounce out of a car, cackling like a nervous hen, when they are stopped ... especially at night.
Thousands of traffic stops happen every day. But nearly all end up with all parties unhurt, and going home that night in one piece. None is 'routine'. Being anything less than 110% alert gets people killed ... cops or innocent citizens.
In the video, I would have to say that this driver hurt the situation badly by just jumping out and starting toward the officer. That alone added dynamics to the situation that just didn't need to be interjected. He moved around, at normal speed, and never really indicated what he was doing or what for.
This officer happened to be one of the 'nervous nellie' types who actually probably shouldn't be on the street at all, or was having an extremely bad day that day. Cops have them too! LOL At any rate, the two together created a situation that could have been avoided, I believe. The cop was certainly way overboard in his reactions, but he should have just initially told the guy to get back in the vehicle, and stay there unless he was told otherwise. That could have avoided the problems too. And the driver should not have been ticketed. That was the officer's solution to something he himself had been largely responsible for creating, and was totally wrong. The cursing was way, way overboard.
Don't be leery though of carrying. And driving the speed limits will avoid most stops (And could I ever testify to that, as a natural born speed demon! ) . A stop though certainly doesn't have to get to the point this one did, by using common sense and treating the officer like you would want to be treated.
Sorry to be so long winded. |
