While many of us would agree that police officers make us feel safer, none of us really want to meet one on the road. Police officers duties include looking for suspicious behavior while on the road, so if you are making a statement or being distracting with your vehicle, there are some strong odds that you might attract a visit from a police officer. Here are 10 tips to help you avoid a run in with the law:
1. Avoid speeding. 100,000 people receive speeding citations daily; speeding is both dangerous and a violation of the law. If you persist, someday you'll most likely will get caught and be required to pay a fine. Also, if you live in Los Angeles and receive a ticket for speeding, authorities give an option of taking an online traffic school course which may be a hassle. Also, according to both primary and secondary state laws, if an officer pulls you over for speeding he may legally search your car which might bring up other infractions.
2. A flashy car may cause attention. Expensive add-ons such as mufflers, decals, or special paint jobs can make a car incredibly easy to spot. Among all the cars that are driving on the road, a car with detailed improvements stands out the most.
3. Tinted windows should be up to state regulations. According to one source, windows located in the front of the car should have a 70 percent light capacity. Also, only the first four inches of the window is allowed to be tinted.
4. Keep bumpers stickers to a minimum. Police officers may believe that certain logos or bumpers stickers are associated with suspicious illegal activity; they are allowed to pull you over if they believe they have probable cause; some police officers may also pull a vehicle over due to a political sticker.
5. Don't drive while conversing. Every 11 seconds someone makes a phone call. If you make one in the car, most states validate it as illegal behavior; many states have also banned texting behind the wheel. If you'd like to make a call while driving, there are other lawful options to pursue; hand held devices are legal in most states and provide a means of talking while driving.
6. Keep your vehicle in good condition. Some may not see the correlation between not getting pulled over and car maintenance, but police officers do not only assign speeding violations: they are also allowed to assign fix it tickets. If there is a problem with your car that is noticeable enough to attract attention, then you're in jeopardy of being pulled over. Fix the problem as soon as possible and bring your car to a trusted mechanic. Sometimes there are certain maintenance problems that take more time than money; a good alternative is to visit your local car repair shop and fix it yourself.
7. Avoid driving aggressively. Many drivers face problems of anger while driving. This can be hazardous to yourself and those around you; police officers are trained to keep the road safe for its citizen and aggressive drivers are a big risk. Try giving yourself extra time in the morning before you drive to work or school and try to be courteous to others.
8. Avoid all possibilities by commuting. Have you considered taking a bus or commuting with others? The point is that there are no possibilities of a fine if you are not operating the vehicle. If you have a problem with road rage, this might be a valid solution.
9. Buckle up. A police officer can easily spot someone who isn't wearing a seatbelt; make sure you buckle up or risk being pulled over and getting a ticket.
10. Pay your registration. If you do not have an updated sticker on your plates, a cop can pull you over anywhere; an intersection or a congested road makes this visible to any authorities who are patrolling the area.