You’re driving to your destination, paying attention to the road, when you hear the sirens. Either way, you know what to expect: the general nervousness, the tense questions. But drivers and passengers have general citizen rights that police can’t violate, protecting you under state and/or federal laws. Knowing your rights can save you time, money and potential legal trouble.
We can research the law, helping you interpret what it means. But we’re not lawyers who can speak to your exact situation, and this article is not intended to be taken as legal advice. If you’re looking for legal assistance or have questions about a specific situation, contact a lawyer or other legal expert.
The rights of drivers and passengers that kick in after a traffic stop can vary by state laws, as can the legal outcomes of specific situations — such as a routine traffic stop that escalates to an arrest.
For example, an officer needs a reason, called “reasonable suspicion,” to pull you over in the first place. That can be anything from speeding or not signaling a turn to having expired plates or a broken tail light. And cops also need probable cause to search you or your car during a traffic stop.
Keep in mind a few key protections and how they apply if you’re stopped by police.
Randolph Rice
Owner/Attorney, Law Offices of Randolph Rice
- Pull over immediately.
- Try to get as far off the road as possible.
- Turn on your interior lights if you are stopped after dark.
- Keep your hands visible or place them on the steering wheel.
- Don’t make any furtive movements in the vehicle.
- Speak clearly with the police officer.
- Produce your driver’s license, proof of insurance and vehicle registration.
- You have a right to remain silent, so if you choose to invoke this right, do so in a respectful manner.
If you’re on a busy highway or on a dark part of the road with no other vehicles around, you aren’t required to stop on the roadside if you think it looks unsafe. That could mean avoiding stopping on a busy road, a dangerous street or narrow shoulder in favor of finding a well lit parking lot or the next highway exit.
That’s not to say you can drive on indefinitely with a police car trying to pull you over. But if you slow down and turn on your blinker or hazard lights, you have the right to proceed a short distance until you’re able to stop safely. Just indicate to the police officer that you’re trying to comply.
Typically, police officers require a reason to pull you over, like speeding or having a broken taillight. That’s typically called reasonable suspicion, or the cop suspects you’ve broken a driving law. The cop will most likely tell you why they pulled you over. If a cop asks you if you know why you were pulled over, you might consider simply asking why instead of admitting fault to avoid incriminating yourself.
During the stop, a cop might check your license and registration to make sure you’re legally allowed to drive. The officer might ask you questions to find out what happened, like if you know the speed limit on that road. If the officer decides there’s a driving infraction, the cop might write you a ticket or give you a warning, which is up to the cop’s discretion.
However, there’s also some grey area here. Just because the cop pulls you over or gives you a ticket doesn’t mean the cop is in the right. Maybe the light was actually yellow when your car was in the intersection, or the nearest speed limit sign had been knocked over. Or the cop might suspect your car is stolen because you’re driving in an area with a high risk of theft.
You can try to convince the cop you weren’t in the wrong, or you can fight the ticket later. Accepting the ticket doesn’t mean you’re accepting fault.
After an officer pulls you over, they will likely ask you a series of questions. If you feel that you have nothing to hide, cooperating with the police officer as much as possible could alleviate the tension and get you back on the road faster.
But the law supports your refusal to answer any or all of an officer’s questions, as long as you let the officer know that’s what you’re doing. Simply refusing to talk can make the situation more difficult, so you may need to verbally invoke the Fifth Amendment to remain silent. Some lawyers may also recommend asking if you’re free to go, or simply saying that you don’t need to answer any questions and would like your lawyer.
If asked to blow into a breathalyzer during a traffic stop, you’re allowed to refuse. However, refusing means that an officer has the right to take you to a police station or hospital, where you could be subject to a blood or urine test.
You can be arrested if you fail a field sobriety test, which could include demonstrating being able to walk in a straight line, for example. In most states, you do have the right to request a blood test at the hospital at your own expense within a reasonable amount of time, but you won’t be able to choose what kind of test the officer uses. Refusing to take any test will typically automatically come with a DUI charge and/or license suspension.
Taking or refusing the roadside breathalyzer test can have specific consequences that depend on your state and how much you’ve had to drink:
Lawyers frequently advise the public to blow into a breathalyzer during a traffic stop if an officer asks you to. A roadside breathalyzer typically won’t hold up in court as well as more controlled tests that take place in a hospital or police station. If your lawyer can prove that the roadside test was inaccurate or not administered correctly, it could work in your favor later.
What are the penalties of a DUI or DWI?
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If you see a police checkpoint ahead on the road, you’re required to stop if your vehicle is selected. Police officers typically don’t check every vehicle that comes through a checkpoint — it’s often every other vehicle or every third one — but if yours is selected, expect to present your driver’s license, proof of car insurance and car registration.
Using a dash cam can help you in certain scenarios during a police stop. No federal law outlaws dashcams, but take care not to run afoul of other laws in the process. For example, some states prohibit mounting anything on the windshield, including a dashcam, because it could possibly obstruct the driver’s view.
Other laws pertain to legal surveillance. Depending on the state you’re in and whether you live in a one party or two party consent state, it could be against the law to record the conversations of your passengers without explicitly announcing that you’re doing so. If you plan to use a dash camera or record a traffic stop, especially when it comes to encounters with law enforcement, it’s best to be above-board and transparent about any recording devices in use.
It’s also worth noting that while you’re legally allowed to record an encounter with on-duty police, and may want to do so if you think the recording can help you later, there have been cases where officers have arrested or pressed charges against civilians for recording them. These cases are typically made under the pretext of obstruction of justice or violating recording consent laws, and they’re almost always dismissed, but be aware of the possibility that police might arrest you for exercising your legal right to record.
Some police uniforms are outfitted with body cams. Typically these cameras must remain on, which could be a benefit or a detriment. On the plus side, every action is being recorded, so you can avoid a “he said, she said” situation later. On the down side, because they’re being watched, cops typically can’t let anything minor slide, like an expired tag or broken tail light.
But can you ask a cop to turn it off? The answer is probably no, since the camera is required to be on for traffic stops in most cities.
If an officer has a warrant to search your vehicle, you don’t have a choice — you’re legally required to allow them to.
But in several situations, police are allowed to search your vehicle even without a warrant. And you’re responsible for anything found in your car during a search, even if you don’t agree with the cause for the search.
Police must have probable cause to take a closer look at you or your vehicle, which means they must have a reason to believe you’re connected with a crime. Probable cause, however, is broad. It could be something as minor as an air freshener, for example — many states technically prohibit hanging anything from your rearview mirror if it can possibly hinder your view of the road ahead. Or maybe the officer who pulls you over suspects you were speeding because you had been drinking and wants to search your car for signs of alcohol.
A few common scenarios include:
After officers demonstrate probable cause, they can investigate anything suspicious they see, hear or smell in your car. They can also do a body search or check your backpack or purse if they suspect you’re hiding drugs or weapons, for both the driver and any passengers.
However, typically cops can’t check anything locked, including a glovebox or a password-locked phone.
Even if you don’t agree with a cop’s reason for pulling you over, or if the probable cause is thin, you’re still responsible for any fines or tickets as a result of the traffic stop. You’re also responsible for anything found in your car if police search your vehicle. That goes for passengers, too.
As soon as you see the sirens, slow down, put on your turn signal and pull over to a safe spot. Turn off any music or GPS, and turn on the light in your car if it’s dark out. Stay in your car unless the officer asks you to exit.
Keep your hands in plain sight or on the steering wheel, and ask any passengers to do the same for safety. If you’re extra cautious, sometimes it’s a good idea to wait until the officer asks for your license, insurance and registration before rifling through your glovebox. Otherwise a cop might think you’re looking for a weapon or stashing evidence.
Be polite and direct if the cop asks you questions. If the officer asks why they pulled you over, it’s often a good idea to say you don’t know. Otherwise you could be giving the cop evidence of exactly how fast you were going, for example, or admit to a traffic violation the cop isn’t aware of.
Gustavo Mayen
Lawyer and Sole Proprietor of the Law Office of Gustavo Mayen
Don’t move around in the vehicle before the police officer gets to you. Wait until the officer arrives to the car, then when he/she asks you for license and registration, let them know where it is at, and ask if you can reach for it. For the most part, the officer is only trying to do his/her job, and their own safety is paramount, so do not give them a reason for them to become more careful of your actions.
Another thing people should not do is offer information that has not been requested, or try to explain themselves in certain situations, as these statements could be used against them if the stop becomes a criminal case or even a civil case if it is something like excessive speeding.
When the police put your license plate info in their database, they can see basic info about the car and driver, including the car’s make and model and info available on your driver’s license. The main reason cops check plates is to see if the driver has any current or outstanding driving or criminal charges, such as a suspended license or arrest warrant.
Cops can also pull up info about the driver who registered the vehicle, including license status. That means a cop can pull you over and see you have an expired license or a restricted license. They can also pull your plate numbers before pulling you over and stop you because they see your license is expired.
Don’t try to argue once the ticket is written, even if you don’t agree with why you received the ticket or think the officer behaved incorrectly. Sign the ticket and keep it for reference. You can pull back into traffic safely once the officer lets you know the process is over. You can still fight the ticket in court later, even if it’s a serious offense or you have no proof you were in the right. And it might be a good idea to fight it, since getting a speeding ticket could raise your insurance rates.
Occasionally, an officer stops a driver for a minor traffic violation and then goes beyond the legal limits to investigate the situation. In these cases, the driver becomes a victim of the officer’s abuse of power.
If this happens to you, you can often pursue legal action or file a civil suit against the officer, the police department, the city or even the state.
Not every police officer performing a traffic stop, vehicle search or other investigation is worth going to court over. But if you feel that you are the victim of an especially bad stop in which a law enforcement officer acted unreasonably or crossed a line, consult with a lawyer to see what your options are.
A well-publicized case of a traffic stop that severely violated a driver’s rights involved a driver who was stopped by police for failing to heed a stop sign. One of the officers ordered the driver out of the vehicle on the suspicion that he was hiding drugs on his body.
Based on that suspicion, officers obtained a search warrant and took the driver to a medical center, where he received invasive bodily searches throughout the night — all of which failed to find any drugs. He was released in the morning, after police concluded they had nothing to charge him with.
As a result of his serious invasion of privacy and emotional stress, the driver filed a civil suit against the police department that was eventually settled for $1.6 million in the victim’s favor.
Ambrosio Rodriguez
Attorney, owner and founding partner of the Rodriguez Law Group
The police can’t just pull you over because they feel like it. An officer must have what’s known as “reasonable suspicion” to suspect that you’ve committed a crime or broken the law in some way. So, they either have to have seen you break the law (e.g., witnessed you speeding or running a stop sign) or observe facts that, when considered together, raise a reasonable belief that something is wrong (e.g., observing your inability to maintain your lane of traffic).
If an officer cannot provide a legitimate reason for why you were pulled over – or if their reason sounds really far-fetched – it’s essential to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as you can. If you’re arrested or charged with a crime, your attorney can review your case, determine if your rights were violated, and petition the court to get evidence or your case thrown out.
While nothing can guarantee a smooth interaction with law enforcement during a traffic stop, you can protect yourself legally and increase the chances of a favorable outcome by knowing your rights and allowable actions as a citizen. If you’re in doubt about the law or a specific situation involving the police, talk with a lawyer or your car insurance agent who can direct you toward the best course of action.
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How many days do you have to get your vehicle after the cops put an orange sticker in the window
Hi Brad,
Thanks for your comment and I hope you are doing well.
As it says on the FAQ section of our page, You have 24 to 72 hours to move your car before it’s towed. But if it’s parked in a dangerous location for other drivers, it could be towed immediately. If you don’t move it in time, you’ll receive a letter from the DMV to the address where the car is registered with info on where the car was towed and how to get it back.
Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to us again for further assistance.
Best,
Nikki
In Oregon can a cop pull you over only for suspicion of expired insurance
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your comment and I hope you are doing well.
Cops can’t just randomly stop you and check your insurance if it’s expired. They need a reason, or “probable cause,” like speeding or a broken tail light to do so. Nonetheless, it is always important to not let your car insurance expire, since when a cop pulls you over the always ask for license, insurance and registration before rifling through your glovebox.
Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to us again for further assistance.
Best,
Nikki