How to Try to Talk Your Way Out of Traffic Tickets
It seems to only happen at the worst times, you are late for work, rushing to pick up the kids, or late for an appointment and suddenly you hear a siren, see lights, and know you have been caught. People are pulled over every day for speeding or some other traffic violation, but not all of them drive away with a ticket. Talking your way out of traffic tickets does not always work, but it is always worth a try.
What everyone has to remember is that first, the officer is doing their job. They are not pulling you over just for the fun of it, they are doing it because you were doing something wrong or at least they think you were. Therefore, you need to be respectful of that and to them, just as you want your customers and clients to be respectful to you when you are doing your job.
When you see the lights, pull over as soon as you can, and on the right side of the road. After you have pulled over immediately turn off the engine, music, remove your sunglasses, roll your window down, and place both hands on the steering wheel. Being in this position will put the officer at ease, because they have to think about their safety also.
Sit in this position until the officer is at your window. Do not reach for any paperwork before asked, as any sudden movements will put them on guard. When asked, hand over your license and registration with a big smile on your face and make eye contact with them while doing so.
The officer will ask you if you know why they pulled you over, so be honest. There is no reason to argue or lie; you have been caught, so fess up. However, act contrite and apologetic when admitting that you were probably going a little faster than you realized. This is a good time to say something like you were paying attention to the traffic around you rather than watching your speed, and apologize and admit you were wrong.
Being argumentative, sarcastic or a jerk will only guarantee you a ticket. The friendlier you are, the more receptive the officer will be to what you say. Make sure you are smiling and being polite, use the word sir or 'mam when you are speaking with them. Let them reprimand you without getting angry. They are an authority figure and they need to impose that authority, better it is with words than a ticket.
The key is to keep the officer distracted from writing the ticket. If they seem open to it, engage in small talk or some kind of conversation with them. You can try to ask for a warning or even a lesser charge that will not affect the points on your license. Remember though, you have to keep them talking, once they write the ticket there is no going back, he cannot tear it up when done.
Traffic tickets are not the worst things in the world, but they can be costly and they can be a pain. Avoiding tickets is not always easy, sometimes you do not pay attention as well as you should or are distracted. That is why it is a good idea to try to talk your way out of one by being respectful and friendly; the only think you have to lose is paying a ticket later.
"How to Try to Talk Your Way Out of Traffic Tickets", was submitted 02/15/2012 under category Legal.
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