Remember when you were a child or young adult and the police seemed nice? Of course. Of course, we were taught that the only reason to have police officers was to “protect and serve” the communities they patrolled. There was no reason not to trust that they would do just that. Elementary school administrators told us, “If you’re ever in trouble, always go to a police officer for help.” Cops were almost always portrayed in movies and on the news as the good guys who showed up to save the day at the last minute.
Guy! Those were the days. Now, with daily or near-daily reports of police officers frowned upon for numerous heinous acts, it sure makes you long for the days when you felt safe in their presence. In addition to recent news reports of law enforcement violence, the reasons for this change are numerous and I’m not sure they are all clearly definable.
The saturation of the media with such negative events is undoubtedly the biggest perpetrator of imbuing much of the population not only with unfavorable opinions, but with frank indignation towards law enforcement in general. The media allows almost all tragic events, especially those that are hyper-sensational, to be broadcast on our televisions, radios, smartphones, and computers, sometimes within minutes, thus inundating others with these often horrific events. It makes it difficult to discern whether more of these events are occurring or simply coming under increased scrutiny. I’m certainly not “blaming” the media in general, but I am amazed at the seemingly endless thirst for open tabloid journalism.
The media is just one aspect that has contributed to what appears to be a growing state of confrontation between law enforcement and many citizens. It seems like years ago when a police officer stopped a driver there was a level of nervousness because officers were seen as authority figures and no one likes to “get in trouble” with authority figures. These days, most drivers still experience nervousness, but it’s more likely because they don’t know if they’re being pulled over by one of these rogue cops we hear so often about, therefore fearing that a simple traffic stop could turn in something. much more serious.
This restraint is surely felt on both sides. With all of the national attention that has been directed at law enforcement agencies in nearly every state, it’s only natural that, for the most part, they’re closing ranks. This could explain the less than friendly behavior drivers encounter when pulled over for a simple traffic stop. Of course, dealing with excuse after excuse all day about why drivers commit the violations they do could also be a factor. As the saying goes, there’s nothing new under the sun, and that’s true of the reasons cops listen to drivers who have broken the law. It’s understandable how this can make an officer tired after they’ve been on the job for a while.
The police violence that has been reported of late, and the us-versus-them mentality that often grows over time in certain police officers, makes it more important than ever that if you are pulled over, you follow all directives from the police officer. Rather than follow his directives, don’t forget that now is a good time to remember your manners. Be courteous, be concise, but don’t talk yourself out of a traffic ticket by being argumentative or having a chip on your shoulder. Please NEVER answer questions like “Do you know why I stopped you?” because you may end up condemning yourself for a simple and innocent answer. You should try to keep in mind that the chances of you talking your way out of a traffic ticket are slim to none.
If they issue you a traffic ticket, regardless of the offense you were charged with, say thank you. Be very careful when you start to make sure you do it safely and slowly. Kicking up gravel or recklessly backing into traffic will only give you a reason to stop you again and issue you another traffic ticket. It can be hard not to respond aggressively, especially if you don’t feel like the fine was justified, but the last thing you should do is make your situation worse.
Getting a traffic ticket is never a planned event, so no one is necessarily prepared when pulled over. Certainly no one anticipates the upset that will arise from this event. In all the years I’ve been a traffic ticket attorney, I’ve never heard a single traffic ticket recipient say, “You know, I was expecting this, so I put away several hundred dollars to pay fines, court costs, and increased the insurance rate that I am surely facing”.
Although fines and penalties can vary widely, traffic violations are always expensive. This makes it difficult for some people to understand why they should add the cost of hiring a traffic ticket attorney to something that can become as expensive as traffic tickets. The answer is simple, especially if you are one of those drivers who receives traffic tickets quite frequently or, worse, one of those drivers who has a hard time accepting them with kindness.
Expenses from multiple traffic tickets tend to add up quickly; therefore, they tend to offset the cost of traffic ticket attorney fees. This is usually a fairly cheap flat rate for many violations. Also, if you are one of those who are outraged when they receive a traffic ticket, chances are good that the officer will remember your face and the traffic stop when they appear in court. The better he remembers you, the greater the chance that he can prove his case against you.
Let’s face it, most of the time the deck is already stacked against you when you go to court to fight a traffic ticket. What better way to try to beat those odds than to have an experienced traffic ticket attorney on your side? If you have received a traffic ticket for any type of violation, call us at 954-967-9888 for a free consultation.