Traffic stop card

Before the officer arrives

• Signal, pull over to a safe spot on the right and turn off the engine.
• Turn on the interior light if it is dark.
• Start recording before the officer reaches your window, if you can do it safely.
• Lower your window part or all of the way.
• Place both hands on the steering wheel where they can be seen.
• Leave your license and papers where they are until the officer asks for them.
• Ask passengers to stay calm and keep their hands visible.

During the stop

• Stay calm and polite, and keep your voice even.
• Tell the officer before you reach for anything, and say where it is.
• Hand over your license, registration and proof of insurance when asked.
• Follow lawful orders, including an order to step out of the car.
• If you choose not to answer questions, say so calmly and clearly.
• If you do not consent to a search, say “I do not consent to searches” calmly.
• Never physically resist, argue or try to leave, even if you think the stop is wrong.
• Ask “Am I free to go?” calmly once the officer seems finished.
• Sign a ticket if your state requires it; signing is usually not an admission of guilt.

After the stop

• Pull back into traffic only when it is safe.
• Write down the officer’s name, badge number, agency and the time and place.
• Save the recording and add notes while your memory is fresh.
• Check the deadline on your ticket the same day.
• Consider talking with a lawyer if you were searched, arrested or charged with a crime.

General information, not legal advice. Laws differ by state. Invoked · invokedapp.com