Traffic stops are nerve-racking and can induce anxiety in even the calmest of drivers. Although nobody wants to be pulled over, it is vital to your legal rights (not to mention your finances) that you understand how the process normally proceeds. It begins with knowing a few of the most common questions that you can expect from law enforcement during a stop.
If you’ve been ticketed or arrested during a traffic stop, we strongly advise that you retain legal counsel right away. This is where The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers comes in. We can examine the circumstances of your ticket and help seek the best possible resolution of it.
Questions You Should Expect If You get Pulled Over
Knowing the questions you are likely to receive from a police officer will help you protect your rights during a traffic stop. Some examples include:
- Questions about your license, registration, and proof of insurance: Law enforcement is allowed to ask you this standard question, and you are required under New York law to produce these documents. It is best that you do not argue or debate the matter, but simply comply.
- Questions about your activities prior to the stop: The police may ask you where you are coming from or where you are going. You are not obligated to answer anything basic identifying questions, so you should simply respond with, “I wish to remain silent.”
- Questions about your speed or driving behavior: The officer may ask you something along the lines of, “Do you know how fast you were going?” or “Do you know that you ran a red light?” Again, you do not have to answer these questions and should decline to do so.
- Questions about field sobriety and breathalyzer tests: If the officer suspects you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they may request you to take these tests. While you do not have to take a field sobriety test, you must submit to a breathalyzer or the DMV will suspend your license.
- Questions about searching your vehicle: The officer may ask for consent to search your vehicle, which you should not give. Your refusal to consent will not necessarily stop the officer if they believe they have reasonable cause, but you can potentially challenge the search and its results in court.
What To Do if You Are Stopped or Arrested in New York
If the police flash their lights while you are driving, follow these steps:
- Pull over safely and out of the flow of traffic
- Keep your hands visible (e.g. place them on the steering wheel) and do not start reaching for items unless and until the officer instructs you to do so
- Produce your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance upon the officer’s request
- At all times, avoid furtive movements
- Assert your right to remain silent for questions that concern anything besides your identification
If you are arrested you should remain calm, avoid resisting, politely refuse to answer the officer’s questions, and request an attorney. The prosecution may use anything you say or do at this point against you in court, so proceed with caution.
After Getting a Ticket, Get in Touch With Us
Unsure how to best handle your traffic ticket or arrest? Let the team at The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers represent you and work towards a positive outcome. Call or contact us today to get started.
