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Traffic Tickets

5 tips on what to do if you get pulled over

Was I speeding? Did I renew my tags?… Your blood pressure spikes as the officer steps towards your car. While there’s no doubt that getting pulled over is a stressful and unpleasant experience (to put it mildly), there are steps we can take to ensure our safety and to minimize conflict when stopped by law enforcement.

These tips can help you think clearly and calmly handle your encounter with the police.

 

When pulled over, DO…

  1. Pull over in a place that is safe for you AND the police officer.  If you can’t do that immediately, signal to the police officer by putting on your hazard lights, so the officer knows you know you’re being pulled over. Make sure that you put your car in park and turn off the engine. Lower your window. You want to show the officer that you are willing to cooperate. Cooperation is not an admission of guilt.
  2. Leave your seatbelt on so the officer can see you are wearing it. You do not want to add another fine for failure to wear your seatbelt. Remember that in Louisiana, passengers in both the front and back seat must also wear their seatbelts.
  3. Have your driver’s license, insurance, and registration ready. Police officers have to worry about weapons in the vehicle, so digging through pockets, purses, and glove boxes as the officer approaches your car can unnecessarily raise the alarm and lead to conflict.
  4. Remain calm. Keep your hands on the wheel or where the officer can see them. Let the officer do the talking. They may ask for your license and address, or not tell you right away why they stopped you. Remain polite; answer questions or commands with, “Sure” or “Of course.” Getting pulled over is often an exercise of patience and self-discipline. Don’t let your ego get into the way, even if you disagree with the reason for being pulled over– there will be time argue against the ticket after..
  5. Don’t try to argue or fight the ticket with the officer on the side of the road. Dignity wounded, you may feel that the situation is unjust, but sweet talking or arguing with the police puts you at risk. Don’t incriminate yourself.  The more you say, the more that can be used against you. It is far better to accept the ticket, and resolve the matter by hiring an experienced attorney to fight your traffic ticket.

 

While they may seem like a slap on the wrist, traffic tickets cause you more harm than you may realize. In addition to having to pay the ticket, your insurance rates can increase. Failure to pay the ticket on time or appear in traffic court can result in a suspended drivers license. Hiring a traffic ticket attorney, can help alleviate the stress and financial damage that citations incur. Attorneys work to make sure your traffic ticket is dealt with efficiently and in a timely manner.

At Crescent City Law, we know the strain traffic tickets can place on your pocketbook if you don’t hire an experienced New Orleans traffic ticket attorney.  Having years of experience in representing people with traffic tickets, speeding tickets, moving violations, etc. gives us the leverage and skills to fight for you. We remain committed to focusing on you and your case; we take your case personally.

If you want to fight your speeding ticket, contact Crescent City Law Firm to learn about your options or submit your ticket online by clicking here.

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