Whenever you encounter a police officer, you have rights. This applies to everything from being accused of a crime to simply being pulled over for a traffic ticket. Officers have rules they must adhere to when making traffic stops, and all California drivers should be aware of what the police cannot ask them when they are stopped.
- Signing a Ticket Shows You Are Guilty
The officer should inform you that when you sign the citation, you are not admitting guilt. By signing, you are simply agreeing to handle the ticket or to appear in court with your traffic ticket attorney at the appropriate time.
- You Were Pulled Over for No Reason
If the police officer does not have a valid reason for pulling you over, also known as probable cause, then they are in the wrong for stopping you. They must have seen something obvious, such as you speeding, a license plate light out or reckless driving to stop you.
- You Must Let Them Search Your Car
You are not required to let an officer search your car, except in three situations:
- You have given consent
- You are already under arrest
- There is something illegal in obvious view to the officer
An officer can’t search your vehicle simply because they want to, and if you are told that, you should relay the information to your traffic ticket lawyer Los Angeles when you go to court.
- You Must Get Out of Your Car
This situation can be tricky, because an officer cannot force you to get out of your car, but you may be given something bigger than a traffic citation if you refuse. Most officers want voluntary compliance in almost every situation, so the best advice is to stay calm and be respectful.
- Turn Off Your Camera
You have every right to record your interactions with an officer. This can help you to stop the situation from escalating and to reconstruct the situation later. An officer cannot require you to stop recording during a traffic stop.
If you feel you were treated unfairly during a traffic stop and want the advice of a knowledgeable professional, contact The Ticket Clinic today.
