08/15/2024
From Tim Schmidt, USCCA Chairman & Co-Founder
Do you want to know what would absolutely grate on me as a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop…
Especially if you concealed carry?
What would almost certainly make me issue you a ticket right there on the spot instead of letting you go with a simple verbal warning?
There are 7 things you can do that will immediately make a law enforcement officer want to give you a ticket or cause things to spin out of control FAST…
Even causing you to put your life in danger!
I call them the 7 Deadly Sins of a Traffic Stop.
Here they are, listed from least serious to downright deadly.
#7: Initiating the conversation
If I were to approach your vehicle, don’t ask, “What’s wrong?”...
Or, “May I ask why you pulled me over?”
If you get pulled over, the officer will let you know or else ask you.
#6: Acting Agitated
Maybe you’re late for work or an important event, or are trying to catch a flight…
Or it’s night and the squad car’s “takedown lights” are blinding you…
Don’t let it get to you.
Understand that remaining cool and calm will get you on your way as quickly as possible.
That said, if you’re having a real emergency, say so.
#5: Arguing, getting defensive, or being disrespectful
Look, almost all officers have what they call “officer discretion”. In simple terms, what that means is this:
An officer can decide whether or not to issue you a “ticket” – or else to let you go with a simple written or verbal “warning” for the infraction.
On the other hand, if you argue or act disrespectfully, it makes it very difficult for an officer NOT to exercise his or her duty to issue you a ticket.
So far, I’ve talked about the things that will likely result in your getting a ticket.
But what about the innocent things you can do that will endanger your life or even get you killed?
# 4: Rummaging through your vehicle
You may think you’re helping out by being ready to present your license, registration, and proof of insurance, but this is NOT the time.
In fact, when you’re seen by the police reaching for your glove compartment or digging through your center console - before you’ve been instructed to do so – they’re wondering if you’re going for a weapon.
You will have time to retrieve your license, registration, and proof of insurance, later, when asked to do so.
And, by all means, if you carry concealed and your weapon’s in your vehicle near your paperwork, you’ll absolutely want to let the officer know beforehand.
But the next most dangerous thing you can do is even worse…
# 3: Opening your door or attempting to get out of your vehicle
You may be thinking that getting out of your vehicle to greet the officer is a neighborly act…
But opening your door will almost always be viewed by the officer as an act of aggression (or an attempt to flee)…
Needless to say, this could immediately put you in grave danger.
Instead, when you are pulled over, simply remain calm and wait to be told what to do.
But worse still is…
# 2: Making quick movements
If you make any sudden movements…
If you quickly reach into your center console…
Or decide to get comfortable by adjusting your waistband…
Really doing anything but sitting still, with your hands visible, waiting for the officer to give you instructions – could easily be misperceived…
Greatly increasing the likelihood of potentially tragic results.
And that brings me to the last, and by far the worst, of the Traffic Stop’s 7 Deadly Sins…
And this will apply to you if you are carrying a weapon or have it somewhere in the vehicle…
# 1: Showing or touching your gun
Even if your intentions are completely innocent!
Here’s what I need you to understand:
Police spend most of their shift with suspicious people whose intentions are not always good…
Some of whom wouldn’t hesitate to shoot an officer if given a chance.
The officer who pulled you over is not necessarily expecting to deal with salt-of-the-earth people like you.
In fact, they need to presume that they’re dealing with a potentially dangerous person in every encounter…
It’s what helps keep them alive to return home to their family at the end of their shift.
If you found this helpful, I’d encourage you to share this message with your friends and family, especially if they conceal carry.
Take care and stay safe,
Tim Schmidt
USCCA Chairman & Co-Founder
1-855-388-4075 [24/7]
