stand up for your rights but be kind too
A slightly modified suggestion to deal with police: be kind to them too.
Police have a very stressful job. Each stop their main concern is that they will go home safe to their own family that night. That may sound strange but remember they dont usually deal with peaceful kayaker type people.
My suggestion to my own kids is to be kind to them by defusing their stress about you. If they pull you over, all the standard things apply:
keep your hands on the wheel until asked,
if you can, turn on the interior ights and leave them on,
if they ask for registration, say that its in the glove box and you will have to get it,
open the glove box let them see there isnt a gun there then find it and leave the box open,
be respectful not angry
if they seem angry remember you dont know what the pevious 6 stops acted like and they are young men full of testerone too,
if they act like asses, take a deep breath they can still grow as a person with help
I even ask when they walk up if its a safe enough place for them or if I could pull over more
if they ask to look in the car say something like:
no disrespect to you officer because i know you do a hard job. but I dont agree, if you search I wont resist but you will search without my consent .
if they caught you speeding, dont argue. I just say
"Sorry officer. you got me-I was on my way home to my family after a long trip and was just impatient to get there."
I've had a officer let me off with a warning in sommersville WV and another in inner city atlanta actually apologized for the way he spoke initially. Even if not, you have done the right thing.
When older people are interviewed about their regrets 2 are common: they regret not trying X and they wish they had been kinder.
Stand up for your rights but remember the young guy in the uniform is just doing what he has been trained to do and might be scared too.
Bill
