A Minnesota police officer needs a reasonable cause to pull a motorist over. “Reasonable cause” is a broad term that basically refers to a prudent estimation based on facts and circumstances. For instance, if a police officer sees a vehicle drifting over the centerline, it constitutes “reasonable cause” to make a traffic stop.
Some motorists make the mistake of trying to gain the upper hand in such situations, which can wind up making matters worse. In fact, there are several things that anyone who has been detained in a traffic stop should avoid doing at all costs. Doing any of these things might cause a traffic stop to take a turn for the worse.
Never try to joke the way out of a traffic stop
If a police officer believes that a driver is not taking a traffic stop seriously, things are not likely to go well. There is nothing funny about getting pulled over, especially if the officer in question suspects a driver of intoxication. It is best to cooperate in a serious and respectful manner. Flippant comments, such as, “You work for me,” or “I demand to know what I have been pulled over for,” are also not the way to go if a driver is trying to obtain the best outcome possible in a traffic stop.
Lying is bound to land a driver in hot water
It is better to invoke one’s Fifth Amendment right to remain quiet than to lie to a police officer during a traffic stop. For instance, if a person drank alcohol before getting behind the wheel, and a patrol officer asks if he or she has been drinking, it is better to decline to answer than to lie. If a traffic stop winds up leading to an arrest for suspected DWI or another crime, an experienced criminal law attorney can make recommendations regarding what type of plea to enter and can provide strong support throughout the adjudication process.