By Joey Krieg, Business Manager
You wake up late and need to be at school in 10 minutes. You can make it, but you have to hurry. You’re getting close to the school and you notice a car pull out behind you. The blue and red lights shine and you’re on the highway unsure of where to go.
Where’s the best place to pull over? And what do you do next?
First, look for a safe place to turn into, whether that be a parking lot or down a side street. If there’s nowhere else to go, pull off to the side of the road as far as possible. Generally, it’s best to pull over to a place where the officer won’t be in danger while at your window.
The officer will input your license plate into a system that will bring up the owner’s name and information. From there, the officer can put your information into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIC) and see who he or she is dealing with.
“Other than activating my lights, I call it in, tell dispatch where I’m going to be at and what plate information I have on the vehicle,” Southern Shores Police Officer Joshua Liverman said.
While the police officer is doing this, it is important that you stay calm and try not to look as if you are grabbing at something, because this may cause the officer to feel unsafe. Don’t reach for your registration until the officer asks for it.
“If they’re digging around or anything like that, I’m going to treat it differently than if someone is just sitting there patiently waiting,” Liverman said.
Next, the officer will come to your window and ask for your license and registration. The officer will tell you the reason he or she stopped you and may even give you an opportunity to explain your reasoning for your specific violation.
“Once I get that information, I’ll run them for warrants and check the status of their license,” Liverman said. “From there I can issue them a ticket or give them a warning.”
If you do not have your license on you, which is illegal, the officer will simply ask for your name to check if you actually have a valid license.
In some cases, the officer may give you a fine or court date for driving without your license, but if you’re lucky, he or she will write you off with a warning. Sometimes, the officer may not even give you a warning, just remind you to always keep your license with you at all times.
Registration, on the other hand, is another story. Your registration is a way to prove you have insurance on your car. It also proves that you or a family member own the car and that it is not stolen.
If you get pulled over without your registration, things will probably not go so well. Driving without registration is a criminal offense and a Class 3 misdemeanor in North Carolina.
Your car could also be towed or impounded and worst of all, if you miss your court date for this type of charge, you will have a warrant for your arrest.
If you have the necessary materials, the officer will bring them to the cruiser and do further checks on you. Then the officer will come back to your window and explain what course of action they’re taking regarding your violation.
Ultimately, when getting pulled over, it’s best to stay calm and cooperative with the officer. Doing this will likely reduce consequences.
Senior Joey Krieg can be reached at 22kriegjo52@daretolearn.org.
