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“All Citizens are Equal before Law and are Entitled to Equal Protection of Law”-Article 27 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
 



Issue No: 228
July 23, 2011

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For your information

What to do during traffic stops

When you first see the police car
Pull over quickly and safely, letting the police officer know you understand and are complying. Use your signals and pull as far to the left shoulder as you can. Your goal is to calm down a potentially high strung officer and make it clear that you understand he is in control. By pulling over quickly, you can also be close to the scene where the officer claims you committed a violation. This allows you to review the scene to evaluate the truthfulness of the officer's allegation and look for potential defenses such as obstructed views.

Right after you are stopped
Always be polite during traffic stops, even if the officer is aggressive. You have little to lose by being polite and a lot to lose by being belligerent. Roll down your window, turn off the engine and place your hands on the steering wheel. If it is night time, turn on your interior light. Do not reach for documentation: officers are trained to spot driver's reaching for hidden items, or stashing items, and it is likely an officer may misinterpret your actions.

Don't give the officer an excuse to search your car
Although police officers are normally not allowed to search your car during traffic stops, it's easy to give the officer a valid reason to search your car if you're not careful. Once the officer shines his spotlight on your car, the officer is watching you closely for any suspicious movements. For instance, if an officer observes you trying to hide or throw something out of the window, the officer may legally search your car. If you appear to hunch down in your seat, the officer may reasonably believe you're hiding something under the seat. Be calm, don't make sudden or suspicious movements and don't reach for anything until the officer asks you to.

Only get out of your car if the police officer asks
You should not get out of your car unless the police officer asks you to. Again, you want to avoid antagonizing the officer and communicate that you understand he is in control. Officers are trained to expect the worst, and if you suddenly exit the vehicle, the officer is trained to think you're either going to fight or flee.

If an officer asks you to exit the vehicle, you should do so calmly and carefully, with no sudden movements. Exiting the vehicle may give you the opportunity to better survey the scene to verify the officer's allegations.

Talking to the police officer
Let the officer do most of the talking. Don't interrupt, don't be argumentative, and don't say anything that the officer can record and use against you. This means when an officer asks you questions such as "do you know why I stopped you", you should respond "no". If the officer asks you "do you know how fast you were going", you should simply answer "yes". Officers are trained to let you incriminate yourself by letting you admit to violations or admit that you were careless or negligent. If required, give noncommittal responses such as "ok" or "I see". Be polite, but don't give the officer anything - it's his job to prove your guilt.

Source: findlaw.com

 

 
 
 
 


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