Sometimes, when you are concentrating on the road in front of you and driving peacefully, you might suddenly hear sirens from the car behind you. Although you might not have exhibited erratic driving behaviors or committed any crime, the police might ask you to pull over.
Even though you cannot legally deny stopping, you can always know your rights before being questioned by the police to avoid being unlawfully arrested or fined. If you do not stop when asked to, regardless of the reason you present to the cops, it will be used as a defense when you are charged for not wanting to stop. You could contact a dui attorney if you were charged with Driving Under the Influence.
When can you get pulled over?
The police must prove they had an objective basis to pull you over. They need reasonable suspicion to claim that you or a passenger in your vehicle have committed a crime. They cannot pull you over just because they feel you are committing or have committed a crime. Sometimes, you can be asked to stop to check if you are sober at checkpoints.
In the end, a police officer can stop you only if they have proof that you committed a crime. For example, even if you break a minor traffic law, you can be asked to stop.
Is it a crime if I refuse to stop?
To answer the question simply and straightforwardly, yes. You might think at the time that you committed no traffic violation or have not done anything wrong in the past. So you might question if you should pull over or not. You should, regardless of whether you feel the cops are asking you to stop for no reason.
You should not lead the police on a high-speed chase, no matter the circumstances. If you feel the car behind you with the police lights is not really occupied by cops, you can contact 911 immediately to confirm that. If you do not wish to do that, you can safely and calmly drive to the nearest police station for your safety. You can also switch on your hazard lights to move to an area with better lighting or more people, although you can be charged with a misdemeanor if you refuse to stop instantly.
Rights you are entitled to when pulled over
- You can delay stopping until you feel it is a safe area.
- You can take videos, photographs, or audio recordings of your encounter.
- You are not obligated to take a breath test to check your sobriety.
- You have the right to remain silent.
Just stay calm and do not lose your temper or composure, no matter how tense the situation might get. You can always contact an attorney if you believe your rights are not being observed.
