Know Your Rights: Navigating Traffic Stops Safely
Traffic stops. Let’s talk about them. Hi, my name is Carl Birkhead. I’m a Tulsa DUI attorney with Wirth Law Office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’ve been practicing family and criminal law for almost eight years now, and I want to help you make law easy by talking a little bit about just what to do and how to handle yourself if you find yourself being pulled over by the police.
I’ve addressed this before, but I wanted to revisit it with a fresh perspective, especially after seeing a few recent cases where clients were arrested for driving under the influence — and some even faced additional charges due to their interactions with the police during the stop. So, let’s talk about how to handle a police stop, especially if you’re pulled over and might have something in your system.
Essential Tips for Handling a Police Stop
First and foremost, the best advice is simple: don’t drive under the influence. I’ll say it again — an Uber is much cheaper than hiring a bondsman and attorney to get you out of a DUI situation. But if you find yourself in that situation, here’s how to handle it.
Be respectful to the officer. Have your license and insurance ready — most officers will accept a digital copy of your insurance, but it’s a good idea to have a physical copy just in case. When speaking to the officer, stay calm and polite.
I recently had a client who wouldn’t engage with the officer at all, refusing to answer questions and staring straight ahead. I get that you don’t want to say anything that could incriminate you, but being completely uncooperative can make things worse. In this case, my client’s refusal to interact just escalated the situation. He was even pulled out of the car after refusing to exit when asked. The more you make the officer work, the less they’ll be willing to cooperate.
Protecting Your Rights During Traffic Stops
It’s important to protect your rights, but also remain respectful. You can decline to answer certain questions without being rude — like Have you had anything to drink? A simple “I’m not going to answer that” is fine, but keep it respectful.
If you’ve had a bad experience during a traffic stop or just need advice on how to handle these situations, give us a call. We can help!
Schedule Your Low-Cost Initial Strategy Session
My name is Carl Birkhead. I’m a Tulsa criminal attorney with Wirth Law Office, and I want to help you make law easy. If you have any questions or need immediate assistance regarding a traffic stop or DUI incident, call us at 918-879-1681 to schedule a low-cost initial strategy session. We’re here to assist you with your legal needs.
