What The Ky State Police Wants You To Know About Traffic Stops

Have you ever been pulled over? There are several very important things that officers want you to know about traffic stops and how you can help keep them and yourself safe.

DO'S AND DON'TS OF BEING PULLED OVER

This is a safe space people most of us have probably been pulled over at least once in our life. If I'm being honest I don't have enough fingers and toes to count how many times I have been pulled over. Yet here I am legally driving a vehicle and still insured. There are a lot of things I wish I would have known before I started driving.

CANVA

Do make sure to pull all the way off the road to keep you and the officer safe.
Don't make a lot of movement in your vehicle after you've stopped. Officers often check the car before approaching to see if there is a lot of movement. Always have your license, registration, and proof of insurance in an easy to get to place.
Do keep your hands where the officer can see them and do not open your door to address the officer.

HOW OFFICERS KEEP THEMSELVES SAFE WHEN APPROACHING

Unfortunately, in today's society officers have to look out for their safety when performing a routine traffic stop. In the past many officers when they approached a vehicle they had pulled over they would touch the back of the car for a few reasons;

The officers is checking for movement inside the vehicle. When they are walking up to a car they don't know who's inside or what might be waiting on them.
They check to see if the trunk is shut in case someone was to be waiting inside with a gun or to attack them.
If you have been pulled over more recently you might notice the office shines their beam in your side mirror. This keeps your visibility to a minimum when they are approaching the vehicle and can keep them safe if someone was to try and hurt them.

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WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU SEE SOMEONE PULLED OVER

I had the opportunity to speak with Kentucky State Police Public Affairs Officer, Corey King, and ask him what the KSP wanted the public to know about traffic stops.

KSP

He told me the biggest concern is not even the driver they have pulled over but the drivers on the road while they are making the traffic stop. Officers often have to worry about the moving traffic because drivers often take their eyes off the road or become distracted with what is going on and they fail to pay attention to their own driving.

Just recently they had a KSP cruiser rear ended by a semi-truck for this very reason. They ask that you do these things when you see someone pulled over;