The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has a history of defending the rights of citizens and residents of the United States. One such thing the ACLU does is advise drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on encounters with the police, like a routine traffic stop. Fortunately, the ACLU has guidelines for what drivers should and, more importantly, shouldn’t do when pulled over by police. 

The ACLU advises Americans to know their rights and avoid escalating a tense situation at a traffic stop

A traffic stop can be a tense situation. From a driver’s standpoint, you may not know whether a police officer is going to be nitpicky or even confrontational. Or whether your possible ticket is going to spell disaster for your wallet or license status. Still, you can make a traffic stop much less of an uneasy interaction with some of the ACLU’s recommendations.

• Don’t give up your right to remain silent
• Avoid creating the appearance of running or aggression
• Avoid making sudden movements or taking your hands away from the officer’s view
• Don’t refuse to show your license, registration, or proof of insurance
• Don’t forget to write down everything you remember about the interaction if you believe officers violated your rights

One of the first things the ACLU reminds drivers to do is to mind their right to remain silent. As the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says, you are protected against self-incrimination. As such, you don’t have to tell a police officer anything beyond reasonable requests. Still, it isn’t recommended to be belligerent with a police officer.

Next, the civil rights organization recommends that drivers “turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window part way, and place your hands on the wheel.” This can eliminate the appearance that you’re going to attempt to flee. Furthermore, keeping your hands on the wheel can demonstrate to law enforcement that you have no intention of getting violent.

Now, you may have seen videos of drivers refusing to give a police officer their license, registration, and proof of insurance. The ACLU recommends showing a law enforcement officer (LEO) your license, registration, and insurance card “upon request.”

Finally, drivers and passengers should consider writing down everything they remember. This is especially important if you believe your rights were violated at a traffic stop.