Picture this: you’re cruising along when blue lights appear behind you. You pull over, scrambling to come up with a reason the police officer is wrong. But before you start protesting, consider this: brutal honesty might actually work better with the police. Attorney Barry D. Kowitt has the surprising scoop on how being upfront could keep a ticket off your record.

“Police officers are so used to people starting up immediately with ‘I didn’t do anything’ or ‘How dare you pull me over,’” Kowitt explains. Instead, he recommends taking a totally different approach: admit what you did. “The brutal honesty of, ‘You know what, I was speeding, and I apologize,’ can go a long way [with police].”

Surprisingly, this tactic of being honest to the police just may work. “Many times,” Kowitt says, “officers indicate to me that those are the people they’re willing to let go.” While it’s not guaranteed, admitting fault shows respect and may make the officer decide you don’t deserve the ticket after all.

Be polite and honest—and don’t stand out to the police

Even if honesty doesn’t get you out of the police ticket, Kowitt’s second rule is just as important: “Try not to be memorable to the officer.” The last thing you want is for your behavior to stand out. Kowitt explains why: “When you hire an attorney to fight the ticket later, you don’t want the officer to remember you in any sort of a negative way. It’s only going to jar their memory, and nothing good can come of it from your end.”

So, how do you stay forgettable? Start with calm, polite behavior. Kowitt has a few practical tips:

• “Remain calm, pull over to a safe location, and roll the window down.”

• “Keep your hands at the 10:00 and 2:00 position on the wheel, where the officer can see them.”

• “If the officer asks for your registration or insurance, tell them where it is before you reach for it. No Herky-jerky movements.”

Another key: avoid arguing. It won’t win you any favors and could make things worse. “You don’t need to agree with the officer, but fighting the ticket is something to do in court—not on the side of the road,” Kowitt says.

Traffic stops don’t have to be scary

Getting pulled over can feel like a nightmare, but Kowitt’s advice keeps things simple: stay calm, be honest, and don’t make yourself memorable to the police. With these tips, a routine traffic stop doesn’t have to turn into a stressful ordeal—and it might even end with a warning instead of a ticket.

For more of Barry D. Kowitt’s advice, check out the original video below: