Selling that Violation Ticket

What most people don’t seeBeing stopped by the law enforcement can always be

unsettling, even if you have done nothing wrong. There are some things you should know if you are ever

stopped by an officer.

The best way out of a Ticket

• Don’t break the law. It’s a simple practice that seems to work for thousands.

It not like that Officer Honest!• One minute you’re cruising down

the highway making record time on your commute, and the next you’re pulled over on the side of the road with the flashing lights of a police cruiser in your rear view mirror.

The Law Enforcement Community

Heavy emphasis is placed on a constable's courtesy toward the public, but police politeness has never been universal practice. "Remember that your thoughts and emotions are revealed by facial expression, tone of voice or a gesture.... Etiquette in Police Work

In reality

• ‘We are putting community needs at the forefront of what we do. We are constantly listening to the community and using it to improve what we do in a way that benefits them, not just us.’The police should always act appropriately and face the consequences if they don’t - should they be polite of course they should

They are trained in your Human Rights

Human RightsHuman rights are rights that derive from the inherent dignity and worth of the human person; they are universal, inalienable and equal.The principle of respect for human dignity is the foundation of any national or international text on the protection of fundamental rights. Human dignity is inviolable; there can be no exception, nor can any limit be imposed, even where law and order is concerned. The possession of human dignity carries certain immutable moral obligations. These concern the treatment of all other human beings, the duty to preserve life, liberty and the security of persons. To preserve peace and stability in their respective states and to gaintrust and support from the citizens, the police must respect, protect and promote human rights.

They are also trained in.• Victimology is also important in the overall

investigative process. The study of the offenders’ selection of victims, the victims’ health, backgrounds, social habits and personalities may provide clues as to why they were chosen, thereby offering insight into how the offender thinks and subsequently acts. If police can determine how the offender is acting now, they may be better able to determine future offenders’ behaviour, possibly leading to successful preventive action.Tickets are Preventive Action

Every Traffic Stop• Law Enforcement Takes ownership of your matter

if it is a policing issue, they: • Attempting to resolve your matter at the first

point of contact, or • Contacting and transferring your matter to the

appropriate area of responsibility for management until resolved, and

• Providing general information about the steps police will take to address your matter or incident

It not about getting the toaster

Tickets are corrective actions designed educate motorists about the dangers of unsafe driving behaviors committed by cars around trucks, trucks around trucks, and trucks around other types of motor vehicles.

Unsafe driving behaviors may include, but are not limited to: unsafe lane changes, tailgating, failing to signal lane changes, failing to yield the right of way, speeding, and aggressive driving (a combination of two or more behaviors).

Peels Principles

• The Police are the People and the People are the PoliceAlways Be Calm And Polite

First and foremost remember that police are people too, and also remember that law enforcement is a difficult and dangerous job. With that in mind, you should always deal with the police in a calm, polite, and professional manner. But being polite does not mean that you should ever, under any circumstances, give up your rights.

Sometimes we have ChoicesTo increase your chances of a receiving a warning rather than a ticket:• Make it an easy stop. Pull over quickly, turn your interior lights on and

keep your hands in sight on the wheel. When an officer approaches a vehicle, says Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Scott Bright, he or she will be looking at how many people are in the car and where their hands are.

• Be respectful. If you were looking for a way to ensure a ticket, being argumentative, angry or rude is a great way to do it. "There is no guarantee that a driver will receive a warning based upon behavior "but it certainly helps to be respectful and less confrontational."

• Save the excuses. Law enforcement officers have heard them all, so save your sob story. Answers to any questions should be brief and noncommittal. (For example, if the officer asks if you know why you've been pulled over, say no, legal experts advise.) Don't argue. This isn't a court.

The Gift Certificate you now have

• What is a traffic ticket? A traffic ticket may be a legal notice that is issued to an individual by the law enforcement authorities for violating traffic rules and regulations. An individual may have to either face punishments or pay fines if they have been given a traffic ticket. An individual can also sometimes face suspension of their driver’s license if they do not pay the traffic ticket.

Well

What does paying my violation ticket mean?• By paying the violation ticket in full or in part,

you are considered by the courts as submitting a guilty plea to the charged described on the front of your violation ticket.

• The full ticketed amount becomes immediately due and payable. The full amount includes the fine amount, plus a 15 per cent victim surcharge.

Maybe but not always

Do I have to appear in court to dispute the amount of the fine and/or receive more time to pay the fine?• No, you do not have to appear in court, but you must

complete, sign and submit the violation ticket statement and written reasons form. This means that you are pleading guilty to the charge(s) and disputing only the amount of the fine.

Will my request to reduce the fine and/or have more time to pay be automatically granted?• No. The justice will review your submission, consider your

request and then advise you by mail as to whether the request will be allowed.

I feel your thoughts but!• Fess Up

The best way to avoid a ticket is to be honest and take responsibility. “Cops deal with people from all walks of life, from every strata of society, every single day,”. “They’re not easily fooled or manipulated. If you’re simply saying what you think the cop wants to hear, he or she will probably detect it. That’s why, as they say, honesty is the best policy.” Drivers lie to cops or try to make excuses so often, it’s a relief to hear honesty and see a driver taking responsibility,.

• Bite Your TongueRather than getting angry that you’ve been busted, kill ‘em with kindness. If you’re polite, and take responsibility for what you did, the officer might give you a break and cite you for a lesser violation,. Whatever you do, don’t say, “whatever,” or “I’m gonna have your badge,” and for God’s sake don’t tell the officer, “I’m calling my lawyer,”. Cops deal with lawyers all the time—they’re not intimidated by them.

• Save the TearsSometimes turning on the waterworks saves you from a ticket, but most of the time—the tears won’t help much. “If the officer thinks you’re crying to manipulate him, out comes the ticket book,”.

• Be PreparedIf you’re looking to impress the officer, being well prepared is a good way to do it. “If the driver wants to have the documents readily available, which cops do like, keep it in a visor holder,” . “In this case, the driver is reaching up to where the officer can see what he or she is doing.” Another great tip is to keep your hands on

Because it can be used in court YOU SAID IT FIRST

• Avoid admissions of guilt and never make excuses or create outlandish stories.– When you are asked if you know why you were pulled

over, just respond with a simple and polite, "No officer, I do not,".

– Keep in mind that honesty is the best policy especially when you prefer to get off with merely a warning.

– On the other hand, if you do get you the ticket, and decide to contest it, remember that any admissions you make now, can be used against you later.

The Police are not Super People they to make mistakes

• Check your ticket for accuracy by reviewing it immediately upon receipt. There are two considerations here:

– If there are inaccuracies that may hurt your case (i.e. if the officer notes on the ticket that you crossed two lanes of traffic when you only crossed one, or if he says traffic was heavy when in fact it was light), ask him immediately to correct them. Be very polite when requesting changes to your ticket. However if you find that the officer is not accommodating, do not argue but record the actual circumstances in your mind, and after he leaves, jot it down.

– On the other hand, if there are inaccuracies that may help your case or get the ticket dismissed, such as the wrong license plate number, the wrong street, etc., you do not want to call attention to them.

Personality and AttitudeYour Personality is who you are

Your Attitude could increase the event• On a rare occasion you may receive a speeding ticket from a police officer

who is not polite. Perhaps you were driving a little over the speed limit but are sure there is no way you were traveling as fast as the ticket says you were driving. The cop was a real jerk. Perhaps you asked to look at his radar unit to see the reading and he would not let you. Perhaps he shows you a reading that you think was not from your driving.

It may not be justice but it is a fact of life. The officer is not obligated to show you the radar reading. He doesn't have to prove to you that you were speeding, he just has to prove it to the Court. And while it would sure be nice, there is no requirement that the officer be pleasant while issuing you a ticket, although most of them are polite.

Body Language and the Eyes

• Be conscious of your body language and eye movements . The police (especially interrogators) are very well trained in reading your body language and eye movements. These are involuntary movements that you make, and reveal your state of mind, and even if you are lying or telling the truth.

Your Eyes tell the Ticket Like it or not!

A Basic Guide to Interaction with Police

Remember the Police willIdentifying a difficult customer • No matter what you do, there will always be some customers you will not be able to satisfy and

there are many reasons for this. In dealing with these people, always remain objective, professional and calm

• To test if a customer is being reasonable, look at their issue and not the person. What may seem small to you can be significant to them

• Record in a narrative or in your notebook/duty book when a customer is difficult and, if necessary, advise a supervisor or manager

• If you can’t satisfy a difficult customer, seek advice from a senior officer and record your actions appropriately

Recognize problems and address them • On certain occasions difficult customers will try to provoke you. Don’t allow them to unsettle or

coerce you • Be alert to any threats or dangers to you or the organization through your responses (such as

litigation) • Managers will audit some difficult customers so ensure information is properly recorded and

noted by other police • Your best defense against a difficult customer is to remain professional

Processing Your Information• Once a police officer has collected all the pertinent

information from you, he or she is likely to return to the police car, and there may be a substantial delay until he or she returns. The officer has a protocol to follow during a traffic stop. These procedures can be time-consuming.

• If the police officer decides to issue a warning, be sure to thank him or her and promise to be more careful in the future. On the other hand, if the officer issues you a citation, then listen carefully to what he or she says and ask questions if needed. In most cases, the citation should include a court date, along with a means of waiving the court appearance and paying the fine directly.

You have the right, We maintain that right• You have the right to go to court• You have the right to bring

evidence that was not present at the time of the stop

• You have the right give evidence to the judge based upon the events

• You have the RIGHT TO PAY THE TICKET IF YOU ARE FOUND GUILTY!