SmokeScreen wrote:
And I am really thankful it is not like it is in the States, being pulled over down there in some places is very stressfull for both driver and as I imagine officer too.
Some states/places they're pretty mellow too...
That said, I think the most stressful traffic stop I've ever been in was when I got pulled over by the Michigan State Police in Detroit for having a loud muffler. At the time, I was living in Michigan but had an older car, and the muffler did need repairs... anyway, I pulled onto the shoulder. I'd already shut the engine off and rolled down the windows, but he barked some very specific instructions over the bullhorn:
- Put all documents on the dashboard and keep glovebox open
- Take keys out of the ignition and put them on the passenger seat
- Look straight ahead, hands on steering wheel, do not move or turn around until he tells me to
- Do I have any weapons? Give thumbs up or down
- Give thumbs up when all instructions complied with
He then approached from the right side with one hand on his sidearm. He checked to make sure the trunk was closed and locked when he approached. I later found out that police in Detroit have to shoot several drivers every year during traffic stops, and no prior history on the vehicle/driver is no guarantee of officer safety in any way, shape or form (lots of just-stolen/just-carjacked cars in Detroit).
(I didn't get ticketed because I told him I was on my way to get the muffler fixed... of course he didn't believe me at first, so he followed me to the muffler shop and made sure I placed the work order.)
