Fatherly advise

[Woodrow Call]

My son just started driving and I've tried to give him all the good advise I can driving, and if he ever does get pulled over to keep his hands on the steering the wheel, turn on the dome lights if it's night and do everything he can to put the officer at ease.

We were watching COPS one night and an officer pulled a car over and the driver was being polite with the officer. His friend however was being an *** and giving the officer grief. My son asked me what the driver should have done. I didn't really know what to tell him.

I'm sure we have had one of those friends that we shouldn't have as friends. My first thought was the driver should have told his passenger to shut his hole, but I'm not really sure how the officer would react. What's the best tact, other than choosing better friends?

[Samuelx]

IMO, no "best" tactic - every friendship is going to be different and every contact/stop/officer is going to be different. If that were to ever happen to your son, he would have to make that judgment call at that time. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any situation (LE or otherwise) where it would be a good idea to draw additional negative attention to yourself or your group...

[Andy Taylor]

It happened to my son. He was driving and got stopped for a loud exhaust. His "friend" in this case was his cousin, and she has a mouth, especially when it comes to cops, or republicans. You can choose your friends, but family you are stuck with. He just let her rant, and gave "I'm sorry" looks to the officer. He had been driving her home after they helped another family member move, and it was around 10pm. She walked the rest of the way home.

[Jonathan Doe]

If the passenger does not stop talking, and if I cannot understand what th edriver says, I may arrest the passenger for 148 PC. Or, detain the person in th eback seat of my radio car until the traffic stop is over. Maybe. I haven't work the street for almost 18 years. I don't know what the officers do now. :-)

[nine mil thrill]

i would ask the officer i we can go to the back of the car to continue talking....??

[winnre]

I had the opposite. The person with me said, "Tell the officer who you are! Show him your I.D! Tell him what you do and where you work! He owes you an apology for bothering us!"

I think my embarrassment told him all he needed to know.

[Woodrow Call]

Thanks for the tips, I'll pass them on to him. P.S. It looks like you all have a tough job and my family and I all appreciate you doing it.

[TheExpertish]

My son just started driving and I've tried to give him all the good advise I can driving, and if he ever does get pulled over to keep his hands on the steering the wheel, turn on the dome lights if it's night and do everything he can to put the officer at ease.

We were watching COPS one night and an officer pulled a car over and the driver was being polite with the officer. His friend however was being an *** and giving the officer grief. My son asked me what the driver should have done. I didn't really know what to tell him.

I'm sure we have had one of those friends that we shouldn't have as friends. My first thought was the driver should have told his passenger to shut his hole, but I'm not really sure how the officer would react. What's the best tact, other than choosing better friends?

Don't worry about the dome light. It's a nice gesture, but a cruisers spot lights will usually light up enough to see what we want. Hands on the wheel and turning off the car are the most important. He'll likely be frazzled as it is so no need in doing extras.

As far as the friend goes it's on him. From an officers perspective mouthy passengers are nothing new. The times I've had a passenger get on a rant I've felt something else was up and have pulled both driver and passenger(s) out of the car. Personally as the driver and captain of my ship I'd put my passengers in their place.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Since the whole point of the passenger's behavior is to get a reaction out of me I'd just yawn and ignore them.

If they decide to get out of the car and approach me or interfere with my investigation then it would be game on and they would definitely be going to jail.