When to reach for registration/license

[GmFwd]

In a traffic stop I always wait until the officer is at my window before reaching for my wallet and reg/insurance. I do this because it could appear suspicious fumbling in my glovebox like I am trying to hide something or grab a weapon.

But I heard that you should have it ready for the officer when he comes to your window.


What is proper/better to do?

[WigWag44]

When I pull over a car and I see the person start reaching into their glovebox I assume they're grabbing their registration and insurance cards. I'm still cautious on my approach, though.

Although it's nice when people have it ready, it's not a big deal to wait until it's asked for. The biggest pain in the butt is when people are fumbling through stacks of paper from their glovebox and take a long time finding the cards. Trust me, the less time I spend standing on the side of the road exposed to passing cars, the better.

My advice is this:

When getting pulled over pull off as far to the right as possible. The more room you give the Officer from the roadway the better off you both are. If possible, even pull onto a side road or parking lot if you're on a busy highway or something. Make sure your hands are visible when the Officer is approaching your vehicle. Turn on the center dome light if it's dark. If your windows are tinted, put them all down so he or she can see into your vehicle when walking up on it. Have your information readily available. In my personal vehicle, my registration card and VALID insurance card are paperclipped together and are the first thing I see when I open my glovebox. Lastly, your attitude can make all the difference in the world. I've let people go simply because they were honest with me and probably did all of the above.

Hope that helps!