This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 359,718 times.

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It’s natural to be nervous when the police pull you over, but if you stay calm and comply with the officer’s requests, it should go smoothly. When the police flash the car’s lights or blip the siren, pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so. Roll down your driver’s side window and wait for the officer to approach you and speak. Hand them your license and registration if they ask for it and comply with any of their demands. Make any movements slowly and keep your hands visible as much as possible so the officer knows you're not hiding anything. Remember that you have the right to record the interaction on your phone for evidence if you want to. To learn your rights if an officer asks to search your car, and more advice from our Legal co-author, read on!