Frequently Asked Questions

Officers in the area of a traffic stop routinely stop and check on their fellow officer conducting a motor vehicle stop—it’s for officer safety.

Police officers are trained to minimize their exposure to traffic to keep from getting hit by passing vehicles. Also, officers don’t know who you are; you may be a wanted felon. The officer is just being cautious and trying to assess the stop. Once the officer feels that there is little danger, he/she will show himself/herself.

The officer is “running” or verifying the information you gave him. National and Statewide computer checks are being processed and that takes a couple of minutes.

If you don’t agree with a ticket that an officer wrote you, the side of the road is not the place to contest it. Each driver that is issued a ticket has a right to an appeal. Call the 23rd District Court to set up a court date. There you will be given an opportunity to state your case. Once an officer issues a ticket, he cannot take it back. The only person that can dismiss a ticket is the magistrate or the judge.

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Police officers deal with many people for a variety of reasons. However, problems can arise when citizens do not understand how to react. This uncertainty can result in citizens experiencing nervousness, fear, anger and even aggressive behavior.

- Officers may be responding to a complaint phoned into police or have received a report of some criminal activity. - Your presence might indicate you are a possible witness with valuable information, or an officer may believe you are having trouble or need assistance. - Remember their questions are not accusations, and your cooperative responses can ease any possible conflicts

Some often think the police are stopping them for no reason at all. Police must consider many things when stopping and questioning someone. Each situation is different, but some factors they consider are: - Officers may have only a brief description of a suspect, which you might resemble. - You might be in an area where a crime has just occurred. Your actions appear to be suspicious (i.e. running from an area where a crime has just been committed) and you act even more strange when you see the police. - Someone may have pointed you out as a suspect. - Your truthful responses will quickly resolve the situation and the officer can move on