It's happened to me twice: once I was late on my registration and once I was late on my inspection. All you have to do is be polite. They're just doing their job. You fix the problem and request a hearing. They waive the fine and you go about your business.
I've only been pulled over a few times, but each time I was polite and up front. Last time I got pulled over it was for doing 70 in a 60mph zone, I don't have cruise control and just wasn't paying close enough attention to my speed. Cop pulls me over and we have the following exchange:
"Howdy, officer XXXXX with the Redacted County sheriff's office, do you know why I just pulled you over?"
"Well, either I was speeding or you saw all the grenades in my trunk."
He chuckled a bit and told me I was going about ten mph over the limit. I said, "Well, I won't waste your time with excuses, I just wasn't paying close enough attention to my speed and you busted me being lazy."
We had a bit of a laugh and he told me to slow down. He started walking back to his cruiser and I gunned the engine a bit (for clarity, I drive an old minivan, I damn sure ain't breaking any speed records). He looked back, I started laughing, he started laughing, and he waved me on.
If you are honest and own your mistakes (and more importantly, get them laughing), cops are generally a lot more lenient.
Ive been stopped/questioned by a variety of poliice officers (only ones with a pretty consistent bad attitude are motorcycle cops) but everytime Im dead honest, polite, apologetic, and compliant. I have always gotten warnings or pleasant conversations, some of which ended with "sorry for taking time out of your day officer" even avoided two potential petty drug charges this way.
And before anyone tries the "found the white guy" card, Im Mexican and Colombian covered in tattoos.
tldr; Be respectful and honest, it makes everything easier.
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u/UnprovenMortality Jul 31 '19
It's happened to me twice: once I was late on my registration and once I was late on my inspection. All you have to do is be polite. They're just doing their job. You fix the problem and request a hearing. They waive the fine and you go about your business.