I don't stress out too easily, and whatever I'm being pulled over for it's too late to correct or conceal at that point. Everything from that point on can only be worse if I'm nervous or stressed.

However from my experience when the officer asks you if you know why he pulled you over don't guess. It would really suck if you tell him about the body in the trunk, the briefcase full of cocaine, your illegal handgun under the seat, and that you're on your way to pick up a bag full of ransom money, and he was only going to give you a warning for a burnt out taillight.

dread. I remember when you could recognize a police car because you assumed you could ask for help. In this town most of them are disguised

I still get nervous. Even though I remind and reassure myself I don't have any weed in the car, and haven't in a looonngg time, it's a knee-jerk reaction.

Yo... this is something I've always been afraid to talk to people about. I'm HORRIFIED of being pulled over. It's only happened once, but I'm such a nervous wreck that I avoid driving certain places if there's heavy police presence.

They are so desperate for bodies in most cities, they hire alot of people that have no business being cops. It gets much worse on the county level. They hire folks who shouldn't even be security guards.

i play it by ear

Most of the cops I've met have been real assholes. I know that doesn't mean all of them, or even a majority of them aren't good people, but it causes me to have a distrust of them. I can't help it, I am just very distrustful of them. I have only gotten pulled over a couple of times, but it's a scary feeling.

It upsets me and I pull over immediately. My mind asks "what did I do?" The last 2 times this happened the cop only wanted past me and he went on to his destination.

I have never had a bad experience with the police. I haven't had a ticket in decades, but was pulled over a couple of years ago for a traffic violation and only given a warning. Of course, I have and show respect for police officers. I realize they have a difficult job and mostly deal with law-breakers, so I try to not fit into that category when dealing with them.

I also use HPD and was given very polite assistance by them. The last time at1am on a lonely road they changed a flat tire for me.

I've never been pulled over for no reason but the last time I was I was quite they were polite no problems cars then again I'm a white male in Ohio

Due to a horrible woman claiming false allegations against me I have a criminal record. This event pushed me to learn about this system and many of its issues.

I no longer fear those lights. Bring it on thugs with badges!! I've done nothing wrong so have little to fear. In part because I'm a white male, for one, but also because I now know how to stand up for myself. And I am not pleased!

I have, and will again, pursue a suit against any and all who try to harm me. I wish others could do the same. Empowerment is never a bad thing!

We all have been there, for one reason or another. My thought process always is based on the fact of regardless how I got to that point, the officer is the one with the gun (I don't have one). Golden rule for me "Never argue with a person that has gun". Secondly, always pull over and immediately put my hands where they can see them (top of steering wheel is fine)...why???... I usually put myself in their shoes and I understand they could be "jumpy" (specially now a days). I don't need to be the one setting things on fire because I am not going to win. Next step down my logic...like it or not, when the police request whatever, they are not asking for my approval, it is an order. Of course I have been pulled over and I have never had any problem, other than the big fat well deserved ticket. Yes, that's no fun but at times a wake up call is worth the money and inconvenience involved.

i don't drive!

if i drove, and if i were a person of color, i'd be terrified, and it would have nothing to do with a feeling of guilt.

if i drove and i was me as i am, i would probably be a bit nervous, but not terrified. if i knew i'd done something wrong, i would readily admit that. if i did not know what i had done wrong, i'd ask. if i knew that i had not done what i was told i'd done, i'd say so, and probably accept the ticket and then fight it in court. all of that is white privilege. i can't help my skin color but it sucks that people of color cannot be confident enough that they would survive such an encounter as i have described. it is not that i would prefer not to be treated reasonably. it is that i would prefer that EVERYONE be treated reasonably. being treated reasonably shouldn't BE a privilege. it should be a right.

g