Sunday Mornings with Rania: Where Civilians and Police Meet

Rania Mankarious is executive director of Crime Stoppers of Houston. (Photo: lawellphoto.com)

With all the stories circulating, it’s no wonder that more and more people are talking about the frustration and fear of being pulled over by a police officer. I admit, every time I see it happen, my heart sinks a little. My nervousness has always been focused on the driver and that sense of anxious anticipation of the unknown. 

I think many can relate. Almost 50 percent of all police-civilian interactions take place during traffic stops. For many if not most of us, our only real interaction with a police officer will take place when we are on the road. And we keep these officers busy! In 2015, there were 800,000 police officers in US cities making traffic stops daily. 

For many, that moment of police-civilian interaction has always been about the civilian. That changed for me personally when I met Officer Ann Carrizales. Many of you know her story. Officer Carrizales was shot – point blank – in the face and chest during a routine traffic stop in 2013. In meeting her and working with her, I uncovered so much about what officers feel and face during these face-to-face interactions. 

Guess what, they’re not crazy about them either. The truth is, traffic stops pose significant dangers and heightened risks for police officers. They have no idea what the steps leading to an unknown driver’s side window will mean for them. They approach cautiously and asses the risks. In their experience, a routine traffic stop can escalated into anything but routine, in an instant. In fact, just this past Thursday night, one police officer was killed and another injured during a “routine” traffic stop in San Diego. 

So how can we best handle the dreaded traffic stop? Read these important tips and facts below and please take a moment to share them with your teen drivers and loved ones! 
 
When an officer approaches your car, this is what they are looking for: 

• Do you make efforts to stop right away or continue driving longer than necessary? 
• What is the visibility inside the car? Are the windows heavily tinted? 
• Is there any movement in your car? Are you trying to hide something? Drugs, liquor, stolen property or a weapon? 
• Does the car appear stolen? What is the condition of the vehicle? Is the license plate covered? Are registration stickers expired or missing? 
• What do the tail lights say? Have you put the car in park, reverse or are you planning to take off as soon as the officer approaches the vehicle? Brake lights that stay on mean the driver still has the car in drive and could be preparing to take off. 
• How many people are in the vehicle? Is the trunk lid latched? Police are looking for potential ambushes. 
• Once by the car, are people making eye contact?
• Is it obvious that items are being intentionally covered in the car? Is there liquid on the floor of the vehicle? Is the glove box open or partially closed? People driving with alcohol tend to intentionally pour it out or try and store it in the glove box. 
• Does the driver know where the registration and insurance papers are or is he/she not able to secure proper documentation?
• Are there any signs of intoxication or drug use in any way?  

What you need to do when pulled over: 

• Pull over immediately. If the location is questionable (i.e., unsafe for you or the police officer), he or she will tell you over his vehicle’s PA system. 
• Put the car in park. Know that the officer may ask you to turn off the engine. 
• Roll down the window. Be prepared, if it’s dark outside, the officer might ask you to turn on your interior lights. The officer will most likely have a flashlight. 
• Place both hands on the top section of the steering wheel. Do not reach for anything until you are asked. We all know you need your license, registration and insurance – but wait for the officer to ask. In fact, sit quietly and let the officer do the talking and the leading. Tell all other passengers in the car to sit still with hands in plain view. 
• Know when an officer can legally search your car. If the officer finds probable cause (seeing any illegal objects in plain view) after a traffic stop, he can search your vehicle. If there is no probable cause and the officer asks if he can search your car, you have the legal right to say no. 
• Know what to do if you feel unsafe. If you feel unsafe pulling over in the area you are currently driving, turn on your hazards, and drive slowly to a well-lit area; pull over as soon as it is safe to do so. If you feel unsafe with the officer facilitating the traffic stop, remain calm and call 911. You can request that the 911 officer stay on the phone with you during the stop. Tell the officer initiating the traffic stop that you have 911 listening in.  You are also able to request that the 911 operator send a supervisor or additional officer(s) to the scene. 
• Always be polite.  

While I hope you and yours don’t get pulled over any time soon, my bigger wish is that information and dialogue presented here will resonate with you the next time you see those red and blue lights in your rearview mirror! Let’s commit to showing our officers our best and expecting the best from them in return. I am forever committed to by belief that #workingtogether #wearestronger! 

For more information on Crime Stoppers of Houston, go to crime-stoppers.org and follow Crime Stoppers on Facebook. Have topics in mind that you’d like Rania to write about? Email her directly at [email protected]. Read past Sundays with Rania posts here.

Editor's Note: Views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Buzz Magazines.