Most likely, at some point in every driver’s career, they will be pulled over by a police officer or Department of Transportation officer. It doesn’t matter if it’s a minor infraction, or a potential CDL DUI. At the time you are pulled over, what you do next is just as important as what the officer says you did or did not do to deserve being pulled over
After you have produced the documents requested by the officer, the citation has been written, and the officer has left the scene, write down every detail of the incident. Every scene and situation is different, but some things to consider writing down include: notes about your immediate surroundings, road markers or signs in the area, weather and traffic conditions, what happened immediately before the officer pulled you over, what the officer said, what documents he or she asked for, and what your responses were. If there are any photos you can take regarding the reason you were pulled over, such as an equipment violation, be sure you do so with a camera that has a time and date stamp.
Remember that most law officers today have dash-mounted cameras and audio recording devices, so it is most likely that everything you do and say is being recorded. Should your case end up in court, your attorney can request a copy of the incident from the officer – and it can work to your advantage if evidence shows you were being cooperative and compliant.
Regardless of how minor you think the offense may be, your driving record is your livelihood. Don’t let points cost you your job – consider a trusted legal plan that has helped thousands of drivers protect themselves and their jobs.