SoYouWannaknow what to avoid doing when you get pulled over for speeding?

1. NEVER claim to be a cop. State police associations are pretty tight-knit and most cops know one another. Plus, police work is jargon-heavy and it's easy to trip someone up.

2. NEVER say, "What's the problem officer?" unless you want a smart-ass reply like, "You." This immediate response most people have has become a clich for officers. They hate it.

3. NEVER say, "Was I speeding?" It serves as an acknowledgment from you that you knew you were doing something wrong.

4. NEVER say, "I'm sorry" unless you really mean that you are truly sorry that you have broken the code of honor and ethics bestowed on all drivers when they are admitted by the knightly DMV into the realm of licensed driving. It's trite and usually stands for, "I'm so sorry that you caught me."

5. NEVER say, "Do you know so-and so?" Name-dropping usually has no effect on the officer's decision to ticket you, and it might tick him/her off that you're even trying.

6. NEVER say, "you just stopped me because I'm black, a woman, gay, an Eskimo, etc." If the cop is racist or sexist or phobic, this remark isn't exactly going to help your situation and might serve to anger the officer. And if the officer is not racist or sexist or phobic, you've just accused him/her of it.

7. NEVER say, "I'll see you in court," "let me see the radar gun" or "give me your badge number." First, these remarks place the officer on defense and a defensive cop is more likely to give you a ticket. As for the radar gun, the cop can make it read whatever (s)he wants it to read from 00 to 135.

8. NEVER get out of the car unless instructed to do so.

9. NEVER reach for your pockets or under the seat without first explaining why.

10. NEVER open your glove box if it has inside it a concealed weapon unless you have warned the cop that it is there and that you have a license to carry it.

11. NEVER allow your passengers to talk to the officers unless instructed to do so.

12. NEVER consent to a search of your car without first asking for probable cause.

SoYouWanna know more? Check out our full-length article SYW avoid getting a traffic ticket?