Agreed 100%!My New Rules for Both Parties in a Traffic Stop:
For the Driver:
0. Avoid this situation by not violating traffic regulations.
- Don't be a douche.
- Don't offer unnecessary information that does not pertain to the traffic stop.
- Don't lie, but don't offer information that does not pertain to the traffic stop.
- Do what you're told.
- The cop's safety is just as important to him as yours is to you.
- Accept the ticket and fight it in court if you're not guilty.
For the Cop:
- Don't be a douche.
- Don't ask questions that aren't pertinent to the traffic stop like whether or not someone is legally armed when you have no suspicions that a crime has been committed.
- The driver's safety is just as important as yours.
- KNOW THE LAWS you are enforcing.
- Handling a previously holstered weapon solely for the sake of "officer safety" is foolish and greatly increases the risk of a negligent discharge. If it's in a holster or otherwise stowed and the driver's hands are in plain sight, just leave it there unless you have a legitimate reason to do otherwise. Disarming someone just because you can is a douche move (see #1).