Staying calm and following the instructions of the officers are some of the basic tips to follow in this situation.
This is one of the most delicate and tense moments while driving and it is essential to act in a respectful and safe manner to avoid any kind of misunderstanding and ensure the welfare of all parties involved. It is important to think that in any case this type of controls, even if they are routine, always have their reason for being.
There are some minimum guidelines to be respected by all drivers at the moment of facing a police control, and we will try to explain all of them in this article.
Action and behavior when facing a police checkpoint
The National Police has shared several informative videos to explain in detail the steps to follow during the process of a police control, always trying to improve safety and communication between agents and drivers at all times.
- Reduce speed progressively: when viewing a police checkpoint, it is advisable to reduce speed gradually and safely to avoid risky situations or unexpected surprises.
- Always follow the officer’s instructions: if the officer raises his arm vertically, this indicates that a complete stop is required.
- Stop safely: always as close as possible to the officer and without jeopardizing his safety at any time and maintaining a certain distance so that the officer can perform his activity correctly and safely.
- Always remain inside the vehicle: do not unbuckle your seat belt and do not get out or even pretend to get out of the car, always under the officer’s instructions. Roll down the window and have your documents ready in case they are required.
- Visible hands: keep your hands always in sight, preferably on the steering wheel so that the officer can see that there are no dangerous objects or actions that may arouse suspicion.
- Lighting of the passenger compartment: if it is at night, it is advisable to turn on the interior light of the car to allow the agent to see the interior clearly and to make sure that everything is in order.
- Getting out of the vehicle: only if the agent so indicates should you get out of the car and follow the instructions respectfully and calmly, waiting patiently for the agents to carry out their checks as needed.
All these detailed steps are intended to ensure the safety of all persons involved in the police control process, encouraging collaboration between drivers and officers and always keeping calm.
What not to do when faced with police controls
Never speed up and flee when a stop request is made by an officer, nor should you make excuses after having committed any type of infraction, as this will not help to solve the problem.
Never refuse to hand over the documentation if requested or get out of the vehicle without prior request, as this could be understood as disobedience to the authority and could be classified as a crime.
Although it is essential to maintain at all times a good behavior in front of a police control, it is also convenient to know the rights that assist drivers to protect themselves from any abuse of power.
Drivers always have the right to a respectful and dignified treatment by any agent of the authority, whether or not in a police control, and also always have the right to remain silent and only speak in the presence of a judge as an action in case of disagreement with the measures of the agents.