Do You Have to Roll Down Your Window for Police in Arizona?

22 Feb Do You Have to Roll Down Your Window for Police in Arizona?

 

 

Arizona police officers are allowed to stop drivers and pull them over without probable cause if it’s a sobriety checkpoint. These roadblocks are legal. Their purpose is to identify traffic violators and people under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Ultimately, the goal is to keep our Maricopa county roads safer.  

If you’re pulled over for seemingly no reason, you could be questioning what rights you have during a traffic stop. Do you have to roll your window down for police officers in Arizona? Do you have to hand over your license? How do you behave? Is this a legitimate stop? 

If you are worried about a DUI charge, you need to know what to do when getting pulled over. 

 

What can I do if I’m pulled over for no reason?

 

What if you know you haven’t done anything to warrant being pulled over—and the situation doesn’t look like a DUI checkpoint? In this scenario, you’ll want to be sure that the person pulling you over is a real officer. 

Before complying and handing over your identification, ask to see the officer’s badge. You can do this before you roll down your window. If the officer won’t show his or her badge, leave your window rolled up, drive to a safe, public location, and call 911. 

DUI checkpoints in Arizona are made public knowledge. You’ll be able to check and see if any information about the stop has been made public. If nothing is listed, the random stop is not legal and you’ll want to call your attorney. 

 

Do I have to roll down my window for the police?

 

If an officer pulls you over one of the first things you think of is rolling down your window. However, if you’re not feeling safe, do you have to? 

If it’s a legitimate stop, yes. You do have to comply with orders, even if you’ve done nothing wrong. 

While you do have to roll down your window for a police officer in this scenario, you don’t have to roll it down all the way. You can crack the window and slip your license and registration through the gap. 

There’s no law that forces you to roll the window all the way down. 

 

What do I need if I get pulled over?

 

Here is a list of five things you need when you get pulled over by a police officer in Arizona:

1. 1. 1. A calm demeanor—save any jokes or anecdotes for another time. In fact, you should say as little as possible.
      2. Your driver’s license—you’ll need to hand this to an officer during a traffic stop.
      3. Registration and insurance information for your vehicle—wait and grab this after an officer asks you for it, instead of before they approach. While you’re waiting, leave your hands on the steering wheel.
      4. The knowledge of what to say and how to act if you’re pulled over with a gun in the car.
      5. The knowledge of what questions you do, and what questions you do not have to answer. 

 

Traffic Lawyer in Maricopa County

 

When it comes to your rights and safety, this is no area for messing around. Receiving a DUI or being charged with a crime is a serious matter. 

For a powerful defense, lean on Todd Coolidge. Call 480-656-8399 for help today.

Todd Coolidge is a Certified Criminal Law Specialist in Chandler, AZ who also serves the areas of Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale.

 

 

 

 

 

Image by Rudy & Peter Skitterians | used under creative commons license | commercial use (02/18/2021) Pixabay