A police traffic stop is rarely the highlight of anyone's day. The sight of flashing red and blue lights in the rear-view mirror, often accompanied by the chirp of a siren, can make any driver nervous or emotional. However, there are several things a driver should do when faced with the reality of a routine traffic stop. Keep in mind that a police officer has the authority to issue a warning, write up a legal citation, or even allow the driver to drive away without penalty. Your behavior during a traffic stop can make the difference between a warning and a ticket.

The first thing you should do when an officer signals a traffic stop is to acknowledge the command promptly. Turn on your right turn signal as soon as possible, even if you cannot pull off the road right away. This will let the officer know that you intend to cooperate with the traffic stop.

As soon as it becomes safe to do so, pull off the road as far as possible or pull into the nearest driveway or parking lot. Demonstrating a concern for the officer's safety is almost always appreciated. An officer can position her vehicle to divert traffic, so you can also pull over immediately without penalty.

After you have stopped your vehicle, remain inside until the officer approaches. Any sudden movement of the door or passengers can trigger a defensive response from the officer, so tell passengers to remain seated as well. Once the officer has reached the driver's window, be prepared to present all requested forms, usually a driver's license, proof of insurance card and the car's registration. If you must reach into a glove compartment or console panel to produce these documents, tell the officer ahead of time. Reaching into a glove compartment unexpectedly can be perceived as a threat by the officer.

During a traffic stop, a police officer may ask the driver some probative questions. One popular question is, Do you know why I pulled you over? Some legal professionals suggest a driver should refrain from answering this question in too much detail. Any answer provided by the driver could conceivably be interpreted as an acknowledgement of guilt in a later court proceeding, so a driver should not volunteer incriminating information during the traffic stop. If the officer asks the driver whether he saw a speed limit sign, the proper answer might be a simple 'yes' or 'no', not a complaint of the sign's ambiguous meaning or unfair placement.

Once a police officer has collected all the pertinent information on the driver, there may be a substantial delay until the officer returns. During this time, all a driver can do is remain calm and avoid complicating matters. The officer has a protocol he must follow during a traffic stop, which includes a search for outstanding warrants and verification of a driver's identity. These procedures can be time-consuming. The officer must also allow himself some time to control his own emotions and make a fair decision. An overly emotional driver may receive an overly emotional response in return, so it pays to be non-confrontational and respectful during a traffic stop.

Once the officer returns to your vehicle, listen carefully to her responses. If she decides to issue a warning, demonstrate true gratitude and promise to be more careful in the future. If the officer issues a citation, the driver needs to be informed of the offense(s). If you do not understand a particular offense, you should be able to ask the officer to clarify it. Keep in mind that a police officer can still add charges to a ticket, so keep your emotions in check while receiving the citation. You should have a court date written on the citation, along with a means of waiving the ticket and paying the fine directly to the court.