That’s true, Thuston said - but they don’t necessarily have to tell you what that reason is. One example he cited was some who say officers must have a reasonable, articulable suspicion for a traffic stop. Thuston said social media is not a good place to learn your rights. Know your rights - and pick reliable sources to learn about them Keep your hands at the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock positions on the steering wheel and don’t make any quick movements.He dials that number and puts his cellphone on speaker so that there will be an audio recording of the stop elsewhere. Thuston said he still has a landline with an answering machine.Reaching into the glovebox, center console or your back pocket could make an officer nervous. Thuston suggested also putting your wallet on the dashboard so your driver’s license is easy to access. Keep your insurance and registration information tucked into the sun visor rather than in a glove compartment or center console.Thuston said he turns on the vehicle’s interior lights and rolls down all the windows - not just the driver’s side - so the officer can see clearly inside as they approach.
The officer can tell you to pull forward if necessary, but stopping immediately is important. Behind him is Lawrence Police Department Lt. Here are some suggestions he shared: Mackenzie Clark / Lawrence Times Neosho County Attorney Linus Thuston speaks about what to do in an encounter with law enforcement, Saturday, Jat Victory Bible Church in Lawrence. Thuston said that as an officer approaches a vehicle, they’re conducting a threat assessment. However, he said, you should provide your identification. People are generally better off when they invoke their right to remain silent. Thuston said that oftentimes we may say things that are incriminating, or we might say things we don’t mean when we’re emotional. Rather than be confrontational during a traffic stop - or in any interaction with police - it’s better to exercise your right to remain silent. And if we do it right, everybody goes home and does the things that they need to do based on the situation.’” Remain silent
“I would tell everybody, ‘Look, slow down, take a deep breath, because we only get really one chance to do this thing right. “… I treat everybody - and it’s kind of sad, but this is the way it is now - like they are armed, because it’s not illegal to be armed anymore.”Īs a supervisor now, Grady doesn’t make traffic stops himself, but he reflected on the years that he did. “I’m not here to try to garner any type of sympathy for what it is we have to deal with on our end because that is a ‘me’ problem, not a ‘you’ problem,” Grady said. Grady, LPD’s first executive officer for diversity and community engagement, noted that Kansas passed a law in 2015 that allows anyone ages 21 and older to carry a concealed gun with or without a permit. Most interactions with law enforcement occur in traffic stops, so much of Saturday’s talk focused on safety during those uncomfortable moments.