I read this article earlier today, ‘

Driving While Black: A Survival Guide

Reading the article title, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I still clicked on the link. The article is well worth reading since it’s written by a black man who has been stopped a number of times for minor traffic violations. Not only has he not be shot, beaten, or arrested, he’s driven away with no more than a verbal warning on occasions when he admits that he deserved a citation.

I’m only going to quote a short section because the entire article is worth reading,

Here’s my checklist for whenever the cherries light up behind me:

• Signal my intention to pull over with my turning signal, and by slowing my vehicle

• Find a safe place to pull over, minimizing traffic obstruction and maximizing space for the officer’s approach

• Turn off my engine

• Turn on my interior dome light

• Place my keys on the dashboard

• Remove my license and insurance card from my wallet and have them at the ready

• Roll down my window

• Place my hands on the steering wheel in full view of the approaching officer

• Greet the officer

• Punctuate sentences with the words “sir” or “m’am,” whichever is appropriate

• Answer questions and follow instructions cooperatively

• Thank the officer for their service

Interestingly, I take pretty much the same approach with the exception of not reaching into the glovebox to retrieve my registration until the officer asks for it. I also take my wallet out and put it on the dash board before the officer gets up to the window. That way I don’t have to move my hands out of his sight.

Just keep in mind that the officer has pretty much made up his mind whether he’s going to write you a citation or not before he even gets out of his cruiser. One thing that will almost guarantee a ticket is slamming on your brakes in panic when he pulls behind you and turns on the blinky lights. They HATE that, even if it’s a natural reaction.

The most interesting thing about this is that Mr. Hudson is black, I’m white and yet we get the same results using essentially the same routine.

As the post title says, draw your own conclusions.