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mkosmo wrote:

Excaliber wrote:I suggest keys out of the ignition and on the dashboard behind the steering wheel. This pretty much eliminates an officer's concern that the driver might do something sudden and threatening with the vehicle.

Every LEO I've talked to has suggested against this, particularly on busy streets. Their rationale was: The last thing they need is for your car to not start after the stop, especially if you're blocking traffic. I've heard people suggest putting keys on the dash or on top of the vehicle and pitched that thought too, which was shot down as well: If a truck drives by, it could potentially dislodge your keys making them either hard to find, a hazard, or in the middle of traffic.

I personally think that LEO would find a welcoming and non-threatening posture and expression from the offender to be more settling than than the gesture of disabling your vehicle.

I would certainly agree that putting your keys on the roof is a bad idea and I don't recall that anyone in this thread suggested that, but passing trucks won't move keys from my dashboard into the middle of the street unless that truck passed through my car.

I would also agree that if you're driving something that doesn't start reliably it would be a bad idea to turn off the engine. However, if you're driving a well maintained vehicle, it is no more likely to fail to start then than at any other time.

Once again, there is no one size fits all solution. You need to weigh the potential benefit of a somewhat more relaxed encounter against the other factors that have been outlined here. Everyone needs to take his or her own situation and concerns into account, make appropriate decisions, and act accordingly.

jbirds1210 wrote:

CompVest wrote:The ignition key thing isn't such a good idea for women. I believe in light of BGs impersonating LEOs that having a ready get away is prudent.

I agree.

If for some reason the LEO wants you to turn off the car, I am sure they will request it. Hopefully this isn't in the form of a felony stop

If you allow an armed LEO impersonator to walk up to your car and stand at your open window, I would suggest that you're unlikely to have an opportunity to successfully extricate yourself from that by putting the car in gear and driving away. At that point, if he wants you, he's got you if he's willing to use deadly force.

If you have concerns about the legitimacy of the vehicle / person initiating the stop, you might instead consider calling 911 and continuing to drive to the nearest police or fire station, or at least a well lighted and occupied commercial area until you can verify with the dispatcher that the stop is by an LEO.

I made the suggestion to turn off the engine and put the keys on the dash because I know from long experience how that diminishes an officer's concerns about danger from the stop. Like any of my suggestions, it's something everyone needs to evaluate in terms of his or her own situation and concerns, and act accordingly.

Keith B wrote:

frazzled wrote:Dome light-didn't think of that.

To any LEO's-is that a good idea? It would seem so, but good to ask.

Ex-LEO and yes, definitely. Window down, dome light on, both hands on the top of the wheel and papers in hand if you can get them easily before the LEO approaches and doesn't look like you are fumbling around or hiding things.

I suggest keys out of the ignition and on the dashboard behind the steering wheel. This pretty much eliminates an officer's concern that the driver might do something sudden and threatening with the vehicle.

I also recommend not reaching for a wallet or anything else during the stop. From the officer's vehicle he can see you're reaching for or trying to hide something, but he won't be able to see what it is. I suggest leaving both hands fully visible at the top of the steering wheel. When the officer comes up to the open window and asks for ID, my response is to advise him that, out of respect for his safety, I want him to know that I'm lawfully armed and where the gun is. I also tell him where my ID is and ask him how he'd like me to proceed. That way he has full information and control of the situation, and my subsequent movements are only those we've agreed on beforehand so there are no surprises on either side. I've never gotten anything but perfect courtesy in return.

The more comfortable you can make him, the more likely it is that things will go smoothly for you.