Are you planning to travel on business or go on a vacation soon? If so, it would be helpful to be mindful of traffic stops, your rights, and what to do when the blue lights come on. This is because subtle things about your trip could raise suspicion. The following are a few tips you can use, and hopefully, you will cruise through your time away from home without any snafus. 

Car Selection

If you drive a rental car or your own vehicle with out-of-state plates, the vehicle could be viewed as suspicious by ticket-seeking cops. The reason is that some drug couriers utilize rental cars, and some of them also drive from other areas to deliver or pick up drugs. Perhaps there is a big party event going on in the area you are visiting. Police officers will likely be on the watch for conspicuous vehicles and may assume they are in town to party. This can give credence to having more roadblocks and traffic stops in an effort to catch people driving under the influence.

Behavior

Remain as calm as possible. Nervousness could create the theory that you have something to hide. Frustration or anger could be viewed as aggression. This could escalate the traffic stop and have unpleasant repercussions. For example, you might be asked to exit your vehicle and be put in handcuffs if you are viewed as a safety threat.

Preparedness

You likely do not want to imagine getting pulled over, but keep in mind that the police only need probable cause to initiate a traffic stop. Plan for this as you would any other emergency. This means that you should have your license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance within easy reach. Having to dig through a purse, wallet, or dashboard for these items could raise suspicion or give a police officer time to look for additional reasons to prolong the traffic stop. 

Consent to Search

You will likely be asked whether or not you consent to having your vehicle searched. You can refuse the search, but this may not impede the search. It simply means that law enforcement can attempt to get a search warrant. This is a measure that can prolong the traffic stop. Some police officers will not bother trying to get a warrant. If you are in a rental car and did not fully search it before loading your items in, it may be best to decline the request to search. This is because the rental car company may not have thoroughly cleaned the vehicle, and there could be remnants left behind by previous renters. For example, drug paraphernalia could be in the vehicle.

A criminal-defense attorney is a good resource to use if your travel plans result in a ticket or arrest. It may be best to choose a lawyer in the jurisdiction where the alleged offense occurred. This is because some criminal laws vary by jurisdiction and state. Lawyers who are local to the area may also have previous trial court experience with the prosecutors and officers involved in your case.