Got pulled over tonight--almost charged

[Steverino]

In Illinois, I believe the maximum length allowed on a knife is also 4" and I concur with the above posts with respect to attitude playing a large role in dealing with law officers.

With that being said, I think that you do have to look at things somewhat from their perspective. They are pulling folks over that they have little to no idea (save DMV-arrest records) of who these people are. I would not want their jobs at all. I have been with a friend a couple of years ago that was pulled over for speeding and I recommended that after pulling off to the shoulder, to keep both his hands on the top of the steering wheel, in plain sight of the cop approaching his vehicle and to announce when he would be reaching into his glovebox for his insurance info.

I know this from a past co-worker whose father retired as a state trooper and used to talk about guys automatically reaching for stuff when he used to approach their cars. To say that it used to make him uneasy was an understatement. He also hated when guys would immediately get out of their cars to confront him and the worst was very dark tinted windows on vehicles-the kind that restricted movement inside of vehicles.

Anyhoo. my buddy was let off with a warning (he was only going 5 miles an hour over the limit) after a barrage of "yes sir officer"'s and I saw for myself that this particular officer respected his requests before making sudden movements or reaching.

Just my .02.