Hi

Of all the questions I’ve been asked over the last 29 years, I get this one the most: How can I get a get out of a ticket? To any of my motor brethren who are reading this, we all know we don’t give warnings — at least not often. You patrol officers out there may not have seen your cite book in forever. But somewhere in the middle lies the officer who may or may not be sure when it’s the right time to cut someone a break. What follows are the four standards by which I judge whether or not to cite. Attitude: If the driver has a bad one, the warning option never enters the equation. There’s a reason we refer to the “attitude test.” If a driver is stopped and remains courteous and respectful, the odds of a warning soar upward. Driving History: If we’ve met before, there is very little chance I will grant a reprieve. If I’m on the fence about whether or not to cite, my first go-to is dispatch. Run the person’s driver’s license and ask for a driving history. If they have none and thei...