Seeing the flashing lights in your rearview mirror is always a little cause for anxiety for me. If you’ve ever been pulled over, you know what I mean. Your stomach drops and your brain races with a million thoughts. Suddenly, every mile of your driving history is compiled before you. The truth is, the procedure during a traffic stop is more than checking the speed or a broken tail light. The process is built on protocol layers of safety, years of training, and a lot of calculated thought by the officer.

So let’s break down the steps of what happens during a traffic stop. Let’s examine why the officers do the things they do. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why did the cop touch my car?” or “Why do they shine that blinding light into my soul?” you’ll want to read on.

Before the Stop: How Officers Prepare

Long before the officer puts the lights on, this process is well underway. First, the officer usually runs the license plate. It’s a quick scan that can tell them a lot of things. For instance, whether the car is stolen, if the registration is expired, or if the owner has outstanding warrants.

Second, a call goes out over the radio and the officer informs dispatch what is going on: vehicle description, location, and how many occupants, if any, can be seen. This is not only done for the purpose of making a log. However, if things get messy, that log becomes critical.