15 Things That Practically Force a Cop to Pull You Over

Eric Schaal | More Articles

February 4, 2018




If there’s one thing drivers dread, it’s getting pulled over by a cop. Even when you didn’t do anything serious and know your rights, these interactions can be nerve-wracking. After all, getting an expensive ticket can ruin your night and make you look bad in front of your friends or significant other. In some cases, encounters have actually turned deadly.


Before you start worrying too much about police on the road, remember how much you control the situation. Just as there are certain things you should never say to a cop who pulled you over, there are ways you can avoid the situation in the first place. Here are 15 things that practically force a cop to pull you over on the road.

15. Driving with your lights off

Thanks to modern daytime running lights, this isn’t much of a problem anymore. | Chevrolet




With the introduction of automatic headlights, we’d say this one happened more often in the past. People expect their car to turn its lights on automatically. However, when someone else gets in your car and changes the settings back to manual, you’re in trouble. You’ll find flashing their lights at you in hopes you’ll get the message. If you don’t get that warning and a cop sees you first, chances are you’ll get pulled over.


Next: Driving a loud car isn’t only annoying; it will also get you pulled over.

14. A roaring exhaust

The Subaru WRX STI can attract the wrong kind of attention.| Subaru




When they rounded up the list of America’s most ticketed cars a few years back, Subaru WRX ranked first. Two things identify this car, especially in the STI trim: speed and a loud exhaust. Roaring past a cop with a modified WRX will often end with you pulling over after you see flashing lights in your rearview mirror. In New Jersey, a cop can cite you for “excessive noise,” which gives officers a lot of leeway.




Next: Most cops know an illegal modification when they see one.

13. Illegal window tints

Make sure your windows comply with local tint regulations. | Land Rover




Among illegal car modifications, window tints might be the most obvious target for a cop patrolling the area. The overwhelming majority of states ban or limit the amount of tinting someone can put on a window. Cops don’t have to make judgment calls, either. Many carry devices that measure the level of tint on a window and ticket drivers based on the findings.