Traffic stops are a common occurrence in and around New York City. However, many people who are pulled over by the New York City Police Department do not understand their rights. Drivers are not required to incriminate themselves, which means they have the right to remain silent and do not need to consent to a search. However, in some cases, the officers may search your vehicle even without your consent.

It is essential to understand your rights before being pulled over. It also helps to understand your responsibilities so that you do not needlessly escalate the situation. If your traffic stop leads to an arrest or you believe the stop violated your rights, speak with a New York City civil rights lawyer to determine whether it was conducted properly.

Reasons the police may stop you in New York

It helps to understand that not every reason they may stop you is valid. For example, an officer may pull over a vehicle when they have reasonable cause to believe that the driver has violated the law. “Reasonable cause,” simply put, means that there is reliable evidence or information that the person in question has committed an offense.

Reasonable cause is not a high threshold to meet. Even an illegal turn onto an empty street could be enough to stop a driver, and in many situations, a minor infraction like this will give the police grounds.

Know your rights when you are pulled over

The law affords individuals in New York City certain protections to prevent police overreach.

Original article: https://friedmanlevy.com/practice-areas/civil-rights-lawyer-nyc/what-are-my-rights-if-im-pulled-over-in-new-york/