Protip #7: If you're wearing sunglasses, take them off. Most officers will ask you to take them off anyways this way they can try to tell if you are lying or not or if you have been drinking or doing drugs. It is in your benefit to take them off anyway because you will be able to make subtle eye contact and you will come off as a more personable person.

Protip #8: ONLY give what you are asked for. I was asked to see my license and registration. I handed the officer my license, registration, AND insurance. Dumb move. Turns out I had lost the insurance bill before it was ever opened and I didn't know to pay it. I got a letter almost a month later saying that if I didn't pay it, they'd cut off my insurance in 2 weeks. I got pulled over that night. The cop saw the insurance had expired and couldn't find any other records that my car was insured that night. It's possible she would've caught this anyways, but it sure didn't help my case handing her an expired insurance card.

Protip #9: If you definitely know you're done for, pull over before you get lit up. I had a friend who came speeding up a hill and noticed a cop there a little too late. He knew he was going to get pulled over so he did just after the top of the hill. Well when the cop came over the hill, booking it to catch up with him, the cop had to slam on his brakes because my friend was already pulled over. In the end he was grateful that he didn't have to chase after him and my friend was let off with a warning. This tip may seem like it is admitting guilt, but he was the only one on that road and the cop starting moving after he passed. The worst that could happen other than getting the ticket is the cop just drives right past you or after someone else but feel free to use your discretion here.

Protip #10: If you get it, fight it. There no chance you are going to be found not guilty if you don't do anything. Learn a little about the local law in your area, read "Beat Your Ticket: Go to Court and Win" by David Brown, and find yourself a loophole. Chances vary whether or not the cop even shows up but you might even have a case whether or not he/she does.

My first ticket ever I couldn't pull over any extra (although I would have because I too realize cops don't want to stand dangerously close to traffic) but there was a curb. I had my window down as soon as I saw her get out of her car (it was winter), I did have the interior lights on, and hands on the steering wheel. I think I had time to get my paperwork out before she came over to the vehicle but next time I will wait. She came over, asked for my paperwork and went back to her car, no questions asked. She came back and told me it's illegal to make a left on red (I had no clue this happened and planned to fight it as a "mistake of fact" because of the way the lights were lined up with the lanes) and that my insurance was out of date and issued me a ticket for both and told me to plead not guilty for the insurance, get it taken care of, and send it in. Although if you don't get it taken care of and they catch you again in NY, it's big consequences the second time around. I like to think if my insurance was fine, my clean record would've helped me out.

In the end, I took the ticket to court looking sharply dressed (can never hurt) and had a case to back up my appearance with questions ready to be asked. The cop didn't show up. I had to appear a second time. I showed up a second time. I got called out of the room in the middle of a hearing and they brought me to another hearing room, stamped a few pieces of paper and said I was all set. Cop didn't show twice and I was happy as a schoolgirl. Like I said, can't expect anything to happen in your favor if you don't do anything about it.

Tynan, so funny to read this -- I, too have been using almost these exact same techniques for years and I can attest to how well they work.

A few others that can bolster what you wrote above:

- Roll down *all* the windows, not just the driver's side window.  This is especially important if the windows are tinted.  Cops don't know who you are, and they try to quickly categorize you as a "good guy" or "bad guy".  Being able to see what's in your back seat (hopefully, nothing that will make your situation worse!) is a quick way to get them to see you as a "good guy" -- one of the populace they're charged with protecting & serving.

- Reference a minor emergency.  "I wasn't sure if I left the iron on at home when I left, and I was worried so I turned around to go back home and check."  Make sure this isn't *too* big of an emergency, or you might find yourself getting a police escort to find the answer.

At the end of the day, just realize that while you're only being pulled over once, cops do this all day, every day, and they put their lives in danger every time they do it.  So if you can make them feel safe, they'll thank you for it.  I once had a cop ask me "do you have a family member in the police force?" because usually it's only relatives of cops that know these respectful techniques.

I agree with Chris. They can still give you a moving violation if you have committed one. It will however show the cop that you aren't going to speed away or do anything funny. If you do turn off the engine, leave the key in sight either on your dash or if you trust you won't forget and that the cop is legit, on your roof. The officer is bound to notice and may thank you for it. Again if its winter, you may just want to leave it on. Nothings going to scare the cop more than you starting your car because you got cold.