A 3-minute lesson from the Arkansas course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Being pulled over is stressful, but a calm, predictable routine keeps you, your passengers and the officer safe. Arkansas lays out clear steps, and some of them are required by law.
Pulling over:
Turn on your turn signal to show you're looking for a safe place to stop
Pull to the right, to the closest safe spot out of the traffic lane
Don't stop on bridges or overpasses
Unsure it's a real officer? Signal, go to the nearest well-lit place, dial 9-1-1 and ask for confirmation
Stay in the vehicle unless the officer tells you to get out
Tell the officer if there is a weapon in the vehicle, its type and its location; don't reach for it and follow the officer's instructions. If you have a concealed carry permit, present it with your driver's license.
Signing a citation is not an admission of guilt; it is a promise to appear in court or pay the fine before the court date. Refusing to sign can mean physical arrest, posting bond, and your vehicle being impounded.
When passing an officer or other authorized vehicle stopped on the roadside, move to the lane or position farthest away (A.C.A. § 27-51-310). If that's unsafe or impossible, slow down as you pass.
Blue lights appear behind you at night on a highway overpass. Signal, continue past the overpass to a safe spot on the right, stop, switch on your dome light, turn off the radio and rest your hands on top of the wheel until the officer reaches you.
Check your understanding
Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
If a law enforcement officer stops you at night, what should you do?
Turn on your high beams
Turn on your interior lights
Step out and meet the officer
Turn off your headlights
Answer: Turn on your interior lights
At night, turn on the interior lights so the officer can see you more clearly.