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Pennsylvania driving lesson · Driving Record and Penalties

Police stops, crashes and fleeing police

A 4-minute lesson from the Pennsylvania course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
4 minutes
Course unit
Driving Record and Penalties
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
84, 85

A traffic stop goes best when the officer can see you're calm and not a threat. After a crash, the law spells out when to call police, what information to trade, and what to do if you hit an unattended car.

Know the rule

You must follow the officer's directions at a stop or you may be arrested. Police use flashing red and blue lights; unmarked cars may use red only, sometimes with white. A vehicle flashing only blue lights is not a police officer.

Handbook p. 85 ↗

When police stop you

  • Signal, pull as far right as is safe, stop and park away from traffic
  • Turn off the engine and radio and roll down your window
  • At night, turn on your interior light before the officer approaches
  • Limit your movements and your passengers'; don't reach for anything
  • Tell the officer right away if you have any firearm in the vehicle
  • Put your hands on the wheel; passengers keep hands in view
  • Keep doors closed and stay inside unless asked to get out
  • Keep your seat belt on until the officer has seen you're buckled
  • Wait to be asked for license, registration and insurance; don't hand over your wallet
Handbook p. 84 ↗

Know the rule

Always be polite. If you disagree with a citation, you're entitled to a court hearing; don't argue at the scene. If you feel mistreated, contact the police department afterward and ask for a supervisor.

Handbook p. 84 ↗

Know the rule

If you're unsure it's really the police, acknowledge the stop by turning on your flashers and slowing down, then drive to the nearest well-lit, populated area. You may ask for ID; officers always carry a photo ID and badge.

Handbook p. 85 ↗

Know the rule

Don't stop at a crash unless you're involved or help hasn't arrived. Keep driving, watch for people near the road, and don't block police, fire, ambulance or tow vehicles.

Handbook p. 85 ↗

If you're in a crash

  • Stop at or near the scene; move off the road if you can so traffic isn't blocked
  • Call police if anyone is hurt or killed (witnesses must call if drivers can't)
  • Call police if any vehicle needs to be towed
  • Get other drivers' names, addresses, phone numbers, registration numbers, insurers and policy numbers
  • Get names and addresses of everyone else involved and of witnesses
Handbook p. 85 ↗

Know the rule

If you hit a parked vehicle or property, stop and try to find the owner. If you can't, leave a note where it can be seen with the date and time, your name and a phone number, and call the police.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
5 days

Deadline to send a Driver's Accident Report (AA-600) if police didn't investigate a crash with injury, death or a towed vehicle

Handbook p. 85 ↗
1 year + $500

Penalty for fleeing or eluding police: 1-year suspension and $500 fine plus costs, and possibly prison

Handbook p. 85 ↗

Put it into practice

An officer pulls you over at night. Park safely, turn off the engine, turn on the dome light, lower the window and rest your hands on the wheel. Hand over your license and registration only when asked.

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.

What color lights indicate a police vehicle wants you to pull over?
  1. Flashing white lights only
  2. Flashing amber lights only
  3. Flashing red and blue lights (or red only on unmarked vehicles)
  4. Flashing blue lights only

Answer: Flashing red and blue lights (or red only on unmarked vehicles)

Police vehicles signal a stop with flashing red and blue lights, or red only if unmarked.

Handbook p. 84 ↗
If you're unsure whether the vehicle signaling you to stop is really a police car, what should you do?
  1. Ignore it and keep driving normally
  2. Stop immediately regardless of location
  3. Call 911 and stop in your current lane
  4. Drive to a well-lit, busy area with flashers on

Answer: Drive to a well-lit, busy area with flashers on

You may drive to a well-lit area while acknowledging with flashers and reduced speed.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
When a police officer approaches your stopped vehicle at night, what should you do?
  1. Turn on your interior light
  2. Turn off all lights to avoid distracting them
  3. Exit the vehicle immediately
  4. Keep your headlights on high beam

Answer: Turn on your interior light

Turning on your interior light at night helps the officer see inside your vehicle as they approach.

Handbook p. 84 ↗
What should you do with your hands when a police officer approaches your vehicle?
  1. Hold your license out the window
  2. Place them on the steering wheel
  3. Reach for your glove compartment immediately
  4. Hold your documents ready

Answer: Place them on the steering wheel

Keeping your hands visible on the steering wheel helps reassure the officer during the stop.

Handbook p. 84 ↗
If you hit a parked, unattended vehicle and cannot find the owner, what must you do?
  1. Leave a note and call the police
  2. Leave the scene since no one saw it happen
  3. Leave a note; no police call is needed
  4. Only report it if the damage exceeds $1,000

Answer: Leave a note and call the police

You must leave a note with your details in a visible place and notify the police.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
Within how many days must you send a Driver's Accident Report Form (AA-600) if police did not investigate a crash involving injury?
  1. 10 days
  2. 5 days
  3. 30 days
  4. 1 day

Answer: 5 days

An AA-600 report must be sent within five days when police did not investigate an injury crash.

Handbook p. 85 ↗
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