Pretextual traffic stops occur when police officers stop someone for petty violations, such as failing to signal, broken taillights, tinted windows or another problem. However, these stops can quickly escalate, turning into an investigation that leaves you looking for an Indiana criminal defense attorney to represent you. According to Potts Law, a criminal defense attorney in Indiana, knowing your rights can help you avoid escalating a pretextual stop.
These Stops Can Become Long and Painful
Traffic stops are very common among police. In fact, more than 20 million people are pulled over every year for minor violations. However, these routine stops can easily escalate to a lengthy and painful procedure as police investigate you for other crimes, that they have no evidence you committed.
These Interactions Can Turn Fatal
Aside from being long and troublesome, they can also prove fatal. In some cases, individuals can become victims of police brutality. This can result in innocent lives being taken at a pretextual stop. Similarly, these interactions may culminate in innocent people being jailed. When the future looks bleak, these individuals can be driven to suicide inside their jail cells. This further raises the number of deaths caused by pretextual stops.
An Indiana Criminal Defense Attorney Can Resolve Them
The best way to resolve issues is to take preventative measures by ensuring you understand your rights as a motorist. However, if you are the victim of a traffic stop that has escalated, you should hire a good criminal defense attorney to work on your behalf during your trial.
Pretextual stops can escalate quickly and become fatal or be used to investigate other crimes. At the end of the day, only a good Indiana criminal defense attorney can help you if a pretextual traffic stop has escalated. If you need to hire a criminal defense attorney in Indiana, contact Potts Law at (317) 951-0087 or fill out the online contact form.
