Chapter 4 — Your Driving 47 What Motorists Should Do When Stopped By Law Enforcement:  The Driver  • After the vehicle stops, you should place the vehicle in “Park,” roll down the  window, turn off the engine, and silence any electronic devices and/or radio  so that you can easily communicate with the officer. You and all passengers  should  remain seated in the vehicle . An officer may approach your vehicle  on the driver or passenger side for safety reasons.  Do not  remove your seatbelt  unless asked to do so by the officer.  • If an unmarked car is stopping you and you have a legitimate question  or concern as to whether or not you are being stopped by an actual law  enforcement officer, you may call 9-1-1 before pulling over. Report your  name and location in order to verify that an actual law enforcement officer is  conducting the traffic stop.  • If there is not an obvious safe place to immediately stop the vehicle, turn on  your emergency 4 way flashers and reduce your speed (by about 10 mph)  to signal to the officer that you are aware of his or her presence. Continue  driving and obey all traffic laws until you reach the nearest safe area to stop  your vehicle.  • When you see emergency lights and/or hear a siren behind you, stay calm,  activate your turn signal,  pull the vehicle always to the right , and off the  travel portion of the highway at the nearest point where it is safe to do so.  Law enforcement officers conduct traffic stops because they observe a traffic  violation or are conducting a police investigation. Being stopped by a law  enforcement officer can be a stressful experience but knowing what to do  during the stop will help ensure your safety and the safety of others, including  the officer. • On a highway with only one lane of traffic in the same direction you are  traveling, you must slow your speed and drive at a reduced, safe speed until  completely past the emergency vehicle. •  On a highway with at  least two lanes of traffic in  the same direction you are  traveling, you must move  your vehicle into a lane  that is not the lane nearest  the parked or standing  emergency vehicle and  continue traveling in that  lane until safely clear of the  emergency vehicle.  When approaching any authorized emergency vehicle (police, fire department,  ambulance, rescue squad or public service vehicle that is being used to assist  motorists or law enforcement officers with wrecked or disabled vehicles) that  is parked or standing within 12 feet of the roadway with the emergency or  warning lights activated, a driver is required to do the following: MOVE OVER FOR STOPPED EMERGENCY & SERVICE VEHICLES