You’re running late, pressing a little harder on the gas pedal than usual, and stretching the definition of stop as you snub the several stop signs you slip past on your way to work. I’m in my patrol car writing a report where I can monitor an intersection. It’s near an elementary school; parents and teachers have complained about an increase in traffic violations.

I watch you roll past the stop sign with only the slightest tap on your brakes. Now I’m behind you, my lights snag your attention, and you roll to a stop. Your violation wasn’t too heinous. This time I’m just planning to warn you to slow down and remind you that kids are in the area.

“Good morning ma’am.” I begin, smiling. “The reason I stopped you is you failed to stop for the stop sign at 12th Avenue and East Aloha Street.”

“I did so stop.” You challenge me; my smile fades.

Now I have to ask you, why would you do this? Does it make sense that you used the first words out of your mouth to call me, the officer from whom you’d presumably like a warning, a liar? Think about it, because that’s essentially what you did.

Officers drive from eight to twelve hours per shift. They see dozens of violations. Just think of how many times a day you curse other drivers. Do you really think the officer has targeted you and fabricated a reason to stop you? Are you that important? He stopped you because you ran the stop sign—period. Get over yourself; we all do it on occasion, you just happened to get caught this time; how many times have you not been caught?

This next example is less offensive, but perhaps more disconcerting.

“But Officer, I thought I stopped,” the motorist says looking befuddled.

“Sir, I’d be concerned about your ability to drive if you’re telling me you’re not certain whether or not your car was stopped, or in motion, at a given time.” (There’s an art to saying this without sarcasm.)

Think about what you’re saying to the officer. More often than not the officer is monitoring your violation from a stationary position, while you’re driving with a million other things on your mind, the officer’s patrol car being the one millionth thing. He’s also been specifically trained to look for exactly what you did, and he’s probably been doing it for a while.

If you’re pulled over for a traffic violation consider this: The officer is a human being like you. He responds to honesty and respect like you do. If you’ve made a driving error, treat the officer courteously and be truthful. If you don’t understand what you did wrong, the officer will be happy to explain it to you. Otherwise, just apologize for your error, tell the officer you’ll try to be more careful, and then hope for the best.

If the officer isn’t in a warning mood, for whatever reason, keep in mind there’s a 99.9% chance you did indeed commit the infraction, and your animus should be directed toward yourself, not the officer. After all, you’re the one who ran the stop sign.