New drivers are told basic guidelines to follow from day one: always stop at red lights, don’t go over the speed limit, and don’t forget to secure your seatbelt. Follow these tips and you won’t get pulled over, right?

As you become more comfortable with driving, some of the more specific rules can slip into the back of your mind. We’re here to remind you of 4 surprising and unconventional reasons an officer can pull you over.

1) A Loud Car

While the roaring noise from your car’s exhaust sounds cool, it can get you pulled over. A cop can do so based on the grounds of “excessive noise.”

It’s up to car owners to familiarize themselves with their local laws. For example, according to ExhaustVideos.com, a vehicle’s exhaust can be no louder than 95 decibels in California. Other areas have more vague laws. For example, in New York City, a car owner can be ticketed if the vehicle exhaust unit is “plainly audible.”

2) Faulty Equipment

If a cop notices any of these equipment issues, you will get pulled over:

• Lights. Your lights, turn signals, and brake signals should all be in working condition. They increase your visibility at night and during harsh weather. Plus, they indicate your next movements to other drivers, which helps in preserving everyone’s safety on the road.
• Rearview mirrors. If you have a rearview mirror that’s dangling off of its hinge or completely missing, this limits what you can see behind you.
• Bumpers. Front and rear bumpers should be firmly attached at all times. Failing to do so can damage surrounding vehicles.
• Windshield. How frustrating is it to be driving behind a truck filled with gravel only to have a piece fly out and strike your windshield? While everyone likely experiences this at least once in their lives, a lot of people don’t understand the severity of this issue. A small crack can impair your vision and make an accident more likely to occur. Lower your chances of getting a ticket and getting pulled over by addressing a chipped window immediately. Companies like newmarketautoglass.ca offer same-day auto glass repair and replacement services, so there’s no excuse to leave this kind of issue unresolved.

3) Slow Driving

If a cop has a choice to pull over a car going 100mph or a car going 40mph in an area with a 70mph speed limit, they will most likely stop the faster one.

However, be aware that a slow driver can get pulled over, too. A slow driver can be a stoned or drunk one, so a cop needs to make sure that the driver isn’t endangering anyone else.

Even slow sober drivers can get pulled over within reason. They shouldn’t be blocking the left lane and impeding the progression of traffic, especially during busier times of the day.

4) Improper Lane Changes

Sometimes, convenience or ignorance leads us to make one of the following moves:

• Change lanes while traveling through an intersection
• Changes lanes before offering 3 seconds of warning with a blinker
• Change lanes over solid lines

Though you may do these things often, they are all legal and reasonable grounds for a cop to pull you over.

Final Thoughts

With these rules in mind, you should be prepared to be a safer driver for yourself and others on the road! Now that you’re familiar with some things you may have forgotten, you have no excuse to get pulled over.

If you do happen to get pulled over, for one of these reasons or any other, don’t argue with the police officer. They pulled you over for good reason, and arguing with them can result in a greater citation when they could’ve let you off with a warning.