What to do when a team of policemen flags your car? 

This year makes it a decade that I started driving and I have never experienced police harassment or extortion. This doesn’t in anyway mean that I’m dismissing the experience of those who have been harassed or extorted by policemen. But I thought to share few tips that have worked for me when dealing with policemen, not even as a lawyer, because I hardly identify myself as one, except my NBA sticker exposes me. 

Before I leave my house, I make sure I check my car papers and driver’s license and ensure that they are all intact. Then I know that I’m good to go with any police man on the road. 

Whenever I approach  check point of policemen, I dont accelerate, I make sure to slow down before approaching them. So I don’t want to be flagged down before I stop or slow down. 

If or when I’m flagged down, I don’t hesitate to comply, even though I know that except for ant security intelligence, a team of policemen aren’t supposed to be on the road for stop and search. Many directives have been issued in the past by IGPs to dismantle checkpoints or against police stop and search. 

So when I’m stopped, I don’t go about reminding them that their checkpoint or stop and search is illegal, because I probably won’t know whether they have any security intelligence to carry out the stop and search. For presumption of regularities I comply with all lawful directives, including showing my car papers and licence. 

Of course. I don’t hesitate to exchange greetings or pleasantries and be as friendly as possible. This particular approach has freed me from many undue and unnecessary police delays. In fact, more often than not, with this, I don’t get my car to be searched or my papers and license being demanded for. It’s usually a free pass. Then approach or outward appearance is another important thing that I pay attention to. From my appearance or approach, you will understand that I’m not someone to mess around with. 

Needful to mention, our police men can be unprofessionally shameless by asking or demanding to be treated well. So whenever I have some cash left in the car, I use my discretion to give them and they don’t hesitate to show their appreciation and respect. 

On some occasions, even when I have cash with me, I decide against giving them and never for once have I been prevented from going because I didn’t give them money. I fit even say “next time Oga, nothing dey for ground now” and we often laugh over it 😀

PS: this isn’t a legal advice of any sort, it’s simply a narration of what I have tried and worked.