Your rights during a traffic stop in Texas: What cops can and can't do

Every DFW driver needs to know this. A traffic stop is a legal interaction governed by specific rules.

What you MUST do:

Provide driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance when asked (Texas Transportation Code 521.025, 601.053)
Follow lawful orders (exit the vehicle if asked)
Keep your hands visible

What you DON'T have to do:

Consent to a search. "I do not consent to a search." Say it clearly and calmly. Under the 4th Amendment, an officer needs probable cause or your consent to search your vehicle.
Answer questions beyond identification. The 5th Amendment protects your right to silence. "I'm exercising my right to remain silent" is a complete sentence.
Take a field sobriety test. In Texas, field sobriety tests (walk the line, follow the pen) are VOLUNTARY. You can decline. However, refusing a breathalyzer triggers implied consent consequences (license suspension under Texas Transportation Code 724.035).

What cops CAN do:

Order you out of the car (Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 1977 — applies nationally)
Run your license/plates
Detain you for a reasonable period to complete the stop
Search if they have probable cause (smell of marijuana, visible contraband, etc.)

What cops CAN'T do:

Extend the stop beyond its original purpose without reasonable suspicion (Rodriguez v. United States, 2015)
Search your phone without a warrant (Riley v. California, 2014)
Use excessive force during a routine stop

Practical tips:

Record the interaction. Texas is a one-party consent state (Penal Code 16.02). You can record.
Interior lights on at night. Hands on the steering wheel.
Be polite. Assert your rights calmly. Arguing roadside never helps.
If your rights are violated, comply in the moment and fight it in court later. The roadside is not a courtroom.

Sources:

Know the law. Stay calm. Exercise your rights politely.

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