- Stop your vehicle as far out of the lane of traffic as possible. Stay in your vehicle and turn on the interior light. Good lighting assists good communication. Relax and remain in your vehicle. If you leave the vehicle, you subject yourself and the officer to danger.
- Keep your hands in view at all times, preferably on the steering wheel. Wait for the officer to request your license and registration.
- Police officers are trained to ask for identification first, and provide an explanation second. Give The officer your license and registration then give him a chance to explain why you were stopped. Providing your documentation will speed the process. Remember, in most cases, the officer is in uniform, displaying a badge and name tag. You have the advantage of knowing with whom you are dealing. Extend the courtesy by presenting the requested paperwork without an argument. It makes sense and it’s the law.
- Do not argue the citation with the officer. If you think that the citation was wrongly issued, the proper procedure is to request a hearing through the district court.
Motor vehicle stops are one of the most dangerous situations that an officer may encounters during his job. For most departments it is standard policy for another officer to provide back-up. Remember, we don’t know who we are dealing with so we treat every stop with extreme caution. Stay calm, keep your hands visible, follow instructions and don’t lie or argue.
Even after we return to our cruiser we are still responsible for your safety. The officer will turn off his front emergency lights and leave on the rear ones. When it is safe to do so, pull out into traffic slowly and safely. The officer will follow you. Don’t stay and try to read the citation at the stop.
An auto accident MUST be reported when there is over $1000.00 in damages and /or personal injury.
The initial 10MPH over the speed limit is assessed a $50.00 fine. In other words, there is a flat fee for the first 10MPH over the limit. Each MPH above the initial 10MPH is then calculated at $10.00 per MPH thereafter. In addition to the fines established relative to the speed traveled, there is a $50.00 assessment applied to the fine schedule which goes to a Head Injury Fund established by the state and a $5 surcharge.
Example: 46MPH in a 30MPH zone = 16MPH over the speed limit
Fine = $50.00 head injury fund assessment + $5 surcharge + $50.00 (first 10MPH over the speed limit) + $60.00 (next 6MPH) = $165.00 fine.
*MPH = Miles Per Hour
Speak to the police dispatcher and just explain what happened and that it was a mistake. There is no fine or punishment for accidental calls. An officer will always be sent to physically check to confirm everything is OK.
If your property has been held or confiscated by the Maynard Police Department, you may contact Officer Leon Muraguri as to the status of it’s return.
You may call the Maynard Police Department and we will take possession of the firearm and secure it for you. You can also transfer the firearm to a legally licensed person using the Massachusetts Firearm and Transfer System.
As of 2015 a permit is no longer required for pepper spray in Massachusetts if you are over the age of 18. Individuals older than 15 but less than 18 years of age can possess pepper spray but will be required to have a Firearms Identification Card.