Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists

Friday's Digest #114

What To Do When The Police Pull You Over in The US

Getting pulled over can be a stressful experience, especially when you're just visiting the US.

Here's what I've learned from my encounter with the police.

November 1st, 2024

Friday's Digest - The Newsletter for Doctors & Scientists

For two decades, I've been developing tools that have improved my practice in medicine, dentistry, and scientific research.

Join me every Friday to discover a new tool you can integrate into your workflow as a doctor, a scientist, or both.

I believe in sharing knowledge, embracing automation, boosting productivity, and finding joy in the process.

Life Update
Tools and Tips
Readers’ Favorite
Stuff

Life Update

When I wrote this newsletter, a few ideas came to mind.

It started with "how quitting things can make you more productive."

Highly relevant for busy individuals, but... meh. It didn't get me excited.

Then I shifted to discussing how much money you'll make as a fellow in the US and what I recommend you spend it on.

Very interesting subject.

As I started writing, I quickly reached the part about whether you should buy a car and how much to spend on it.

And that reminded me of when I got pulled over by the police.

Yes— flashing red and blue lights, a police officer walking to my car window.— the whole shebang.

Don't worry, I'll tell you exactly what happened shortly.

But remembering it made me realize that people from outside the US don't know what to do when the police pull you over.

So, if you're heading for a fellowship or postdoc, or just renting a car for a short trip in the US, this one's for you.

Number 114!

Let's go 👮!

Tools and Tips

I Want to Buy a Car

It’s 2022, I just got to the US for my fellowship, and I was looking to buy a car.

Since we lived in Boston, the car had to handle ice and snow, and have a trunk large enough for luggage.

Fortunately, my wife's uncle offered to help me with the process.

I won't bore you with all the details of buying a car, but I do want to share what he taught me about what to do when the police pull you over in the US.

Hopefully, it will never happen to you, but if it does, I want you to benefit from his advice like I did.

So What Should I Do When the Police Pull Me Over?

First, he explained the technicalities (and we'll get to them shortly).

But then he shared something I don't think many people outside the US know: Police officers are likely to be less harsh if they respect your profession.

People Respect Certain Professions

People in the US respect doctors and scientists. If you Google those surveys, you’ll see that they also respect firefighters, soldiers, nurses, and teachers.

I noticed this during my stay in the US almost everywhere I went.

People were very respectful whether I wore a jacket with the hospital logo on it or had my pager visible.

They would wave me onto the train before them.

Even dangerous individuals conducting business on the street (use your imagination) would greet me with a polite "Good evening, doctor."

The Tip That Saved Me

So, the same respect for doctors and scientists can work in your favor with police officers, too.

What can you do with it?

If you’re a doctor and the police pull you over, one of the first things you need to do is to mention that you’re a doctor.

My Road Trip

In the spring of 2024, almost two years after that long ride with my wife's uncle, I drove from the East Coast to the West Coast.

We visited Portland, Oregon, but we wanted our car and belongings there. So, I drove our family car while my dear wife and kids took the plane.

And let me tell you. We PACKED that car.

To the point where I could barely fit in the driver's seat.

And I embarked on a road trip from Boston to Portland.

5000 km.

3000 miles.

About 60 hours of drive time.

I did it in 4 days.

Where Is My Hotel?!

On the second day of my road trip, after driving around 2500 km, I was exhausted.

It was around midnight, and I found myself in the middle of nowhere, looking for my hotel for the night.

Roads in the US rarely have streetlights, so it was dark. Very dark.

Google Maps was directing me to make a strange U-turn.

But all I could see was a dark road, and a parked police car on the side of the street.

That was it—no one else.

So I started to make the U-turn.

Now, when you turn left in the US, there are specific rules. One is to do it from the middle of the road, where you typically find yellow markings.

But this road had NO MARKINGS.

As I began the U-turn, my car sank into a small hole in the road.

Yes, there was a hole where the yellow markings should have been.

I started to navigate my car out of this hole.

After I finally made it to the other side, the police officer was already behind me, red and blue lights flashing.

And let me tell you, these lights are so bright.

I Just Got Pulled Over by the Police

What goes through your head at that point?

Well, I can tell you what went through mine.

First, I thought how suspicious my car looked.

I had suitcases, blankets, bags, a coffee machine, laundry detergent, a Dyson vacuum— you name it.

It looked like I robbed someone’s entire house 😄.

But then I remembered my wife's uncle's advice: The police officer should hear that I'm a doctor. The sooner, the better.

And, of course, there are the basics of what to do when pulled over by the police.

Let’s talk about them.

The Do's and Don'ts With the Police

First, remain seated. Don't walk over to the police car.

Second, keep both hands on the steering wheel, clearly visible.

Third, avoid sudden movements, ESPECIALLY not towards the glove compartment. Why? Because that's where people often keep guns in their cars.

So there I was, seated in the driver's seat, hands on the wheel, blinded by the flashing blue and red lights.

In the mirror, I saw the police officer approaching my car, her hand on her gun.

I glanced at the inside of my car, thinking about how bad it looked.

Then I realized she would ask for my license and registration.

My license was in my pocket— no problem.

But the registration was in the glove compartment.

The glove compartment was blocked by a coffee machine.

Which was under a suitcase.

Which was under a mattress.

Yes, I also had a mattress in there.

"Good evening, officer," I said as she reached my window.

"License and registration, please."

"Yes, officer. Here's my license. My registration is in the glove compartment. I'll have to reach over there."

And then I continued. "I'm a surgeon from Boston, on my way to Portland, Oregon. I'm just trying to get to my hotel for the night."

(My wife's uncle would've been proud 😃)

"From Boston?! To Portland?!" she exclaimed. "You know, you just drove against traffic."

At this point, I could have explained about the hole in the road and how I'd ensured no one was around. But I didn't.

Instead, I pointed to Google Maps on my phone, which still showed that ridiculous U-turn it wanted me to make.

"Yes, I was trying to follow THAT," pointing to my phone.

The police officer glanced at my screen and smiled. She had good reason to—Google Maps was still asking me to make a left, a right, go straight, back, then left and right again.

All in pitch dark.

And through a hole in the road.

Absolutely ridiculous.

And then, I tried to reach for my registration in the glove compartment.

I started to move the mattress, suitcases, blankets, bags, coffee machine, laundry detergent, and Dyson vacuum.

At this point, she told me not to bother and went to check my car on her computer.

She returned and said she'd let me go with a warning this time, even offering help to find my hotel.

And that was the end of that story.

So, if you ever get pulled over, remember those wise words from my wife’s uncle.

Hopefully, you will never need it.

Drive safe! 🚔

Readers’ Favorite

Newspaper, Radio, and Vinyl Records: How I Returned to Analog and Why You Should Too

Our parents knew what they were doing: They read the newspaper, listened to the radio, and put a record on the turntable.

Here’s how doing the same can make your life better.

Stuff

📱Application I use - Genius Scan

This app does one thing— it uses your phone's camera to scan a document and turn it into a PDF.

I love its flexibility when creating PDFs, including options to adjust the crop and file size.

I've been using it for years (the free version is more than enough for me).

Epilogue

That’s it for this issue.

If you received this newsletter from a friend and would like to join Friday's Digest, visit https://newsletter.shaysharon.com

See you next week!

Shay

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