ALACHUA COUNTY FL:

  If you don't obey the traffic speed limit..there is a good chance one day you will get a ticket.

     The national motorists association found that florida is among the top five states to most likely hand out a traffic ticket.

     And there are spots in north central florida with a reputation for catching speeders.

     Whether it's keeping citizens safe or giving traffic tickets.

     They're out there enforcing the law.

     I went out for a ride-along with an officer to find ways of avoiding a traffic citation.     

     When a police officer pulls you over and says, "Hey, the reason I am stopping you is for your speed."
Nobody wants to hear it.

     No right turn on red. No U-turn. yield... Well, and the list goes on.

     Willingly or not, we all do it.

     Traffic violations, according to F-H-P, one million people per day receive a speeding ticket in the United States.

     But how do you avoid getting one, perhaps turning on the waterworks...or showing a little flesh?
     Hmm, not really.

     Gainesville police department spokesperson, Ben Tobias says, once the officer has witnessed the infraction, there's not a lot that prevent you from getting a ticket.

     Ben Tobias, Gainesville Police Department Spokesperson said "A lot of us have seen a lot of different excuses and it's actually comical sometimes to see the excuses. And sometimes people think they're so original and I know a couple of times, I've heard that same excuse ten times that day."

     Can you talk your way out of trouble?

     Jeff Mcadams, the president for the fraternal order of police in gainesville says having the right attitude may be in your favor...

     Jeff McAdams, President of GatorLodge 67, Fraternal Order of Police said "The citizens' attitude, very negative attitude right off the bat normally results in no discretion with the officer. They're going to make sure that they write a citation."

     Yi Che, a U-F grad student learned that the hard way...
     Che said, "I didn't realize I was that over speed, so I made an argument with the police officer and yes I got a ticket."

     269 dollars later, Che suspects the argument didn't make the cop happy, "Yeah, the officer maybe is unhappy about this argument and that's the reason he give me a big ticket for a big citation."

     To most of us cops make us nervous... but have you ever thought they may feel the same way about us?

     Tobias said, "Whenever an officer does a traffic stop, there a lot of unknowns that the officer is facing. They don't know who the person is, it could be the nicest person in the world but we don't know the person we don't what they have access to and that's when the officer is going to be a little more direct sometimes even harsh when they're initially approaching on a traffic stop."

     Harsh is an understatement when it comes to this dash cam video.

     Some of the video from the dash cam can show brutal incidents like this one where an officer is shot at while working.

     This happened in Hamilton, Montana and it shows how traffic stops can be a danger zone for officers.

     According to the national law enforcement officers memorial fund, it's a leading cause of death for cops.

     Tobias says drivers' best bet is to follow all traffic rules, "Drive safely, clear your mind, I know that people have a lot going on through their days. They have work, they have school, they have children to think of, what am I going to do next? How much can I do? While I am driving home. Let me send this text, let me do this... There's a lot of things that can wait. So the biggest thing is to follow all the traffic laws."

     If you happen to get pulled over, roll your windows down, so the police can see and hear you clearly. Also have your driver's license, registration and insurance card ready. If it's night time turn your interior light on, so they can see inside of your vehicle. But the biggest thing is your hands... Place them somewhere the officer can see them. Both hands on the wheel is ideal.

     Ben Tobias "It's what the person is holding in their hands or potentially holding in their hands that can be the most dangerous to us. When we see people's hands, we know that there's not a weapon in their hands."

     Ultimately whether you get the ticket or not, mcadams says it depends on the officer's discretion.

     Tobias goes on to say, "But I myself have given folks a break based on the fact that they had just had a death in the family or they was responding to the hospital and I chose not to issue a citation."

     And for those not as lucky as Che, sometimes a ticket is a lesson well learned...

     Police officers and deputies tend to patrol areas where citizens complain there's been a number of infractions and accidents.
     Our safest bet is to simply follow the law.