I came across an article that I think could come in handy for those of you who--like me--tend to have a lead foot. Below are tips FROM A COP on how to talk your way out of a speeding ticket!

#1: Don't be a jerk. I think this goes without saying, but basically, if you're rude, don't expect anyone to cut you a break.

#2: Put the officer at ease. No two traffic stops are alike, and even a routine stop can escalate quickly. An officer never knows what kind of person is in the drivers' seat when they approach a vehicle, so they're automatically on guard. You can put them at ease by being polite (see: #1), keeping your hands where the officer can see them, and not doing anything until the officer asks you to.

#3: Never mention quotas. There's this misconception that cops have to write a certain number of tickets per day in order to keep their job. The reality is, that's not the case. In fact, in many states, that's illegal. You weren't picked at random; you were stopped because you were doing something wrong, so, again, don't be a jerk, and keep your quota comments to yourself.

#4: Don't flirt. This one is mainly for the ladies, but I've seen men do it, too. No matter how hot you think you are, this is not going to work to your advantage. In fact, when you flirt with the officer, it makes them assume you've gotten out of tickets in this way before, and it makes them want to come down harder on you. An extension of this is, if you have to go to court as part of your ticket, don't show up dressed like a woman of the night to stand in front of the judge. It won't help you beat the ticket, and you'll end up looking like an idiot.

#5: You're not on "Law & Order." Forget all the words and phrases you've heard on cop shows. You don't know what you're talking about and, again, you'll end up looking like an idiot. Don't try to quote laws to the cop; if you decide to appear in court, save that talk for the judge. On second thought, just skip it altogether.

#6: Bribery gets you nowhere. Keep your money inside your wallet. Bribing an officer is a crime, and so is accepting a bribe. Don't do it.

#7:Come clean. If the officer asks why you were driving so fast/ran the red light/blew through the stop sign, BE HONEST. Don't fake a medical emergency when there isn't one. Honestly isn't a surefire way to get out of your ticket, but it certainly increases your shot at getting off with a warning.

Check out the full article here.