respect is key when you get pulled over. The first ticket I ever got I openly admitted to speeding (25 over) which kind of killed me, but I was respectful.
Well anyway when my uncle (NYPD) and I went to court to ask for it to be lowered the officer said and I quote "let me see how he acted when I pulled him over". He then proceeded to pull out a little notebook, flip through it and then say " yeah ok he was very polite and respectful, I'll try and get it dropped to a.........(enter cop talk here)". Anyway keep in mind this was about 6 months after the incident because my court date kept getting postponed for some reason.
Anyway ever since I saw that I am always "yes sir and no sir" to officers. I try and be as cooperative and polite as possible and I have yet to get another ticket. I have since been pulled over for speeding, no registration, etc. and no tickets.
like I said respect go a long way. they're just doing their jobs afterall, no reason to be assholes to them.