Cops hate it when somebody they stop in traffic gets out of their car and heads back toward the patrol car. Here’s a tip designed to improve citizen and police relations: please stay in your car whenever you’re stopped. Be sure the cop can see both of your hands-and be nice but never offer to shake hands.

What’s wrong with an honest handshake? Let me tell you about Darrell and George’s handshake incident:

Darrell and his partner George are on patrol together when they see a guy in a Chevy Caprice cross the center line several times while the driver appears to be talking on a cellular telephone.

Darrell pops on the blue-lights and siren and pulls the guy over. This is not for a ticket but for a warning-pure and simple.

Instantly the guy is out of his car with a huge smile, all the while taking long strides back toward the patrol car. Darrell and "Mister Friendly" meet about half way between the two cars. Partner George sees all this from his vantage point on the passenger side of the patrol car.

Next Mister Friendly comes out with a cheery, "Howdy officer," while extending his right arm for a handshake.

Darrell stops dead in his tracks, holds up his left hand saying, "Stop right there, mister, don’t come one inch closer." Darrell’s right hand is now resting on the butt of his 9mm Sig Sauer.

At that same instant George yells, "GUN!"

George has an advantage Darrell does not have. He can see the guy’s left hand-the one concealing a chrome plated handgun.

The officers manage to subdue Mister Friendly with minimal damage. No shots fired; no bones broken; no blood shed.

It turns out that Mister Friendly-the guy with the fancy Colgate smile and hearty handshake-is also a fugitive wanted in Arkansas and Oklahoma for a couple of cases of armed robbery and aggravated assault.

The next time a cop seems slightly suspicious of your friendly greeting, try to remember Darrell and George’s handshake encounter with Mr. Friendly.