AOL:  Never Admit These 7 Things When a Cop Asks ‘Do You Know Why I Stopped You?’

As an uncle and as a free-thinking teacher, I considered it my duty to pass along the practical knowledge that official authority figures won’t.

Here’s a bullet list of the 7 things:

  1. Yeah, I was speeding.
  2. I only had a couple of drinks.
  3. I didn’t see the stop sign.
  4. I’m late for work.
  5. My license is probably suspended.
  6. You can search the car.
  7. Go ahead and write the ticket.

Cops are fine, they are just doing their jobs.  They follow a routine that works with most people. 

Most people think they are smart, only think about what is happening right now and think they can turn on the charm.  When a cop pulls someone over, the first thing the cop says is, “Do you know why I pulled you over?”

See how nice that is?  It’s not an accusation.  The cops is asking about you, and that often makes for good conversation.  Many people have a sense that if they admit some minor infraction that the cop is aware of anyway, a bond of mutual humanity and trust may develop.  That’s not how it works.

Don’t incriminate yourself, the justice system will take care of that for you.  Make them work for it.

Step one:  Prepare to be pulled over, before it happens.  Know what to do.  Everybody has plenty of dead time while waiting in line or sitting around.  Don’t just look at social media, think about how to handle a traffic stop.  Have a strategy for what to say and do.

Step two:  When you get pulled over, make the cop comfortable.  Never antagonize the guy with a gun.  Keep your seatbelt buckled, have your ID and insurance card out, roll down your window and have your hands resting on the steering wheel.  If it’s dark, turn on the interior light.

Step three:  Before the cop says, “Do you know why I pulled you over?”, you say, “Is there a problem officer?”  See how that works?  The cop’s request for a confession doesn’t make as much sense now.  If the cop asks anyway, then say, “No, I was wondering about that.  Is there a problem?”

Step four:  Don’t argue, but you don’t have to answer any questions.  You can shut up or answer a different question.

Cop:  “Do you know how fast you were going?”

You:  “I was moving with prevailing traffic”, or “I believe I was traveling within the speed limit.”

This is the part you are supposed to think about in advance.  You don’t have the wit or charisma to come up with a clever quip when a cop is looking in your window.

Step five:  If you are asked to get out of the vehicle, roll up the windows, take the keys, get out, and lock the door.  Never, ever, consent to a warrantless search.  Ever. 

Even if you are the epitome of legal compliance, there may be something incriminating in your car.  If anyone else has ever been in your car, there may be bit of marijuana, a bullet or an empty beer can stuck somewhere.  Who knows, don’t risk it.  Make them get the warrant.

Side note:  I’m surprised that AOL is still operating.