Why Do Cops Ask if You Know Why They Pulled You Over

In this article y'all volition notice 3 reasons law always inquire:

"Exercise you know why I pulled you over?"

So, why do police inquire this question?

And, how should you respond when you are asked?

Let'southward jump right in!

The Question Asked At Every Traffic Cease

It's true, and it's not just in the movies either. The question is asked all the time by constabulary who pull over a car. But why do they ever ask…

"Do you know why I pulled you lot over today?"

Well in that location are actually a few reasons that the question is asked at a traffic stop. Whether you were unsafely driving a motorcycle, or you lot believe you were driving perfectly.

You should know why police officers ask the question.

Hither are the pinnacle iii reasons police officers inquire!

Reason 1: To Institute a Conversation

One of the get-go, and perhaps almost obvious reasons that police officers ask the question is to begin the conversation.

How else practice would they begin the conversation?

Unfortunately, traffic stops are a serious concern for police officers. If they merely came up and asked "How are you lot doing today?" instead. It would be misleading.

Whereas "Do you Know why I stopped y'all today?" is very straight frontward and to the bespeak.

According to Sam Shallenberger, Reserve Police Sergeant these are a few of the benefits of asking:

I don't use that technique, but it is widely used. The

Reason 2: To Evaluate Your Personality

Police officers are constantly evaluating scene rubber, and request the question, helps them evaluate your character.

Here'southward the bargain, your response to "Practice y'all know why I pulled you over?" says a lot about you.

Law Officers Read Body Language and Verbal Cues

It's no secret that constabulary officers take to use whatever available resources to approximate their scene safety.

One of the few things that they have access to before they know who you are is your behavior.

Get this, when you lot are walking up to a strange vehicle, social ques and body language are all you have. Especially when you lot don't know who is actually in the vehicle.

Make up one's mind Your Level of Self-Responsibleness

According to some police officers, it helps to determine your level of self-responsibility. Depending on your response, an officer may or may not decide to event a ticket.

According to Scott Harris a Deputy since 2009:

Scott Harris, Deputy (in the United States) at A Sheriff's Office (2009-present) Mainly it's to establish a conversation. We are trained to recognize body language, subconscious verbal cues, etc that help us determine what's going on. Talking helps us with that. The secondary reason is to determine the driver's level of personal responsibility. The goal of a traffic stop is to determine what course of action I can take to make travel safer for everyone.

I like Scott'due south response as it testify the thinking behind an officers actions at a traffic finish.

"Information technology is easy to be upset with the officer, but when you consider that the officer is trying to practise what is all-time for anybody. It can brand the situation less stressful. "

Deputy Scott Harris actually continued his explanation with 2 scenarios that are worth checking out…

Scott Harris on why police ask "do you know why I pulled you over? For someone with a high level of personal responsibility, who says

Get this, at least every bit far as Deputy Scott explains it, sometimes accepting responsibility volition keep yous out of trouble. But don't leap to conclusions before reading to the cease.

Reason iii: To Collect Evidence

Although traffic laws are different than criminal offenses. Officers may find that y'all admit to crimes or other offenses they weren't aware of.

Furthermore, if y'all admit to knowing why yous were pulled over it volition be hard to deny it latter should you want to deny the affair in court.

Most people are honest. Opening with this question may upshot in y'all admitting to a crime or traffic criminal offence the officer didn't know nigh when he pulled y'all over.

Always exist aware, that any answer used can be used confronting you in court.

So What is the Best Response?

Whether you lot were using a cellphone while driving or merely speeding, you want to know how to respond to the constabulary officer when y'all are asked.

Look, there is no definite answer.

Each situation will exist unique to your own situation. Sometimes existence honest tin can become yous out of a ticket by showing self-responsibility. Sometimes information technology tin can result in a solid instance against you.

Reply i: "I Don't Know"

I affair is for sure: Answering the question with "I don't know" may be the worst response you can make.

Affections Lewis a one-time Probation Officer tells us this:

This is crazy, but answering the question with "I don't know" can show carelessness, or that you lot only were not paying attention while driving.

Avoid answering with "I don't know." The just answer that may be worse is "It depends on how long you were post-obit me".

Answer 2: "Yes"

Presume That You Know

You may recall you lot know why the officer pulled you over. And perchance yous exercise. No matter how yous answer you lot can only presume.

If you happen to exist right the officer may run across it as a sign that you are cocky-aware. Perhaps it will get y'all out of the ticket. On the other mitt you lot may have no idea why they actually pulled you over.

If that is the instance you may be adding to your trouble.

Respond 3: "No"

Know That You Don't Know

The truth is that you don't know why yous were pulled over.

"Although it may be hard non to tell the officer why yous think you were pulled over, you don't have to. "

You may accept a skillful idea about why the officer stopped you, but We have all heard the question before.

The truth is you can not know what the officer is thinking.

In courtroom bold what someone is thinking is called speculation, and will non pass for show.

So, if you are asked do yous know why you lot were pulled over, the truth is no. You lot tin can't know.

Is the Arroyo Outdated?

According to some law officers, starting out a finish past asking "do you know why I pulled you over?" is non the all-time technique.

For case Mike Gordon a retired metropolis police officer had this to say to the question "Why exercise constabulary inquire "practice you know why I pulled you over" during traffic stops":

answer to why police ask Do you know why I pulled you over: Miles Gordon, Retired city cop "Not all of them do. Those that do either had poor training, or have fallen into bad habits, or think they'll catch the driver in a lie. Because of officer safety issues, starting a traffic stop by asking that question is the wrong approach."

James Powell, a police force enforcement with 24 years of experience had this response to the question:

answer to why police ask Do you know why I pulled you over: James Powell, 8 years military, 24 years law enforcement, I cannot answer for other officers intent. I personally have never asked the question. I walk up to the car, ask for your license and proof of insurance and then I tell you why I pulled you over. This will illicit the same type of reaction as if I had asked you do you know why I pulled you over. And this way I never asked you to confess to the crime of speeding. You confessed on your own free will.

And so obviously, non all police officers start a traffic cease with the question. Yet it is certainly something to exist prepared for if you are pulled over at a traffic finish.

The Bottom Line

It's true, not all traffic stops are the same, but preparation for any situation is key.

If yous want to read more about this question, check out this forum.

Obviously the best way to handle the situation is to not go pulled over to begin with, but if y'all are pulled over. You lot desire to be as prepared.

If you need legal representation from lawyers near you, you tin can search for the best lawyers nigh you.

Here are some of our listings:

Best Lawyers in Kitty Hawk, NC

Top attorneys in Virginia Embankment, VA

Lawyers in Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Attorneys in Richmond, Virginia

thompsonmoded1948.blogspot.com

Source: https://healinglaw.com/blog/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/