BTW, why does anyone consider it uncooperative to exercise your rights when an agent of the state is trying to pin a crime on you? I don't get that. If they had PC, they wouldn't need to ask your consent to search. Though they often do, in case their PC doesn't hold up in court; then they have your consent, which means you're SOL. The cops are not searching your car to look for mechanical defects that might get you injured in an accident. They're looking for evidence to use against you in an arrest. Why in the world would you help them with that? Cops are perfectly allowed to lie to you and can give you orders you don't have to comply with. If you don't know your rights, you don't have any. Ditto for exercising them. See the cop in the video treat that cameraman like an idiot until cameraman reminded him VT is a one-party consent state? I'm polite in a traffic stop. But I don't hand them their case with my words or consent.

I work for our local PD. I would NEVER consent to have my person, car or home searched. If someone wants to search me or my property they are going to have to wake up a judge to get a warrant. This means that at least one person who has read the Fourth Amendment to our Constitution is involved in that decision, and that the officer has had to articulate their probable cause for the record. As there is really no circumstance in my life that would justify a warrant I am confident that nobody will be doing any searching.

There is nothing illegal in my car or on my person. There is almost always a firearm either on me or in my car. I do have a permit, but in Colorado one does not need a permit to have a loaded gun in their car, or on their person in their car as it is considered an extension of ones home.

I'd like to believe that, but I have too much experience to the contrary.

The long videos of those jerkfaces giving that kid a hard time did my heart good. It is sooo refreshing to see what they do on a regular basis exposed in public.

That's why it's the classic question that everyone knows. There is no correct answer.

Newsflash: most cops are not out to get you.

ask a guy with black skin the same question - see what he says; repeat for a guy with brown skin

then ask a kid with long hair

if your car seems suspicious - in any way - you may get followed or stopped - that includes driving late at night or looking funny


Oregon law requires cops to give you a ticket and let you be on your way -- they also can ONLY ask about issues pursuant to violation you committed

YET, the cops in my town routinely ask where you are going and where are you coming from + a lot of other BS questions completely unrelated to traffic stops. I suppose they are trying to fish for incoherence, drunkenness or evidence of a crime. BUT they routinely violate the law. Don't even get me started about the tasings, beatings, and RAPES by the cops here.

Its my understanding that this is a very different issue. When "he put me in the back of his car" that may cross a different line.

"An arrest occurs when a person no longer reasonably expects that he is free to leave. A "Terry Stop" is not an arrest, even though the person can't leave during the investigatory questioning, as the detention is of short duration and is limited in its scope. (A "Terry Stop" may involve little more than a short series of questions, such as, "What is your name? Where do you live? Why are you here?") However, if a person is not allowed to leave the scene for an extended period of time, the person may be considered to be "under arrest," even though those words are never used. If a person is handcuffed, is locked in the back of a police car, or is otherwise restrained from leaving, the person will ordinarily be considered to be "under arrest.""

How to NOT get the beat down when you get pulled over - Bing Videos


I used to belive that cops are ok. All of the young guys that are chp that I meet have had the same trait of us/vs them. Their egos are out of control.

I see several real cops off duty and they all seem ok. CHP guys, not so much.

Answer to the question asked:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iKcZ3qcCmy...mobile-car.jpg

that video was awesome.

And let's not forget. The cops don't do this because they're looking out for you and want to tell you the best route to get somewhere and avoid traffic. They are trained to ask probing questions, the answers to which will either incriminate you or give them PC for a detention and search.

When I got nailed week before last, the first question out of the cop's mouth was, "Do you know the speed limit on this road?" Now, since I live about 1/4 mile from where I was stopped and he had my license with address in his hand, I wouldn't have sounded real credible if I had answered "no." And so answering "yes" implies I should have known better than to go as fast as he says he locked me at. Every one of their questions is designed to solidify their case against you and/or lead to more incriminating evidence. Every single question.

He was a motorcycle cop and he wrote on the cite that my license has an M-class endorsement. He didn't ask me what kind of bike I ride. He didn't ask what kind of gun I carry when I handed him my CCW. He asked about the speed limit, if I knew how fast I was going and if my speedometer was accurate. Very smart cop.

can you just not answer any questions?

Of course. And this is the smart course of action if the cop gets chatty. I don't have a problem confirming my address, answering questions I know can't lead anywhere or doing whatever the law requires. But once the fishing expedition starts, you're not helping yourself by playing that game. Assume all cops are smarter than you are at the 20 questions game. Everything a cop ever needs to know about me is on the documents I hand him.

There are what's called "Stop and Identify" laws in certain states which require you to only give certain information at the request of the officer. In Colorado, you are required to give your name, address, and written identification if available.

Stop and Identify statutes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Other than that, you are not required to say ANYTHING. Not a word. You're not even required to say "I don't want to say anything."

But, if you really want to see a cop get hot, give him the silence and get ready to be on the side of the road for a while.

And don't forget to ask if you're being detained or are free to go. Once you ask, the clock is ticking and he has about 20 min. to find a real good reason for not letting you go.

they sure don't like being filmed.

so what was your answer re the speed limit?


I agree re them getting angry if you don't answer questions.

and how fast were you going?

You, I see, live in Florida. You did the right thing. They searched, didn't find anything and sent you on your way. Didn't even give you a ticket. The law here in Florida will hassle you no end if you try and take the "moral high ground" and refuse a search. It ain't worth it, just try and be more careful at 1AM my friend!

I was pretty sure the limit was 45 and that's how fast I thought I was going. I told him that. I'm 100% positive I was not going the 62 he showed me on his radar gun and also positive he didn't use radar on me, as my detector didn't chirp at all. Court date is 03/03.

The very definition of irony. the posterboy for Bush's Patriot Act bahhing about sheeple.:rolleyes: