jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

This occurred to me the other day when I saw four or five cars pulled over by police while I was out driving.

A cop pulls you over, comes to your window and says, "Do you know why I pulled you over?"
"Yeah, the inspection expired, and I haven't gotten it inspected yet. Sorry."
"Oh, I didn't even notice that. I stopped you because your brake lights aren't working, but thanks for pointing out the expired inspection."

I doubt this would be a real-life situation because cops do a thorough check, visually and on their computer, when they pull someone over. Still, it's always good to remember: "You have the right to remain silent." And - "Silence is golden."

Now, it's time to laugh -

https://www.policeone.com/police-humor/articles/231225006-15-classic-jokes-involving-police-traffic-stops/

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

So when said cop pulls you over and asks you if you know how fast you were going, invoke your 5th amendment right to not incriminate yourself and keep your trap shut. If you were speeding and admit it, he/she will then have a moral obligation to write that ticket. Just saying...

Tracy B. Loc: Indiana

Once that sort of thing happened to me. I was still in High school. I ran a red light. A Poluce Officer pulled me over and asked "Do you know why I pulled you over?" I said "no." He than proceeded to tell me my taillight was out.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Moving violation versus fixit ticket. 👍🏼

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I love watching "Cops" - the cops always ask: "Do you have anything illegal in your car?". Given that it is illegal to lie to a law enforcement officer, the only answer should be: "I don't have to answer a question like that" or perhaps: "I would have to be pretty stupid to tell you if I did, wouldn't I?". Or perhaps: "Officer, how many people actually tell you that they have something illegal in their car?" Of course, they are more than anything looking at your reaction. And the question is really a little unfair...those of us without anything illegal in the car are probably not inclined to want to wait for an hour for the drug-sniffing dog to show up and scratch up the finish on our car...

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

There is no moral obligation whatsoever, first of all the copper pulls you over he already knows exactly how fast you were going. This is your opportunity to explain why you were going as fast as you were. Depending on your response the copper will then make their choice about what to do, ticket for the full amount, ticket in a lesser amount, warning and no ticket at all.

If you tell me you don’t know how fast you were going, I figure your not paying attention and give you the full whack ticket, you tell me your child is sick in the back seat and I tell you to follow me to the hospital, you tell me that you thought the traffic was light and you just wanted to shake your nice car out so yeah you were doing 90 then I make a decision to cut you some slack.

Btw, not all coppers think like that, your mileage may vary.

B-n-L Loc: Nevada

Mike D..... There is no "moral" obligation for an officer to issue a citation, and most departments allow the use of discretion on issuing citations for minor traffic offenses. Invoking the right " not to INCRIMINATE " yourself doesn't provide any protection against a ticket. The 5th amendment guarantees you cannot be compelled to testify against yourself, using the powers of the courts.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Funny!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I doubt anything but a life or death excuse would get you out of a ticket.

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

Hey Jerry, must be the attitude (police) of where you live, I spent many a year in a patrol car, gave out lots of warnings as well as tickets. We have all met the officer that would ticket his own mother, he is not respected in the police force any more than he is by the public.

BTW, the link to the 15 jokes were all good ones, been around for a while but I laugh every time I read them.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I think you will find that it isn't illegal to lie to police, unless it is a federal agent (FBI, etc.).

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Years ago (not that it happened to be stop by the police on other occasions ) I was pull over and the cop comes to my window. Says "what the matter your speedometer broken." I said as a matter of fact officer it is. My mechanic has ordered a new part and I am waiting for it to come in so he can fix it. Of course this is way before next day delivery by Amazon. Since I took the wind out of his sail, he told me to slow down and go with the flow of traffic. I said Thank You and was on my way.
I bet he never used that line again.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Good ones Jerry, #3 made me LOL, thanks.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Jerry, it's been ages since I've been pulled over. Now, before we go any further, my usual attire is anything close to impressive, unless we go to the negative side of the scale. My hair looks like it needs to be combed and more so, cut. It's not overly long just not overly neat. Just not something for concern. Now that said, I have two responses prepared.

If I'm by myself in the vehicle, my reply to the question, "Do you know why I stopped you"? is.

"Because you couldn't believe that a sharp looking guy like me would be driving a vehicle that looked like this and wanted to check to make sure things were OK".

Now, if my significant other is riding along with me, the reply is slightly modified.

"You couldn't believe that a good looking babe like her would be voluntarily riding with a guy like me and wanted to check on her safety".

Now, due to my driving habits, I've not had the opportunity to use either of these. However, I do have a couple of friends who are in law enforcement. When I told them of these replies, they both admitted they were original and laughed. They also said that, depending on the infraction, they have probably let me off with a warning just because of the originality.
--Bob

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

First off, I doubt it is illegal to lie to a police officer. Filing a false report is illegal, such as saying you were raped, but simply lying is not illegal that I recall. But even if it was, the person’s Fifth Amendment right to not self incriminate himself would surely take precedence.

Officers ask people all the time, provided they seem suspicious on the surface, if they have anything illegal in the vehicle or on their person. People almost always tell the officer they have nothing suspicious. Occasionally I have had a person tell me they have a small baggie of grass under the seat. But the trick comes when the officer asks the motorist, Do you have any machine guns, hand grenades, sawed off shotguns in the vehicle. Of course 99.9% of the People say, No. the officer then asks for permission to search the vehicle and is generally granted permission as the motorist thinks the officer is ONLY looking for those items. But he has given the officer permission to search the entire vehicle. Of course this is used only on people who appear, what we used to call, Hinky (that is a word I haven’t thought about since the 70’s). The normal everyday motorist most likely is not looked upon with such scrutiny unless some other factor triggers the officer’s senses, smell of marijuana, evidence in plain sight, observation of a firearm etc.

Dennis