Why would that ever not be the case?
It’s pretty common for cops to open with “do you know why I stopped you?” to give you an opportunity to incriminate yourself.
Just don’t answer. In most states you have an obligation to show license and registration. That’s it. Cops can only ask you to comply with lawful orders.
Now they can still murder you anyways and get away with it so that complicates matters.
Being unresponsive can be legally interpreted as being uncooperative. You must actively exercise your right to remain silent.
You have clearly never been pulled over. This is a great way to get in trouble. You don’t need to tell them a story, but absolute silence is going to get you some self imposed cop trying to over compensate, pulling a gun on you.
People, unless this moron can show you 1 state law backing this up, do not follow their advice. This works on TV dramas, not real life.
Turn your phone camera on, start recording, place it where it can’t be seen, just answer short replies, yes and no answers. Be polite. No stories, do not admit to anything you think you did (or that you did). Some say don’t argue, but my personal favorite is telling the cop “I disagree“ to their accusations since most stops are suspected violations and require you to incriminate yourself. 99% of my traffic stops resulted in warnings, because I wasn’t a dipshit.
In case anyone needs a reminder:
I decline to answer any questions without legal counsel.
I do not consent to any search.
Or you could choose to not immediately have a hostile and confrontational attitude.
“No” is also a valid answer to “do you know why I stopped you?”
“do you know why I stopped you?”
Well officer since I’m not black, don’t have a large amount of hard currency, drugs, weapons or food with me I am bereft of any reason beyond you are bored or you wish to coerce sexual favors from me under threat of physical harm and detainment.
Also the, “do you know how fast you were going?”. So curious and child-like about the world.
Exactly where officer? I am certain I never exceeded the speed limit, but I have time/date stamped recorded gps tracking with dash and rear camera footage correlated on this vehicle, saved local and cloud backed up so I can pull it up for you.
The first time I was ever pulled over I asked if I had done something. The cop responded “You’re on an Alberta road, we can pull you over whenever we want!” Then proceeded to check my registration and insurance and let me leave. I was on my way to pick my kids up from school and he even waited until I was in a school zone to pull me over, so when all the other parents drove by they thought I was speeding in a school zone.
ACAB is why it would ever not be the case.
