@@luciddreemurr6073 Not with the context of the full sentence. You're "apologizing" for changing the subject in a way, which shows "politeness" that they can't ignore. Not without themselves looking like the rude one.
A guy in a Porsche was doing 130. The cop who pulled him over said “Man, I’ve been waiting all day for you.” The driver replied, “I got here as soon as I could.”
My response to this question has always been “no, I was paying attention to the road”. I am yet to find a police officer tell me I should be paying more attention to my speedo than the road, they can’t.
A state trooper pulled me over and asked me the same question. When I didn't answer his question he started to get visibly upset at me as I knew I was not speeding. He instead went back to his cruiser and wrote me a citation for careless driving despite having no evidence or providing me with any reasoning. If they want to write you a ticket they will.
Just simply answer “Yes”. Don’t say anything more after that. You are not obligated to tell the officer how fast you were going but there is no harm in telling him you know what your speed was.
You can simply answer yes. If the officer asks you to give him a speed, Then I answer a question with a question. Why did you pull me over? You have now indicated that you were paying attention and you know how fast you were going. But when he asks you how fast you were going you Demand to understand why you were pulled over.
I am super vigilant of the speed limit and only go at most 5 over as most of my police friends say their departments say not to stop unless they are going 9 or more over. I have never been asked how fast I'm going it's always more vague, do you know why I stopped you , and I answer no I am not sure. The 1 or 2 times I was asked how fast I was going I just play dumb and say I had cruise controls set at speed limit. My ex gf dad was a judge and former sheriff and the advice he gave me was always be polite and answer no sir, yes sir. He said in his days as a judge if you answer respectful he gives you the minimum and if you answer yeah or nah he gives minimum. I have got warnings every time after and hate to see people argue or threaten cops, you will never win.
My wife's step-father got pulled over once and the officer told him, "You know this is a one-way street, right?" Her stepdad said, "That's okay, I was only going one way." Cop thought it was funny, told him not to do it again, and let him go.
pianotm... Lol! That's the punchline to a long story I told in high school for a leadership class and won first place with it. I had to tell it again at the dinner at the end of the year with my whole family at the head table! First time I've heard that line again in 55 years!
I was speeding years ago when young and foolish. I came round a blind bend and saw 2 cops had pulled over a car about 50 yards away. I slammed on my brakes as the 2nd cop was reaching for his handheld radar gun. As i pulled past them at 'exactly' 30 mph the cop with the radar gun looked at me and gave me a hand clap as i drove past.
As a former LEO, I remember my instructor saying: "do not ever ask stupid questions like do you know how fast you were going... this isn't Jeopardy. And if you don't know how fast they were going, don't pull someone over."
Yes, but then how do cops meet their quotas. You know, the ones departments swear up and down don't exist and yet the last week of the month there isn't a single car in the station and they're all out looking for any minor infraction to blow out of proportions?
I was pulled over for speeding tickets three times in the last 42 years of driving and every time they asked either "do you know what speed you were going?" or "do you know why I pulled you over?" And I've seen videos by both police officers and lawyer saying the purpose of that question is to get you to self-incriminate yourself.
Retired LEO. One of the first things I learned from my field training officer was to never ask the question, "do you know how fast you were driving?" I was taught to approach the motorist and tell them exactly why I stopped them and request their drivers license. "Good afternoon sir, the reason I stopped you is that I clocked you traveling at 80mph in a 55mph zone. May I see your drivers license please? Done and done.
My dad died when I was 16. He left me a 69 Camaro. Its was set up for pro stock drag racing. I drove it home for the first time at about 2am one night from my uncles house. I wanted to see what it could do. The roads were mostly flat as a pancake and you could see for miles. It was farm country and plowed fields. No crossroads where I hit 110 miles an hour when I noticed head lights very far back behind me. I watched as they were closing in on me. I thought either someone wants to race or I got a cop on my tail. As I went into a slight dipped area I decided to pull over and wait to see who it was. Pretty sure I could have outrun them but that is not who I am. They come into this dip and fly past me at a very high rate of speed. Slam the breaks on then hit reverse and bring it in behind me. I put both hands outside my window with drivers license and registration in hand. Also turned on my interior lights. He came walking up slowly. Stood back a minute scoping out the interior then walked up and asked did I have any idea how fast I was going. I said yes sir 110 miles an hour. He then said why did you stop? I said it was my first time driving it and I have traveled this road hundreds of times so I just had to see what it could do. Told him the rest of the story on my dad. He said sorry to hear about your dad. Then he says do you mind lifting the hood. I say no problem. He commented on the dual point distributer the intake, carb and various things and then started describing his hot rod lol. He said tonight is your lucky night. You did everything right here and I am gonna let you go. Just keep the racing on the track from here on out. I was like yes sir and thank you very much with a big smile. I gave that man full respect as I was in the wrong. He gave me compassion in return. Never gonna forget that night. I am nearly 62. That was almost 46 years ago. Terry
@@ForestToFarmTerry, no disrespect, but you're white. Cops have killed hundreds of innocent people at traffic stops in just the last 3 years for the exact same thing.
Sometimes they’ll follow up the “I clocked you at 80 mph in a 55 mph zone” with something like “is there a reason for your speed today?” to try to manipulate you into making an admission.
EXACTLY! Like an attorney, NEVER ASK A SUSPECT A QUESTION YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO!!!-My late marvelous training officer, Sgt. Losure Brown all 6'8" and close to 300 lbs (no FAT) of him. He was a gem of a LEO. 99% of the time, he was gentle as puppy, unless you got WRONG with him. I saw him lay-out a doper high on something, with ONE TAP of his baton. Five other City Po-po had been knocked senseless by the guy. One bar fight, one LOSURE!
Two occasions to NEVER speed; going through small towns during the wee hours and in construction zones. I drive a semi and it’s 99% certainty that there’s a patrol car sitting in the dark or parked in a lot. In construction zones, it’s just common courtesy to respect the worker’s. Most, like us, have families to go home to.
You are 100% right about small towns and not even over the speed limit by just a few miles!!! Watch out for those speed signs for sudden drops in speed limit. This is a main source of income for that town/village!
What irritates me about road construction zones, though, is that there will be signs out indicating, say, a 45 mph speed limit on a freeway where the usual speed limit is 65. There will be all the signs of construction-EXCEPT actual construction workers.
The one and only time I had a cop pull me over and ask that question, I was on my bicycle, and his question was actually in earnest. I was doing 40 in a 35. He admitted he pulled me over just so he could find out how I managed to get a bike going that fast. He was pretty cool about it, and had apparently never seen a 21-speed bike before.
Never been pulled over for that, but I have a 21-speed mountain bike with street tires -- and I can definitely attest to the fact that I can get my bike up to 45 mph, as I dont have the rolling resistance of knobby tires. Though to be fair, I've never seen the need for a speedo, as every "speed laws" on the books do not apply to human-propelled conveyances (its not a "vehicle" as defined by law, since a bicycle cannot be used for the purpose of "transportation" as defined by SCOTUS).
@@Richard-Vlk : Look up the definition of "transportation" in Black's Law Dictionary online -- it will have, if I recall, 3 cases that are listed as reference cases for the definition. An important thing to note is that "transportation," as defined by SCOTUS, only refers to those entities who are _carriers._ In other words, if you're not a carrier, you don't engage in transportation. If you don't engage in transportation, you never use a "vehicle" as defined by the laws in every state I know of. Why is this? Because every state is pre-empted by the SCOTUS rulings that federally define what "transportation" is, and by extension, what it isn't. Therefore, no state can define what "transportation" is under state law, which means that the activity that is connected to using a "vehicle" under state law, is not defined by state law, since the legal rulings by SCOTUS supercede any definition made under state law, and apply nationwide.
@@isaiahwelch8066 I was curious about this as I know Georgia considers bicycles to be vehicles. Which edition of Black's Law Dictionary are you using? It's up to edition 11, but the fourth edition was available as a free PDF and a bicycle is under the definition of a vehicle: "A bicycle; Sharkey v. Herman Bros., 3 N.J.Misc. 126, 127 A. 525, 526; Tulsa Ice Co. v. Wilkes, 54 Okl. 519, 153 P. 1169, 1171." Full definition of vehicle, minus the case law sources: "VEHICLE. That in or on which a person or thing is or may be carried from one place to another, especially along the ground, also through the air; ally moving support or container fitted or used for the conveyance of bulky objects; a means of conveyance. Any carriage moving on land, either on wheels or runners;: a conveyance; that which is used as an instrument of conveyance, transmission or communication. "Any carriage, conveyance, or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on land,--not ordinarily including locomotives, cars, and street cars which run and are operated only over and upon a permanent track or fixed way, unless the context of the ordinance 'or statute in question clearly indicates an intention to the contrary. The word includes a street sprinkler, but not a ferry boat, nor a domestic animal, unattached to a vehicle or a conveyance. It has also been held to include a scraper used to remove snow from ice which was to be cut, particularly since the scraper had facilities for dumping and unloading and was horse-drawn. A combined thresher and cleaner, mounted on axles and wheels, while being drawn from farm to farm. A bicycle. A motorcycle. And it includes an automobile even though, at the time of the enactment of the legislation involved, automobiles were not in use. The term was held not to include a street car in the following cases: .... "As used in various statutes, however, the word is often given a somewhat narrower meaning than that which might be indicated by the above definition. Thus, it has been held that the term is inapplicable to a hand sled, to a child's coaster, and to an elevator. "But as defined in the Tariff Act, it has a much broader meaning, and includes any sort of conveyance used in the transportation of passengers and merchandise either by land or by water or through the air." I think the definition of transportation isn't really useful for our purposes here as it seems to be referring to transporting goods or persons by a carrier such as a train or ferry or it refers to exiling a criminal as a type of punishment. "TRANSPORTATION. The removal of goods or persons from one place to another, by a carrier. "Criminal Law: A species of punishment consisting in removing the criminal from his own country to another, (usually a penal colony,) there to remain in exile for a prescribed period." Just to be sure that this dictionary wasn't meaning to imply that vehicles only exist as means of transport by hired carriers, I checked their definition of driver and it confirms that one can drive one's own bicycle, which is a vehicle. "DRIVER. One employed in conducting or operating a coach, carriage, wagon, or other vehicle, with horses, mules, or other animals, or a bicycle, tricycle, or motor car, though not a street railroad car. A person actually doing driving, whether employed by owner to drive or driving his own vehicle." So looks like at least in the 1960s Georgia was correct to define bicycles as vehicles. Do you know of any more recent case law that changes the definition?
It's like the question a cop once asked me, "if I look inside your car, what will I find?" It's also a trick question, and it tricked me! Looking in my car would have been an illegal search, which is protected in the Constitution. He's only allowed to look if he has "probable cause." By asking his trick question, "will I find something?" he's fishing around for me to give him probable cause. Which I did, because he made it sound like he already knew what he would find and he was just playing with me. But if I wasn't scared, I would have realized that he couldn't possibly know what he would find, even if he had a reasonable guess! Once I told him -- there was something -- he then had his probable cause making his search no longer illegal. A lawyer explained all this to me after it happened. The trick question is a kind of gaslighting; it makes you doubt your own capacity to understand what's going on!
Tell the officer the truth if there's nothing illegal in your car. You can just say "I do not carry or own anything illegal officer." If they ask to search, you don't have to consent and just restate that there is honestly nothing of interest to look for.
@@unhealthyquinoa8333 "Listen officer, there is definitely _nothing_ illegal in my car" That literally sounds like yiu have somethung illegal in your car. If theres nothing illegal why not let them search?
DO NOT answer a question with a question unless you're looking to get confrontational with an officer. Avoiding confrontation with a police officer is the best idea.
Yeah I'm not sure why you wouldn't just say "I don't know." Not knowing your exact speed at that moment isn't illegal, and that way their natural response is just to tell you the speed. The only downside is that this enables the officer to make up a speed, but if they're going to do that they would probably have done it anyway.
@@Nat_the_Chicken if you say “i don’t know” you are literally giving the officer free license to make up whatever number they want on a ticket, and you can’t fight back or deny it because you just admitted you don’t know. my current plan is to say “yes,” and if he asks further say that i was following the speed of traffic-at that point, if he wants to give me a ticket for speeding he will, or if he actually pulled me over for something else then he’ll probably bring that up.
@@crstph Well, in my experience, officers don't tend to give tickets if they don't feel like they absolutely have to. But I realize my experience is far from the norm, I have a lot of privilege and I live in a very safe area. So I guess you kind of have to change up your strategy depending on where you live and what you know about police interactions in that area.
In addition to this in the UK if you say 'no', you have just admited to driving without due care and attention. A more serious offence than a minor speeding offence.
@@doodar21 What rights and freedoms have disappeared in the US and when were they given and taken away. I know the freedom to use marijuana was taken away by very dubious means.
@Bill Green “You want to know what this was really all about? The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I’m saying. We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” -John Ehrlichman, President Richard Nixon’s domestic policy chief Also, we're nowhere near the top of the world freedom index. In 2017 we placed 27th, scoring particularly low on press freedom which we ranked in 2021 at 44th, lower than every European country west of Poland among many others in Europe and around the world (and our ranking has been fairly consistently falling since 2013 where we ranked 32nd, only getting upwards movement during the years of presidential elections). Likewise, privacy rights, both from the government and corporations have been in near freefall since 9/11, workers rights have been falling for over 5 _decades_ to the point where the international trade union confederation ranks us in category 4 out of 5 for _violations_ or worker's rights (that's "systemic violations of rights", btw, and puts us in the company of Kenya, Haiti, Ethiopia, Mexico, Pakistan, Venezuela, etc and WORSE than the Bamamas, Hungary, Jordan, Madagascar, Poland, Russia, the UK etc, which 'only' have "Regular violations of rights") "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free"
@@dynamicworlds1 Well said Dynamic. As well written summary of the real situation in the US as any I have seen but I doubt that is what Roger D meant but now anyone who reads this is now aware. I am constantly astonished at the number of Americans who live in Third world conditions or have lost everything due to a minor medical issue and still think they live in the best of all societies. There is no doubt it can be very good if you have money but so can most places. But if you have an economic hitch it can be brutal.
"I'm not certain, officer, I was concentrating on the road in front of me." 100% success rate in the UK, used many times over decades. It gives them absolutely nothing and keeps you clear of a without due care ticket. In the alternative, where they don't ask a question but just say something about speed and leave some silence for you to fill. "I don't really have a good response to that." It avoids both the lie and the admission of guilt. Also, try to avoid sounding like a smartass while giving those responses, act relatively humble. Most cops, in my experience, will respect you not dropping yourself in it, if you give them the respect of not going for bad attitude or an obvious lie.
That excuse doesn't work quite so well in the U.S. where our entire road system is designed like a bunch of preschoolers were handed crayons to draw it on a map. For a lot of places in the UK the roads are actually designed for their intended speed, so if you're paying attention to the road itself it's hard to go wrong. It's hard to justify it in the U.S. where most roads are giant, open thoroughfares designed as though you should be going 90 mph but actually the speed limit is 35 mph because the idiots build it right through the middle of a town.
@@Zeuts85 bingo. Thats why a few states have no speed limits on some stretches. Some are getting g up to 70 which is an improvement. But then there is a 5 laner nearby that speed limit was 55. For a road 5 damned lanes wide? Stupid.
@@codyb.3015 They do have signs, which are treated more as a suggestion by a very large proportion of the population. In my lifetime, I've seen it steadily reduce, but can remember when 140 mph in a 70 mph limit wasn't too unusual for people in a suitable car and with good traffic and weather conditions. That's no longer tolerated, and hasn't been for a while. More commonly, a major motorway between cities has an unofficial 90 mph (in a 70) limit for cars when conditions are good, with easily half of the cars doing more than 80. Many people routinely do about 20 mph over in good conditions (or 10 mph over in urban areas). It's generally tolerated as long as you're not being crazy about it and slow for hazards and conditions.
@@Murph9000 i think the ten percent rule is probably more common in the UK. If you're going 22 in a 20 zone that's normal, but 30 you're speeding, even if you're not going to get honked.
The last time I got pulled over for speeding, the cop asked that question. My response was simple and definitely true. "I was going a little slower than the truck in front of me, and a little faster than the car behind me." This was upon entering a small town speed trap and although we were all traveling the same speed, I was targeted because I was from out of state and the cop knew I would not take the time off to drive 300 miles back to that state in order to fight the ticket in court.
@@clasicradiolover Oh, yeah. That's the way to go. Get my lawyer in GA, to go all the way to AR. for a court date over a speeding ticket. Or, hire a lawyer in AR, that I do not know and have never met, to represent me? You have got to be kidding. Do you have any idea what that would cost me? The ticket alone was less than $100. I think it was around $50. 1st. offense, less than 15 mph over the speed limit and 15 yrs. ago.
I live in Jersey. I got a ticket in North Carolina. I hired a lawyer from Charlotte who got it reduced to a non moving violation and no points. As a result, no increase in insurance premiums. Money well spent. Also, I did not have to leave home to go to court.
@@40billwaugh Being from GA and not AR, and seeing as how the violation was less than 15 mph over the posted speed limit (45 in a 35), I received no points and my insurance did not go up. I bet a lawyer would have cost me more than the ticket did.
My father's advice if ever having to deal with the police was "always respect the fact that they can make you have a very bad day". "Yes Sir. No Sir. And answer their questions truthfully and politely" was his advice. Luckily, I never intentionally speed. But I have friends who, while doing their best to keep to the speed limit, were pulled for doing 31kph in a 30kph zone ( true story ). So in that circumstance, the police have become tax collectors, nothing more. This just undermines respect for them in the community.
Solving crime doesn't pay their bills, writing citations pays their bills. Solving crime is just advertising the service. Policing for profit is a crime against the citizenry.
@@bradleyperry1735 The city, state, county revenue generated by citations, licenses, fines and court costs are big business and goes above and beyond our taxes. Governments don't make money, they take money.💵💰
Was pulled over about a year ago and she asked me if I knew how fast I was going .. I responded with "the speed limit ??" She laughed and said not quite .. about 20 over .. she asked if I had any points already on my license or not and since I said I didn't (cuz I honestly didn't) she only wrote me up for going 5 over instead of 20 over .. which meant no points would go on my record .. wasn't the most ideal ending but I appreciate her kindness nonetheless 😁
one of the few actually useful-in-life things I learned in high school was from my government teacher, who told us to never admit that we knew we were speeding, because it admits wrongdoing. I've always answered this question by saying I didn't know my exact speed because I was paying attention to the road. Not sure why, of all things, that's the one that stuck with me, but I'm glad it did.
I admitted to going about twice the posted speed only because it wasn't like I was only going a few miles over. There was also a car in the next lane and a little behind (no we weren't 'racing'). I've also admitted to ~20 over because there was an accident and I had seen the guy since I pulled onto the Boulevard. Everything has context.
Yeah I had a good high school teacher and he taught us all about not having to id and getting badge numbers and this was in the 80s. That was prime time for cops. They took all sorts advantage of us back then. No cameras
@kristenbooks that's probably the best way to address it. "My eyes were on the road, not my speedometer." That way, they can't say you weren't paying attention.
I wouldn't address it this way if you don't feel you were speeding, because then they have a recording of you on record at teh time of the event saying you weren't sure if you were speeding or not. So if you challenge the statement that you were you will have a harder time. Honestly the best way is to just ignore the question and respond back with "Good evening officer, Could you tell me why you pulled me over?"...unless it was blatantly obvious like you doing 25+ over it is a reasonable question.
I had an officer coming from the opposite direction flip on his lights, pull a u-turn, and pull me over. He tried the old "how fast do you think you were going?" trick on me, which didn't work because I'd driven through that neighborhood to and from work for over five years and knew exactly what the limit was in that area. The officer admitted that he didn't know if it was me speeding *or the guy behind me* but since I was the one who stopped, apparently I had a guilty conscience. Got no ticket, didn't even get a warning, just got 10 minutes sucked out of my drive in to work. As the police car took off and passed me I noticed a teenager wearing a letterman jacket to one of the local high schools sitting in the passenger seat. So yeah, mister cop apparently decided to show off for his kid that morning and I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even when they're doing a good job, even when they're actually doing what they're supposed to do, don't trust the police. They don't have your best interests at heart.
I am afraid I am with you, I absolutely do not trust them, I am very cynical about them, especially after being pulled over twice by Delaware troopers who lied about my speed a while back! I have no love lost for the police, that's for sure!
I was a collision reconstructionist. I investigated hundreds of collisions and fatalities. It was my job to find the actions and speeds of each vehicle in a fatality. WE DO have your best interest in mind even if you don't think so. I have seen so many dead bodies I have lost count. Everything from infants, elderly, pregnant women, people cut in half and still screaming, children killed in various places... the whole gambet. So if you have a problem with a traffic stop, thats your probem.
@@daveengstrom9250 I don't have a problem with a legitimate traffic stop. I have a problem with representatives of the state dropping the hammer of their office on random citizens' heads for no other reason than "because they can."
“I was keeping up with traffic” or “I was keeping my eyes on traffic.” In my experience, cops don’t like it when you ask them questions, they even say “don’t answer a question with a question” and begin escalating. Our job is to deescalate so that the cop doesn’t get violent, so giving a partially sufficient answer is better than an insufficient question that might be seen as a challenge to authority.
@UC2-mVwwcQjYFB9_GFgYpGEg Your right, but sadly that's not the county we live in. If we can't hold police officers responsible, we must at least try to keep ourselves safe and alive.
It’s insane to me that we need to practice ways to verbally defend ourselves from the police. “How to avoid getting an extra ticket when an officer tries to trick you into one” America needs to change
Per my attorney's advice, the answer to all first questions is always, "Why did you pull me over?" - The only thing they are allowed to address is the reason they pulled you over, unless you give them probable cause...so don't.
They ask you anything they want and you don’t have to answer anything. Only exception is you have to identify yourself in a verifiable manner and in some states you have to sign recognizing recipes of the ticket.
@@quanerams Wow, so you speed and you know it and your advice is to not cooperate? That will ruin your day as the officer can now arrest you and take you downtown.
@@martingillette7613 In what way? Only people who are in the process of committing other crimes speed? Nope...the Supreme Court has ruled that they are only allowed to detain you for as long as reasonable to conduct the original reason for the stop. If he pulled you over for speeding then only address the speeding ticket. No chit chat...get the ticket and go.
I drive Hybrid, and I'm usually very aware of how much fuel I'm burning, and by extension, how fast I'm driving and who else is around me. The last time an Officer pulled me over and asked that question, I actually wasn't speeding, and had just been passed by a couple of kids in "Tuner cars". So the conversation went like this..... "Do you know what the speed limit is on this road?" "Forty Five" "Do you know how fast you were going?" "Forty Five" "I clocked you at Fifty Eight" "I don't believe that for a second, and I don't think you do either" "Would you like me to show you the Radar?" "Sure thing, and while you're at it, I want to see the dashcam footage showing you clocked me and not those two other cars that sped passed us you didn't bother chasing. Because if you'd like I'll be able to show you my GPS record showing Forty Five" I did NOT get a speeding ticket that day....
In my experience, putting cops on the defensive leads to some very strange retaliatory actions! They are by nature very aggressive to begin with and do not take kindly to those who make them feel impotent! A simple statement declaring your right to silence is more effective and cannot be construed as confrontational by a Judge or Supervisor!
I tend to agree. I've had exceptional luck with them by being forthcoming. I would never do this with a DUI or more serious crime, but for speeding and minor offense, it seems to work. I haven't ever had a ticket and I should've had many. I've also gotten out of three duis (without admitting to anything)
so the cop asks if you know how fast you were going and you say "I am exercising my right to remain silent"? is this supposed to result in you _not_ getting a ticket? because I'd write you one.
Just say "I dont answer questions " through the 1" crack you've left in your window. Ever see that video? Search it. I would simply say "I was traveling 55 (or whatever the speed limit is where you are stopped, assuming you're positive you're correct about the speed limit). Let them tell you thats not what they clocked or thought.
If I’m on the highway with other cars,I’ll usually say”I thought I was driving with the flow of traffic”.If I’m alone on the road I’ll say”NoSir/Ma’am what did you clock me at?”As an add on:I’ll always immediately pull over when I see the lights and remove my sunglasses(if it’s daytime)and turn the car off,roll down the window and have both hands on the wheel.If it’s at night,I’ll pull over immediately,put on the hazards,roll down the window,turn on the interior lights and again wait with both hands on the wheel. Being friendly and respectful usually puts the officer more at ease .I’ll also ask permission to grab anything they ask for.I know this is a long answer but it usually makes the whole thing a lot quicker and less confrontational.I’ve(knock on wood)had better results with this tactic.
I have a few relatives that are cops and I do the exact same thing based on their advice. I usually have my hands at 9 and 10 so they’re easily seen. I only move them when asked to retrieve something and I let them know where they’re going and always one at a time.
Cop once had me dead to rights for popping a wheelie in front of him. I think the time I spent shutting off the bike, taking off my gloves and helmet, getting out my wallet and such, all while he was getting out of the car and coming up to me made all the difference. Showing a basic level of respect *while* knowing and exercising your rights is the way, in my opinion.
DirtyCaveManDotCom, what's the rest of the story though? Did he order you to get out of the car, turn around, lean against the car, bend over and spread your cheeks?😂😂
I answer that question with "I don't know officer." That reply has gotten me out of several speeding tickets over the last 32 years where I was actually speeding and deserved a ticket. I also use that reply if the cop asks, "do you know why I pulled you over?" With that reply you're not admitting guilt or saying something self-incriminating. If you get cocky with him and answer his question with another question like suggested in the video or you pled the fifth or say "I don't answer questions", you're almost guaranteed to turn a possible warning into a speeding ticket, and maybe a couple of other extra punitive tickets. Just grit your teeth, try to be civil and it might save you a whole bunch of legal trouble.
I once got pulled over by a Washington state trooper on I-5, and he asked if I knew why he pulled me over. I said, I don't know, actually. He then told me that I was going 60 in a 55 zone, one of my taillights was out, and I was spending too much time in the passing lane without passing anyone. He apparently been following me for a couple of miles. I guess I looked pathetic, so he just gave me a warning and told me to get the taillight fixed.
I agree. Saying "You pulled me over but you don't know how fast I was going?" Seems EXTREMELY antagonizing! I wouldn't do it! I don't know seems safer because you're still not giving an answer but you're also forcing them to show you were speeding.
Well given she's black it's likely she's been pulled over more often than you and treated more antagonistically. So the advice might be better for a cop that's not acting civil. Even regardless of who you are I personally know that cops act very different depending on where you are. Where I used to live in Tennessee being civil did not work because they were hell bent on giving tickets regardless of legality. That's what happens when police have a quota of tickets they need to write. They were like ravenous hyenas when it was a few days before the end of a month.
With all due respect, speaking as a former LEO, trying to “trick” the officer or “put the officer on the defensive”, as this video suggests, is definitely NOT a good strategy to avoid getting a ticket
You’re going to get a ticket anyway, the point is that when you contest it the officer doesn’t have a confession from you that you were tricked into giving that bolsters their case
Officer: Do you know how fast you were driving back there? Me: You came to me. Say what you need to, please. If there is any incriminating evidence here, I'd rather be presented with it, given my documentation suggesting said offence, so I may give it directly to my lawyer and move on with my peaceful existence. Sound good? Officer: ...License and registration please. Me: Okalee Dokalee.
I'm 72 yrs old, and the few times I've been stopped and asked that, I have responded with a simple, "Why?" I never got a speeding ticket until 2014. Then I got 2 in one day! 🙂
I knew the officer hadn’t gotten me on radar. He asked, I told him “35”. Which was the posted speed limit. And I was approaching a traffic circle so that wouldn’t have been too far off. Nothing he could do. Until he saw the tread on my rear (motorcycle) tire was too low. I told him I had a tire at home (true) and an appointment the next day to have it mounted. He asked me to be careful and let me go. Next time an officer asked me why I was in a hurry. He had me dead to rights. I told him the truth. My wife called and there was a huge snake in the chicken coop. I was trying to keep it under 15 over. But I slipped over 60 in a 45. The highway patrol around here generally come from the rural areas around here. He certainly sympathized. And let me go.
I think that saying you were driving the speed limit is the right answer, it admits no fault and corners the officer if they didn't actually get you on radar.
As a former cop my advice is "Officer, I don't answer questions." No matter what they ask. No matter what they say. No matter what the accuse you of. Never talk to a cop. They are NOT your friend.
thank you for being honest. they also werent driving, but traveling but i like your method because holding court withem will provoke an escalated argument that usually ends up being inconvenienced.
cops are trained to lie and love to hide behind qualified immunity witch need to be removed totally and back dated just like the games that law makers like to play , make a new law and then back date it .
@@hartsfire5706 I fully agree about qualified amenity. The Blue Gang depends on it. When they are sued and the community pays out thousands it doesnt change a thing for them and therefore they dont change.
I got pulled over and asked this question and I responded “well I believe I was going the speed limit.” (I really did think I was!) and the cop responded “well if you were going the speed limit be wouldn’t be here now would we.” His tone was so rude! I’m still not even convinced I was really speeding.
The more that I think about it, the people who say the answer should just be "yes" are probably right. If you say yes, then it shows that you are confident and were paying attention. Then, when you ask them how fast they think you were going, they know that you might be ready to contest it. If you show signs of ignorance, than they can gaslight you into thinking you were driving a speed higher than you actually were.
From a logical point of view this sounds like logical and sound advice. From a pragmatic point of view, the driver sounds like a smart ass, who is bound to make a bad situation even worse. As a matter of course, this is why people should be using their cruise control to maintain a constant speed.
Most cruise control will increase speeds uphill and downhill. Then as up or downhill levels out cruise control will return to set speed. If you sound like a smart ass by answering with a question then chances are you were a smart ass already.
Tire diameter size and inflation pressure differ with ambient air pressure. Unless your vehicle's speedometer is routinely calibrated (can be done by yourself and recorded in a continuous contemporary record book) you simply cannot depend on the accuracy of any OEM speedometer. OEM speedometers (oil driven pressure gear operated from the tail shaft of a transmission) without routine calibrated verification of output are typically at a worst case are 'off' by ±5-10%, max.; IF and only if, the tires are new, pressurized to spec. and are of specified dimensions and the ambient temperature remain somewhat constant as when the speedo was (monthly) calibrated. The best, is a dash cam with imprinting GPS on the recording video (that YOU regularly verify and record the calibration accuracy .... versus time and speed that used GPS between formally surveyed & set mile marks as found commonly on 'federal' interstate highways)_ and then duly record at least monthly in a contemporaneous hard copy continuous record). Such, with that contemporaneous calibration verification record is pretty much unimpeachable evidence for an appearance before an 'honest' court.
I love when cops think I’m being a smart ass. They get mad and it’s their job to be professional and de-escalate and with video recording today, they can’t do sh*t.
I would tend to disagree, the last time I got pulled over I was going 70 in a 60 at 11:30 at night, before the trooper got to my vehicle I rolled my window down, turned on the dome light and had both hands on the wheel, the trooper asked me if I knew why he stopped me, I said yes sir I was speeding, when he asked how fast I was going I told him 70 mph, he took my license, registration and proof of insurance, came back to my vehicle and gave me a warning, told me to slow down and to have a good evening, and before he left he thanked me for rolling down my window and putting my hands where he could see them.
@@trevorgibbsnc It probably makes him feel bitter. Distrusting of the system that’s out to get him. Or alternatively, he feels like he had an honest face to face interaction with another human being. He showed respect and he got respect. Honestly, if you want to see what normal policing looks like, move somewhere where it isn’t culturally normal to be cynical of the police. You would be amazed at how much of what you see in the world around you is driven by your own outlook. Go visit a small rural town, far away from Democratic policies/philosophy, and you will see how much brighter life really is in a society ruled by laws, not men.
My go to answer to that question has always been "Oh, I'm pretty sure you're going to tell me." usually with a smile on my face. I've never had any negative consequences from that answer. Usually they'll show me what the radar caught and write me up accordingly (or even write it down to a lower infraction). Let them tell you what you did wrong, don't volunteer.
My answer to that question is always, "Is that why you stopped me?" It is neither challenging, (which they really hate) nor an admission, (which is what they are after). Try not to antagonize the officer, which will annoy them and cause them to escalate things. If they really push you for an answer, say, "Respectfully, sir, I'm not going to answer that question." If they ask why, be blunt. "I'm not going to give you an admission that you can use against me in court." Be assertive, but polite.
Yup, be polite, but outside of questions like to identify yourself which you may be legally obligated to answer where you live, only respond to questions with questions, evasions, respectful denial to answer, or "I do not consent to any searches, officer" The goal is to steer the conversation in the direction of "am I being detained, or am I free to go?" without directly answering anything you don't absolutely have to.
I feel like just answering "No" to that question is better, being a smartass and asking them why they don't already know how fast you were going seems like it would just piss them off and increase the likelihood of you getting a ticket.
25 years as a cop.... The "do you know how fast you were going" question is all about honesty, and was one of the primary determiners as to whether I issued a warning or a ticket. People who were honest with me and took responsibility for their action were far more likely to benefit from the warning than the person who lied to me. First rule of cop school (and I heard it in law school as well!) is to never ask a question you don't already know the answer to.
I'm aware that trial attorneys are taught that, but cops?... But what you're saying is a bit confusing, so you're telling the RUclips community that cops already know the answer when they ask, "do you have anything illegal in the car that I should know about?" If you mean other types of questions please let us know. A lot of us are trying to understand how to handle these situations. Any insight is helpful. Thanks in advance!
@@lsweet6568 I think he just meant answers that they could POSSIBLY know for sure. My own way of dealing with the police is to always be honest, always be genuinely courteous, and admit guilt when I was wrong. That has saved me MANY tickets along my forty years of driving. And I used to no less than drive three hours per day, dive days per week, for twelve years. I've had police that were gruff but I didn't give him any flak and truly, I could.understand why he was rather rude when he explained that he was tired of seeing squashed people out in the country where I was speeding. I don't treat the officer as an enemy and out of maybe 25 officer interactions, only once did one seem to be really trying to push my buttons to get a reaction. The rest were all excellent. That includes the years when I was smiling dope and had to deal with them directly for some reason. 🙏
@@lsweet6568 You seem surprised that officers would use leading and presumptive rhetorical questions to lead their investigation ? Don't underestimate them. The question; "Do you have anything illegal in the car that I should know about ?" Is just that .... a rhetorical question to observe your response. You were initially pulled over for something else, and now the officer observes or senses either alcohol, drugs, weapons or hostages could be in an active discovery prompting his reason to ask that question. Your verbal response and physical observations, and the officers training and experience play-out to determine the next step. What should you do if you are asked; "How fast do you think you were going" ? The best answer would be ........ "as fast as the law allows under these road and traffic conditions." This is your contemporaneous statement of observational awareness. It shifts the focus from speed to a fluid awareness of surroundings. It demonstrates honesty, and does so in a compliant manner by answering with a direct response.
I was stopped years ago driving into a built up area. I was driving 35 mph in a 40 then into a 30 mph and I cut my speed to about 25. Weather conditions dry and bright, very light traffic.The officer who stopped me asked my why I was driving under the speed limit to which I replied because you were behind me. Suffice to say that stumped her a bit.She then went onto ask me if I had had a drink to which I replied Yes.She looked stunned.I went into to say I had drank 2 glasses of water, two glasses of a diet fizzy pop. The officer then asked me what difference did it make that she was behind me.I explained to her that growing up as a kid I was taught that the Police were there to protect the community and their presence was to act as a deterrent. Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening.
I think how you answer this question depends on where you live. In some places, cops are honest and only get irritated when people act disrespectful or antagonistic towards them. Then there are other places where they're crooked and look to harass people. It can vary by department too, if you know which specific department lit you up (local city PD, county sheriff's, highway patrol) you may choose to act differently. For the cops that try to be respectful, this answer could be construed as confrontational and at minimum earn you a guaranteed ticket whereas if you are easy going with them, honest, making sure your hands are clearly where they can be seen etc, you can play more to the sympathy side and get out of it. Humor is also always helpful. My fiance got out of a HOV violation when the officer asked her where her second person was and she pointed to her pregnant stomach. The officer laughed and pointed out that it didn't count but he'd give her a warning and let her go. At the end of the day, they're humans like we are, there's good ones and bad ones and it becomes like dealing with any other public human interaction.
I second this, during a traffic stop I was able to talk myself out of a much worse ticket than I could have gotten because I was friendly and cooperative. Won't work everywhere, but it's worth a shot if you are in a small town
No such thing as an honest cop (they are encouraged to lie to you all the time) and every department will cover up for a cops criminal and vile behavior to protect "the department." Need to treat every interaction as if your life depended on it, because it does.
@@dsabre4990 Sounds like you are the kind of person that causes problems to get themselves in trouble. 99% of traffic stops are nothing like what you see in the movies or what the media ttys to portray to get more views because they make money off of that shock value type reporting. I have been pulled over many times for my own actions and have been in the vehicle with friends when they were pulled over. The friends that were confrontational and disrespectful always got at minimum a ticket if not arrested. Whereas myself being courteous and respectful to the officer, more often than not got completely out of getting anything even when I was very clearly in the wrong. Give respect to get respect. Give an attitude and be disrespectful, see what you get back in return. Not just with the police either. Why don't your try it out in your daily life. See how your bad attitude affects dealing with people like a waitress, gas station clerk or even the person behind the counter at the DMV. Then spend a day being kind, friendly, smiling and joking with people you interact with and see how much thing change for the better for you. You're welcome.
@@dracer35 LOL..wanna bet? How about you tell me when your last traffic ticket was, and then I'll tell you when my last one was. It was speeding. 99% of traffic stops involve cops asking "fishing" questions to try to arrest the driver. But I'll wait on your last traffic ticket.
I was pulled over on the interstate in heavy traffic, multiple lanes. When asked that question by a State cop I replied that I was moving with the body of traffic and watching all traffic around me and not my speedometer so I can't say exactly what my speed was. I got a warning and proceeded on my way.
Two points need making: 1) By saying you don’t know the speed you were doing, you are admitting to not properly controlling your vehicle - You are supposed to be aware of your speed. 2) An officer being asked if HE knows the speed he pulled you for…will say yes of course. It won’t confuse or throw him off at all. Bad cops will lie anyway to see if you will incriminate yourself.
Many years ago my Father was pulled over, the officer asked "Do you know how fast you were going?". Dad answered "Isn't the speed limit 55 on this stretch of road?" caught the officer off guard, they talked a bit and let us go with a verbal warning.
Also, if you say, "I don't know." Then the policeman knows that he can write whatever speed he wants and you can't dispute it because you just told him that you didn't know.
When I was a young man working for a hotel I got pulled over with a van full of passengers coming back from the airport. The cop thought I was speeding as I crossed in front of him at an intersection but I wasn't. He asked me how fast I was going through the intersection and I told the truth. I was literally going the speed limit, which was 55. I told him this and he went nuts, calling me a liar, trying to intimidate me. That worked, by the way, I was scared as hell. The cop was so mad that the passenger behind me, a complete stranger, told him that I was going 55 because he had seen the cop and looked at my speed out of reflex. That cop went absolutely insane, threatened to arrest me anyway, and told me he drove that stretch of road every day and was going to be looking for me until he caught me speeding. He never did but I think he pulled over some of my coworkers. lol
Whenever I pulled anyone over for speeding, I already knew how fast they were going. I did ask the question, "Do you know what your speed was when you were at (blank location)?" It should not be a trick question, but one that does elicit an admission of guilt. That admission should support and be consistent with the observations of the violation. For that reason I actually agree with you. Answering with a question is a good way to re-direct the conversation in a way that is not confrontational and sometimes allows you to build rapport where you can talk your way out of it. I have never needed to fish for a violation by stopping someone for say registration, and then ticketing them for speed based solely on an admission. That is not ethical and in my thirty plus year career I have never seen any of my colleagues where I worked do anything like that. For an infraction violation it should have been witnessed by the officer and that officer should have articulable facts that support the violation separate from any admission. If I didn't see the violation, then no ticket. I agree with your advice, but your characterization that police by and large are trying to trick you is completely false. Simply put, they don't need to trick you if they observed the violation. There are plenty of people speeding so it is not like you can't find those violations, at least here in California.
As the operator of a motor vehicle, you are responsible for knowing how fast you are going, so there is one correct, non-self-incriminating answer to that question: "Yes, of course I do."
When CHP (Calif. Highway Patrol) pulled me over doing 80 MPH on a 65 MPH (freeway), he asked me if I knew why he was pulling me over? I replied, no sir, but I can tell that you’ve been around a while (he was seasoned) and that the CHP has the highest conviction rate of an Law Enforcement Agency in Calif, so I’ve got to believe it was for a damn good reason! No ticket, just a thank you sir and a verbal warning.
Well, to play Devil's Advocate: all situations are different. I was going 20-21 mph over the limit and when he asked me, I answered "about 55?" and I looked backward through my rearview mirror at the license plate for the other side of the road and said "Oh, did it just drop to 35?" and he said "yeah, you were doing 57." After him seeing my license and seeing I was from Virginia (was up at Ocean city but was on my way to visit some people in Delaware) he asked me if I was there on vacation and I told him I was and he said "well, you have a good record and you were honest so just be careful from now on the speed limit drops by 20 in some areas along this road. However, if you can't read people and don't have any real knack for psychological intuition, best not to answer or say you thought you were going go with the flow of traffic if you can. However, never say "you pulled me over but you don't know how fast I was going?" That is somewhat belligerent and you don't want to get sarcastic with cops. This is bad advice but the lady seems nice and in most other cases, especially involving things more serious than speeding tickets, never admit to anything with the police. Also, white people get breaks more than minorities and women get more breaks than men from police. Every situation is different so if you are unsure, yeah, take the 5th.
Agreed that the advice from the last is, well, not very good. Putting the cup in a defensive position is going to piss him off. Besides, it can only work once. Myself, i HATE it when people try to answer a question with a question. So long as you are very polite Ave respectful you will have a better chance to get out of the ticket, race be damned.
From experience, I've been completely forthcoming and honest in my answer to this question. I could have had my license taken on the spot due to the speed I admitted to, however, was let off with a much lesser ticket because of my honesty and respect for the officer. If you want to risk annoying the officer by being cagey and evasive, you're not allowing the officer to exercise some leniency and discretion.
For the record, this was in Australia on a country road. My answer: Well I was doing 160km/h when I overtook the two road trains that were at the level crossing, next thing I know you were tailing me, and I thought "who is this nutjob?", so I sped up to 180km/h, which is when you pulled up beside me with your stop police sign, so I slowed down safely on the road before stopping on the shoulder. If he had've booked me at 145km/h or over, my license was gone. He gave me a half hour lecture and a ticket for 140.
@@radumerkin even if that wasn’t the case. Just being honest and reasonable shows that you have respect for the law which means giving you ticket will be less effective in getting you to correct your behavior which is the end goal of police. If you are snarky, it shows you have no respect for the law and thus a form of punishment remains as the only option to try and get you to correct the behavior. Thus if you comply you are more likely to get out of a ticket.
@@quanerams The fact that the officer asked lots of questions, and I answered all of them honestly, allowed him the space to correct my behaviour, rather than simply try to punish me. I count myself lucky, not only that I was dealt with leniently, but that I am still alive. I was speeding because I was late for something. That half hour lecture gave me some perspective. I was still gonna be late regardless. I haven't sped to that extent since.
I have always answered honestly and have been let off twice because of that. Once I was going 84 in a 55 and when I answered the question he replied "you're the only honest person I've talked to today". Cops are people like you and me and if you're decent and respectful to them, in my experience they will be the same to you.
I've been pulled over for speeding probably about 5 or 6 times in my life. And not once did they ask me how fast I was going. Rather, they told me exactly why they pulled me over and exactly the speed they clocked me at. And they were right. lol. They never exaggerated my speed.
Because this propaganda that cops are out to get everyone is a load of bullshit. They don't want to admit that there are people good and bad at their jobs, or just good and bad period, with law enforcement being no exception.
@@blaynegreiner9365 The problem is that improper law enforcement has the likely outcome of dramatically changing or ending a person’s life. They must be held to the highest standard.
What not to say. My friend from HS was on his way to college in Jacksonville FL from NY. An officer pulls him over in Georgia and first thing the cop says to him was “Boy nobody goes through Georgia that fast!” My friend responded “Sherman did!” He was taken into custody and spent the night in Georgia.
As an ex cop, in Australia, I asked this question to see how attentive the person was. A person who knew what speed they were doing, and why, was less dangerous to the general public, which I was there to protect. Again, Australia not US.
"Do you know why I stopped you?" No sir, I don't. "Do you know how fast you were going?" No sir, I don't. "What color was that light back there?" Yellow. "And what do you do at a yellow light?" I get thru it before it turns red. "No. You slow down and prepare to stop." _Not with a loaded dump truck and equipment trailer I don't. It'd make me lock my brakes up and slide halfway thru the intersection, potentially leading to an accident. The safest way for me to proceed is to keep moving and hope it stays yellow._ (No, there was nothing wrong with the brakes on either the truck or the trailer, the truck was loaded with mulch and the trailer had a stump grinder on it. I drove away with a written warning.)
The day I got my license, I was really close to some lights when they turned yellow. Well, there was a police car about to turn into the street I was driving on, which kind of spooked me, so I hit the brakes to stop at the lights... unfortunately, I was too close to the lights and wound up stopping right in the middle of the intersection. Luckily, there was nobody behind me, so I just backed up to wait for the lights to turn green. The policeman just turned into the street I was on with a wry smile on his face. True story. ✌️🇦🇺
@KingMrBigE In Australia, you must stop when you see a yellow light UNLESS it is unsafe to do so. I'd be surprised if it's not the same in the US... or, in other words, what you said is incorrect in Australia and likely the US, too.
@@castleanthrax1833 the yellow light is only programmed for 3 seconds usually, thats why unless you see it from a safe distance what I said holds true. And most lights your lucky if its actually 3 seconds, I have seen some that are half that.
Great video! I was pulled over and the officer asked me that same question. Sadly, I answered. But my answer was "No, I don't know.". When you answer No..you have no recourse to fight that ticket because you just admitted that you did not know your speed!. And...the officer wrote on my actual speeding ticket "Driver admitted verbally that he did not know his speed". I learned a valuable lesson that day. Thanks for a great video.
I was pulled over when driving through Texas on the interstate years ago. The officer asked me if I knew how fast I was going. I truthfully answered "no". He said that I must have looked at my speedometer and I truthfully told him that when I saw the flashing lights I didn't even glance at my speedometer - I concentrated only on pulling over quickly and safely. He did not give me a ticket. I was curious so I asked him how fast I had been going and he said "Oh no! If I tell you, then you'll know how much over the speed limit you can go and get away with it!" So apparently I HAD been speeding, but not by very much.
I was *way* over the speed limit, zero traffic on the road, went by a speed trap. Cop pulls me over, walks up to my window and with a smirk says "I've been waitin' for you all day!" I said "Well I got here as quick as I could!" (Didn't really happen - I read it somewhere a few years ago. Thought it was funny.)
Woman! I love you!!! I once had a police ask me if I knew why he pulled me over. I honestly had no idea and suspected he was fishing, so I just said, No, but you pulled me over so I guess you know. He let me go. Wonderful channel, subscribed!!!!!!
It would be interesting to see statistics (location specific) about what percentage of stops result in a warning and no ticket. That way, we could understand how badly we'll screw the pooch if we mouth off to the cop. Which reduces the odds of just getting a warning, pretty much to zero.
As a driver, I got away with no citation 75% of the time IFF I was honest and courteous. As an officer, I cite 90% of stops I make. I do not care to waste peoples’ time by needlessly grilling and lecturing them for no reason. Either there’s something that needs intervention or there isn’t. Run enough stops and you will find real things to cite and charge sooner rather than later. Contraband, warrants, fugitives, parole violations, stolen goods, you’ll find those aplenty doing traffic stops. It’s the single most important routine task in policing; nothing catches more bad guys and collects more evidence. It also directly correlates with public safety; doing more traffic work sees fewer road accidents. It’s also the second most dangerous after domestic violence calls, so all the more reasons to not roll the dice frivolously.
Long time ago I was driving on a highway coming into a city where the speed slowed down. I’ve taken this route many times and knew exactly where to slow down and how much, which I did. Checked my speed, steady 55, no issue, until a cop pulled out in front of me. I stopped paying attention to my speed then because I already checked it. But the cop started going faster and faster, and I didn’t realize because I was then driving in relation to him. Not long after I drove under an overpass, and another cop pulled out and stopped me for speeding. They totally trapped me on purpose. If the one wouldn’t have lured me, I would have stuck with the speed I started at which was fine.
The best question I have found is “How can I serve you today?” After that all questions should be additional questions. Here is a great example. I was caught doing like 90, but I drove 1/2 mile off the freeway as it was all farm land to a safe place for me and the officer. He was PO that I drove so far. When he asked why, I said I cannot live with myself that you could be in an unsafe location on the side of the freeway. That broke the ice and we then talked. No ticket was given. I have multiple events that good composure and character lead the process and ZIP, NADA, NO Ticket.
Until you are that pregnant lady who got pit maneuvered and flipped on the highway because the officer was pissed off she was only slowing down and not immediately stopping.
"Why yes, I do, mister. I was driving at a speed that I, being a responsible person, deemed to be safe and appropriate for the road and its conditions."
I was asked that question, after being pulled over. My answer: No, the speedometer is broken. I DID know, however, that would have turned my speeding ticket into an equipment violation, which would result in the cost to repair the speedometer, and present proof of said repair, later. I owned the car for 18 years, of which the speedometer worked for about, maybe 7 years. Who puts a digital speedometer in a car with a manual transmission, but no tachometer? Oldsmobile (1990 Cutlass Supreme). In medium to heavy traffic, traffic flow was my alternate speedometer, which seems to be many other motorists' method, regardless of the condition of their equipment. In light to no traffic, the pitch of the sound the engine makes, was my alternate "speedometer." My alternate speedometer tactics served me well, since I was pulled over only once for speeding in the 18 years I owned and operated that vehicle.
Last year, I left my daughters boutique after a long dsy in retail…I was exhausted from standing all day (age 75). It was dark, I was fighting leg cramps. I got stopped by a Texas State Trooper, he asked for my ID and insurance. While I fumbled trying to find a Geico snapshot of my card on my iPhone…he returned and politely said, it’s ok ma’m I verified your insurance. I’m just writing a warning. I want you to get safely home, so please watch your speed. I did! I was so grateful to that young officer…I kept that ticket on my refrigerator over a year! It did help me remember to watch my speed.
Terrible. He adjusted his behavior based on your identity and appearance. If he really wanted you to get home safely he wouldn't have stopped you on an empty road in a safe situation. Another perfect example of cops giving a break to a specific class of people only, and then lying straight to your face about it to ingratiate themselves. ACAB.
I got stopped on my motorcycle near Kemmerer, Wyoming a few years back and got that question. I said that I can't watch my speedometer constantly but the last time I looked I was doing about 71-72 mph ( in a 65 mph zone ). I had been going much faster a few miles back down the road. When I got home and was trying to pay for my ticket, I realized that it was just a warning ticket. I still believe it was because I was being honest with the officer.
Now I understand, because the original meaning just hit me: “Don’t talk to the police” is actually lingua-Franca for “Don’t hold casual conversation with an active-duty officer.” It doesn’t mean to remain completely silent or to give them a hard time getting anything from you, just to treat them as a business partner.
You're better off not saying anything at all, usually. You can use your 5th Amendment rights in a respectful manner. Whatever you say CAN and WILL be used against you.
I was asked this once by a state trooper. I responded with, "I had the ole girl cranked up, didn't I?" I never gave him a clear answer. He still wrote a ticket for 5 over, but I was going about 45 over, no lie. He even asked me to pop the hood to take a look at the engine, which I obliged. Nice guy.
last time i got pulled over for speeding in the late 90s, cop pulled me over. he said "you know how fast you were going?" and i replied with "yes." after a second he said "well how fast were you going?" and i said "i dont have to answer that". he was like "yes you do! i asked a valid question!" and i said "you can ask any question you want, but i have a right to remain silent, and a right not to incriminate myself." he shot back with "well then how do you know how fast you were going?" and i replied with "i always glance at my speedometer while driving so i always know how fast i am going, and on the off chance i lied and said i did not know how fast i was going, you would be able to ticket me for negligent driving for not knowing how fast i was driving. so i know how fast i was going, but i do not have to tell you." cop took my stuff, went back to his car, and gave me a ticket for 55 in a 45.
Great response. I never knew how to respond to that question. I've had them ask me "where's the fire?" When I said I wasn't aware of any fire, he asked why I was speeding. I knew that was a trick question.
Back in my 20’s I was speeding and got pulled over. Cop asked if I know how fast I was going. So I told him 85 or so. 85 was only 10 miles over. The officer said “85 try 96”. It was true I had gotten up to that speed. 3 cars had passed me and I was going to try and ride with them. But they were doing well over 100 and I didn’t feel safe doing that speed. I told the cop that. I also wasn’t the only car to be pulled over. There was also a corvette. So the cop took my info and then went to talk to the people in the vet. When he came back he gave me a ticket for only 85 mph instead of 96 because I was honest with the cop. The person in the vet told the cop he had his cruise control set to 72. So he got the full ticket from what the cop told me. I don’t know if I save myself some money or not by being honest and non evasive. But I believe I saved myself money that day. So for me it was a win.
I say (and it is usually true) “I don’t know, I was just going the same speed as all the cars around me.” This presents a dilemma for police because you’re pointing out that they singled you out and maybe for no good reason. Also, judges know there is a natural speed on every road and that speed is what 80% of drivers are doing.
Bad answer. If you and the other cars were speeding, they can only pull one person over and you were that unlucky person. Everyone else was doing it is not a good defense and admitting that you don't know how fast you were going also destroys your defense.
@Robert N "I've always said" was a poor choice of words on my part obviously you took it as I get pulled over for speeding alot. That's not the case last time I got pulled over for speeding was 2012 and he let me go. I was just commenting that in the past I have said things like I was just going with the flow of traffic rather than say an actual speed I was driving Hope this clears up any confusion.
I always say, "I was just going with the flow and I wasn't paying attention to the speed, officer." Here in Florida, you might find yourself doing nearly 100 mph in a pack of 20 cars.
So true!! I grew up in the LA area, now live in a moderately large metro area... and the speeds you guys do in Florida terrify me! I also get claustrophobic on your highways, knowing I am trapped and there's often no way out except through alligator swamps. God forbid you miss your one and only exit :-(
Funny story; I was speeding one day and got pulled over. The patrolman brought me back to his car where I was sure I was getting a ticket. He asked me if I knew how fast I was going to which I replied, yes sir. He asked if I knew what the speed limit was, again I replied, yes sir. At that point I was certain I was getting a ticket. Then he said, "Well honesty counts for something in this car so I'm giving you a warning, slow it down." I said, yes sir, got back in my truck and didn't go over the speed limit the rest of the day.
I came up to a slight bend in a county road (trees hiding sight lines) and a deputy came rolling the other way. I was 69 in a 55. Saw the cherries pop in my mirror and was pulled over before she got turned around. She asked why I pulled over right away..... how I knew she was pulling ME over vs responding to a radio call. I just shrugged (and smiled). She ended up giving me a ticket for no proof of insurance (drops off if you prove it within three days). Maybe she thought I was cute?
I love that question! I say "why yes I do, and so does that camera and so does the other camera. Any other questions?" Love the expression I got the one time I was pulled over. I'm one of the few people that actually drives the speed limit. Less problems that way. Other than that "I don't answer questions".
I got pulled over one time and the cop asked that question. I asked, "How fast did you clock me?" He said, "You were going 62." I said, "I most certainly was not." He asked me again, and I told him, "I have a dashcam." He asked if it had gps. I replied yes. He then stated, "Well maybe you weren't going that fast..."
I'm a retired state trooper, and I never asked the question, "Do you know how fast you were going?" because then I'm inviting the driver to lie and it would lead to arguments alongside the roadway. I would immediately tell the driver why they were pulled over and use positive statements.
Usually I get a highly reduced fine or just a warning . I’m a guy who knows exactly how fast he’s going , and that’s 10 to 15 over posted or more depending on traffic flow . I never speed in residential areas, beyond a slight bit , no more than 5 . I speed thousands of times ( 7 years since last ticket ) , without a problem, so the $200.00 is not much of a tax , considering the weeks I’ve saved . But all that and , damn that’s one beautiful attorney!!!!!
I always know exactly (within +/- 2 mph) what speed I am going. I usually respond with yes and say the speed limit and that I had cruse control on. I have never gotten more than a warning. If I know that I rolled through a stop sign, I admit it (this happen about 3 years ago) and said, “Thank you officer/deputy for pointing this out to me. You are correct an thought I did look both ways before I proceeded I realize that it is no excuse…could you please let me off with a warning citation! It has always worked for me. Show the cop that you respect his authority and unless he is have a particularly bad day he or she generally responds to that show of respect and knowledge that if one’s driving record comes up clean (he will certainly run it) he has the authority to give you a written warning. The psychological aspect is clear. I have had many cop friends who have even told me this. Their attitude towards you is directly related to how you come of to them. They have admitted letting off good looking members of the opposite sex but a good joke or anything that makes them genuinely laugh endears them to even a same sex traffic stop…but you gave to have charisma also! If you are ugly or come off as ugly this will not work for you. I always have a good joke ready and am always ready to make the stop novel for the cop. And am ready to use attractiveness on a female cop or deputy.
I always say something along the lines of "I dunno, your radar gun is more accurate than the speedometer in my old shitbox car. How fast did you clock me?" Once, I even got a small town cop to admit he hadn't actually gotten a chance to get a reading on me, and I said "ok, so why did you pull me over then?" He kept threatening that he could give me a ticket anyway for speeding and for this, that, and the other, but I just said "ok, well can we get going? It's 2am, I just got off of work, and I have work in the morning." Then he tried to impress upon me that he was going to be generous and let me off with a warning, even though he absolutely could give me a citation if he wanted to. Bless his heart. 🙄
Just be honest and respectful to the cop. This goes a long ways. Yes sir, yes mam. I’ve gotten out of many tickets this way. When I was younger I was rude to the cops and they always gave me tickets.
Some officers have already decided they're giving you the ticket. You could be the nicest person in the world and get along great. They're just doing the job, and sometimes the job is writing up tickets.
I feel like if I asked the cop "you don't know how fast I was going?"
The cop is gonna think I'm being a smart-ass and ill get even worse punishment
I would just say "I'm sorry officer, why exactly did you stop me?". He'll be smart enough to know that you know your rights.
just don’t ask it in a smart assy way
@@OlivierCaroni would cut the sorry part out, you can be incriminated for apologizing because it counts as a confession (for whatever reason)
@@luciddreemurr6073 Not with the context of the full sentence. You're "apologizing" for changing the subject in a way, which shows "politeness" that they can't ignore. Not without themselves looking like the rude one.
@@luciddreemurr6073 "I'm officer, why exactly did you stop me?"
"... What?"
A guy in a Porsche was doing 130. The cop who pulled him over said “Man, I’ve been waiting all day for you.” The driver replied, “I got here as soon as I could.”
Nice! 😆
Legend 😂
Really goes to show how shitty a life they must have if they look forward to ruining someone’s day...
@@theredpillneo2296 it’s a joke man. Take it easy.
😂😂😂😂
My response to this question has always been “no, I was paying attention to the road”.
I am yet to find a police officer tell me I should be paying more attention to my speedo than the road, they can’t.
That's good 👍
Honestly, same.
Why were you wearing a speedo...?
@@Dargonhuman
You probably meant it as a joke, but just in it wasn't, Speedo is short for Speedometer in this case.
@@xellanchaos5386 Speedo is a brand of swimwear infamous for being very form fitting and skimpy.
A state trooper pulled me over and asked me the same question. When I didn't answer his question he started to get visibly upset at me as I knew I was not speeding. He instead went back to his cruiser and wrote me a citation for careless driving despite having no evidence or providing me with any reasoning. If they want to write you a ticket they will.
I bet your attorney had a blast embarrassing the cop, the jurisdiction, and the DA, who brought charges, during trial.
@@SeattleSpursFan1882who has that kind of money? This country only has "justice" for the wealthy
Dash cam, get one.
And then everyone clapped.
@@SeattleSpursFan1882unless you have hard proof, the court will ALWAYS believe officer testimony as fact.
Just simply answer “Yes”. Don’t say anything more after that. You are not obligated to tell the officer how fast you were going but there is no harm in telling him you know what your speed was.
But then he will certainly ask you to specify. Once you answer one question it gets harder to stop. If you say ANYTHING, don't SAY anything. :)
You can simply answer yes. If the officer asks you to give him a speed, Then I answer a question with a question. Why did you pull me over? You have now indicated that you were paying attention and you know how fast you were going. But when he asks you how fast you were going you Demand to understand why you were pulled over.
If you forgot I'm am not going to remind you!!
I ride a motorcycle and once I go over the speed limit I never look again, I consider myself "at speed" so that would be my answer
I am super vigilant of the speed limit and only go at most 5 over as most of my police friends say their departments say not to stop unless they are going 9 or more over. I have never been asked how fast I'm going it's always more vague, do you know why I stopped you , and I answer no I am not sure. The 1 or 2 times I was asked how fast I was going I just play dumb and say I had cruise controls set at speed limit. My ex gf dad was a judge and former sheriff and the advice he gave me was always be polite and answer no sir, yes sir. He said in his days as a judge if you answer respectful he gives you the minimum and if you answer yeah or nah he gives minimum. I have got warnings every time after and hate to see people argue or threaten cops, you will never win.
My wife's step-father got pulled over once and the officer told him, "You know this is a one-way street, right?" Her stepdad said, "That's okay, I was only going one way." Cop thought it was funny, told him not to do it again, and let him go.
Lmao
Best reply I've heard so far lmao
Lmao
pianotm... Lol! That's the punchline to a long story I told in high school for a leadership class and won first place with it. I had to tell it again at the dinner at the end of the year with my whole family at the head table! First time I've heard that line again in 55 years!
I was speeding years ago when young and foolish. I came round a blind bend and saw 2 cops had pulled over a car about 50 yards away. I slammed on my brakes as the 2nd cop was reaching for his handheld radar gun. As i pulled past them at 'exactly' 30 mph the cop with the radar gun looked at me and gave me a hand clap as i drove past.
As a former LEO, I remember my instructor saying: "do not ever ask stupid questions like do you know how fast you were going... this isn't Jeopardy. And if you don't know how fast they were going, don't pull someone over."
That's odd I don't think I've ever been pulled over without being asked that question
Yes, but then how do cops meet their quotas. You know, the ones departments swear up and down don't exist and yet the last week of the month there isn't a single car in the station and they're all out looking for any minor infraction to blow out of proportions?
The point of the question is to get the driver to confess to a crime.
I was pulled over for speeding tickets three times in the last 42 years of driving and every time they asked either "do you know what speed you were going?" or "do you know why I pulled you over?"
And I've seen videos by both police officers and lawyer saying the purpose of that question is to get you to self-incriminate yourself.
Bull shit you were never an LEO officer...
Retired LEO. One of the first things I learned from my field training officer was to never ask the question, "do you know how fast you were driving?" I was taught to approach the motorist and tell them exactly why I stopped them and request their drivers license. "Good afternoon sir, the reason I stopped you is that I clocked you traveling at 80mph in a 55mph zone. May I see your drivers license please? Done and done.
My dad died when I was 16. He left me a 69 Camaro. Its was set up for pro stock drag racing. I drove it home for the first time at about 2am one night from my uncles house. I wanted to see what it could do. The roads were mostly flat as a pancake and you could see for miles. It was farm country and plowed fields. No crossroads where I hit 110 miles an hour when I noticed head lights very far back behind me. I watched as they were closing in on me. I thought either someone wants to race or I got a cop on my tail. As I went into a slight dipped area I decided to pull over and wait to see who it was. Pretty sure I could have outrun them but that is not who I am. They come into this dip and fly past me at a very high rate of speed. Slam the breaks on then hit reverse and bring it in behind me. I put both hands outside my window with drivers license and registration in hand. Also turned on my interior lights. He came walking up slowly. Stood back a minute scoping out the interior then walked up and asked did I have any idea how fast I was going. I said yes sir 110 miles an hour. He then said why did you stop? I said it was my first time driving it and I have traveled this road hundreds of times so I just had to see what it could do. Told him the rest of the story on my dad. He said sorry to hear about your dad. Then he says do you mind lifting the hood. I say no problem. He commented on the dual point distributer the intake, carb and various things and then started describing his hot rod lol. He said tonight is your lucky night. You did everything right here and I am gonna let you go. Just keep the racing on the track from here on out. I was like yes sir and thank you very much with a big smile. I gave that man full respect as I was in the wrong. He gave me compassion in return. Never gonna forget that night. I am nearly 62. That was almost 46 years ago.
Terry
@@ForestToFarmTerry, no disrespect, but you're white. Cops have killed hundreds of innocent people at traffic stops in just the last 3 years for the exact same thing.
Sometimes they’ll follow up the “I clocked you at 80 mph in a 55 mph zone” with something like “is there a reason for your speed today?” to try to manipulate you into making an admission.
EXACTLY! Like an attorney, NEVER ASK A SUSPECT A QUESTION YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO!!!-My late marvelous training officer, Sgt. Losure Brown all 6'8" and close to 300 lbs (no FAT) of him. He was a gem of a LEO. 99% of the time, he was gentle as puppy, unless you got WRONG with him. I saw him lay-out a doper high on something, with ONE TAP of his baton. Five other City Po-po had been knocked senseless by the guy. One bar fight, one LOSURE!
@@ForestToFarmdon’t make em like they used to Terry 🥲
Cop: "You were driving kinda fast..."
Me: "Well officer, my wife's getting pregnant tonight and I wanna be there when it happens."
And this comment wins the Internet.
This is legitimately the best comment in this entire section 😂😂
Cop: “So YOU’RE Dave! I’ll meet you there!”
Graphic.
Omg that is priceless 😂
Two occasions to NEVER speed; going through small towns during the wee hours and in construction zones. I drive a semi and it’s 99% certainty that there’s a patrol car sitting in the dark or parked in a lot. In construction zones, it’s just common courtesy to respect the worker’s. Most, like us, have families to go home to.
Make it three occasions, school zones.
@@Bama1963, you’re so right!
You are 100% right about small towns and not even over the speed limit by just a few miles!!!
Watch out for those speed signs for sudden drops in speed limit. This is a main source of income for that town/village!
@@JoeMicalizziMPC, yea sir, the speed limit will go from 55 to 45, then 30 or 25 in less than half mile.
What irritates me about road construction zones, though, is that there will be signs out indicating, say, a 45 mph speed limit on a freeway where the usual speed limit is 65. There will be all the signs of construction-EXCEPT actual construction workers.
The one and only time I had a cop pull me over and ask that question, I was on my bicycle, and his question was actually in earnest. I was doing 40 in a 35. He admitted he pulled me over just so he could find out how I managed to get a bike going that fast. He was pretty cool about it, and had apparently never seen a 21-speed bike before.
Never been pulled over for that, but I have a 21-speed mountain bike with street tires -- and I can definitely attest to the fact that I can get my bike up to 45 mph, as I dont have the rolling resistance of knobby tires.
Though to be fair, I've never seen the need for a speedo, as every "speed laws" on the books do not apply to human-propelled conveyances (its not a "vehicle" as defined by law, since a bicycle cannot be used for the purpose of "transportation" as defined by SCOTUS).
@@isaiahwelch8066 Can you produce a link to that SCOTUS ruling, please?
@@Richard-Vlk : Look up the definition of "transportation" in Black's Law Dictionary online -- it will have, if I recall, 3 cases that are listed as reference cases for the definition.
An important thing to note is that "transportation," as defined by SCOTUS, only refers to those entities who are _carriers._ In other words, if you're not a carrier, you don't engage in transportation. If you don't engage in transportation, you never use a "vehicle" as defined by the laws in every state I know of. Why is this?
Because every state is pre-empted by the SCOTUS rulings that federally define what "transportation" is, and by extension, what it isn't. Therefore, no state can define what "transportation" is under state law, which means that the activity that is connected to using a "vehicle" under state law, is not defined by state law, since the legal rulings by SCOTUS supercede any definition made under state law, and apply nationwide.
@@isaiahwelch8066 I was curious about this as I know Georgia considers bicycles to be vehicles. Which edition of Black's Law Dictionary are you using? It's up to edition 11, but the fourth edition was available as a free PDF and a bicycle is under the definition of a vehicle: "A bicycle; Sharkey v. Herman Bros., 3 N.J.Misc. 126, 127 A. 525, 526; Tulsa
Ice Co. v. Wilkes, 54 Okl. 519, 153 P. 1169, 1171."
Full definition of vehicle, minus the case law sources:
"VEHICLE. That in or on which a person or thing is or may be carried from one place to another, especially along the ground, also through the air; ally moving support or container fitted or used for the conveyance of bulky objects; a means of conveyance. Any carriage moving on land, either on wheels or runners;: a conveyance; that which is used as an instrument of conveyance, transmission or communication.
"Any carriage, conveyance, or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on land,--not ordinarily including locomotives, cars, and street cars which run and are operated only over and upon a permanent track or fixed way, unless the context of the ordinance 'or statute in question clearly indicates an intention to the contrary. The word includes a street sprinkler, but not a ferry boat, nor a domestic animal, unattached to a vehicle or a conveyance. It has also been held to include a scraper used to remove snow from ice which was to be cut, particularly since the scraper had facilities for dumping and unloading and was horse-drawn. A combined thresher and cleaner, mounted on axles and wheels, while being drawn from farm to farm. A bicycle. A motorcycle. And it includes an automobile even though, at the time of the enactment of the legislation involved, automobiles were not in use. The term was held not to include a street car in the following cases: ....
"As used in various statutes, however, the word is often given a somewhat narrower meaning than that which might be indicated by the above definition. Thus, it has been held that the term is inapplicable to a hand sled, to a child's coaster, and to an elevator.
"But as defined in the Tariff Act, it has a much broader meaning, and includes any sort of conveyance used in the transportation of passengers and merchandise either by land or by water or through the air."
I think the definition of transportation isn't really useful for our purposes here as it seems to be referring to transporting goods or persons by a carrier such as a train or ferry or it refers to exiling a criminal as a type of punishment.
"TRANSPORTATION. The removal of goods or persons from one place to another, by a carrier.
"Criminal Law: A species of punishment consisting in removing the criminal from his own country to another, (usually a penal colony,) there to remain in exile for a prescribed period."
Just to be sure that this dictionary wasn't meaning to imply that vehicles only exist as means of transport by hired carriers, I checked their definition of driver and it confirms that one can drive one's own bicycle, which is a vehicle.
"DRIVER. One employed in conducting or operating a coach, carriage, wagon, or other vehicle, with horses, mules, or other animals, or a bicycle, tricycle, or motor car, though not a street railroad car. A person actually doing driving, whether employed by owner to drive or driving his own vehicle."
So looks like at least in the 1960s Georgia was correct to define bicycles as vehicles. Do you know of any more recent case law that changes the definition?
@@MM-jf1me I think he confuses traffic with transportation.
I always wave my hand and say, "these are not the jedi you're looking for". Works everytime!
we're looking for droids, not jedi
It's like the question a cop once asked me, "if I look inside your car, what will I find?" It's also a trick question, and it tricked me! Looking in my car would have been an illegal search, which is protected in the Constitution. He's only allowed to look if he has "probable cause." By asking his trick question, "will I find something?" he's fishing around for me to give him probable cause. Which I did, because he made it sound like he already knew what he would find and he was just playing with me. But if I wasn't scared, I would have realized that he couldn't possibly know what he would find, even if he had a reasonable guess! Once I told him -- there was something -- he then had his probable cause making his search no longer illegal. A lawyer explained all this to me after it happened.
The trick question is a kind of gaslighting; it makes you doubt your own capacity to understand what's going on!
How should you answer the question? Just saying “I don’t know” or what
Tell the officer the truth if there's nothing illegal in your car. You can just say "I do not carry or own anything illegal officer." If they ask to search, you don't have to consent and just restate that there is honestly nothing of interest to look for.
Just say "I don't consent to searches" and "am I being detained or am I free to go?"
@@unhealthyquinoa8333
"Listen officer, there is definitely _nothing_ illegal in my car"
That literally sounds like yiu have somethung illegal in your car. If theres nothing illegal why not let them search?
Just don’t have anything in your car that you’re not supposed to, problem solved.
DO NOT answer a question with a question unless you're looking to get confrontational with an officer. Avoiding confrontation with a police officer is the best idea.
Yeah I'm not sure why you wouldn't just say "I don't know." Not knowing your exact speed at that moment isn't illegal, and that way their natural response is just to tell you the speed. The only downside is that this enables the officer to make up a speed, but if they're going to do that they would probably have done it anyway.
@@Nat_the_Chicken its not illegal but then your trapped. you say no then the officer says you where driving fast, or even over the speed limit
@@Nat_the_Chicken if you say “i don’t know” you are literally giving the officer free license to make up whatever number they want on a ticket, and you can’t fight back or deny it because you just admitted you don’t know. my current plan is to say “yes,” and if he asks further say that i was following the speed of traffic-at that point, if he wants to give me a ticket for speeding he will, or if he actually pulled me over for something else then he’ll probably bring that up.
Like how
@@crstph Well, in my experience, officers don't tend to give tickets if they don't feel like they absolutely have to. But I realize my experience is far from the norm, I have a lot of privilege and I live in a very safe area. So I guess you kind of have to change up your strategy depending on where you live and what you know about police interactions in that area.
In addition to this in the UK if you say 'no', you have just admited to driving without due care and attention. A more serious offence than a minor speeding offence.
Exactly, that is why it is REALLY a trick question!
@@armoricain In the USA we still have some rights and a little freedom, but its disappearing fast.
@@doodar21 What rights and freedoms have disappeared in the US and when were they given and taken away. I know the freedom to use marijuana was taken away by very dubious means.
@Bill Green “You want to know what this was really all about? The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I’m saying. We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.” -John Ehrlichman, President Richard Nixon’s domestic policy chief
Also, we're nowhere near the top of the world freedom index. In 2017 we placed 27th, scoring particularly low on press freedom which we ranked in 2021 at 44th, lower than every European country west of Poland among many others in Europe and around the world (and our ranking has been fairly consistently falling since 2013 where we ranked 32nd, only getting upwards movement during the years of presidential elections).
Likewise, privacy rights, both from the government and corporations have been in near freefall since 9/11, workers rights have been falling for over 5 _decades_ to the point where the international trade union confederation ranks us in category 4 out of 5 for _violations_ or worker's rights (that's "systemic violations of rights", btw, and puts us in the company of Kenya, Haiti, Ethiopia, Mexico, Pakistan, Venezuela, etc and WORSE than the Bamamas, Hungary, Jordan, Madagascar, Poland, Russia, the UK etc, which 'only' have "Regular violations of rights")
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free"
@@dynamicworlds1 Well said Dynamic. As well written summary of the real situation in the US as any I have seen but I doubt that is what Roger D meant but now anyone who reads this is now aware. I am constantly astonished at the number of Americans who live in Third world conditions or have lost everything due to a minor medical issue and still think they live in the best of all societies. There is no doubt it can be very good if you have money but so can most places. But if you have an economic hitch it can be brutal.
"No, but I have a feeling you're about to tell me"
Or say when they ask how fast do you think you were going say” I’m about to find out” ………
Not good, means you dont know your speed. It will make it harder to argue your speed later on with your lawyer
"I'm not certain, officer, I was concentrating on the road in front of me."
100% success rate in the UK, used many times over decades. It gives them absolutely nothing and keeps you clear of a without due care ticket.
In the alternative, where they don't ask a question but just say something about speed and leave some silence for you to fill. "I don't really have a good response to that." It avoids both the lie and the admission of guilt.
Also, try to avoid sounding like a smartass while giving those responses, act relatively humble. Most cops, in my experience, will respect you not dropping yourself in it, if you give them the respect of not going for bad attitude or an obvious lie.
That excuse doesn't work quite so well in the U.S. where our entire road system is designed like a bunch of preschoolers were handed crayons to draw it on a map. For a lot of places in the UK the roads are actually designed for their intended speed, so if you're paying attention to the road itself it's hard to go wrong. It's hard to justify it in the U.S. where most roads are giant, open thoroughfares designed as though you should be going 90 mph but actually the speed limit is 35 mph because the idiots build it right through the middle of a town.
@@Zeuts85 Roundabouts
@@Zeuts85 bingo. Thats why a few states have no speed limits on some stretches. Some are getting g up to 70 which is an improvement. But then there is a 5 laner nearby that speed limit was 55. For a road 5 damned lanes wide? Stupid.
@@codyb.3015 They do have signs, which are treated more as a suggestion by a very large proportion of the population. In my lifetime, I've seen it steadily reduce, but can remember when 140 mph in a 70 mph limit wasn't too unusual for people in a suitable car and with good traffic and weather conditions. That's no longer tolerated, and hasn't been for a while. More commonly, a major motorway between cities has an unofficial 90 mph (in a 70) limit for cars when conditions are good, with easily half of the cars doing more than 80.
Many people routinely do about 20 mph over in good conditions (or 10 mph over in urban areas). It's generally tolerated as long as you're not being crazy about it and slow for hazards and conditions.
@@Murph9000 i think the ten percent rule is probably more common in the UK. If you're going 22 in a 20 zone that's normal, but 30 you're speeding, even if you're not going to get honked.
The last time I got pulled over for speeding, the cop asked that question. My response was simple and definitely true. "I was going a little slower than the truck in front of me, and a little faster than the car behind me." This was upon entering a small town speed trap and although we were all traveling the same speed, I was targeted because I was from out of state and the cop knew I would not take the time off to drive 300 miles back to that state in order to fight the ticket in court.
You don't have to go to court. Send a lawyer to represent you.
@@clasicradiolover Oh, yeah. That's the way to go. Get my lawyer in GA, to go all the way to AR. for a court date over a speeding ticket. Or, hire a lawyer in AR, that I do not know and have never met, to represent me? You have got to be kidding. Do you have any idea what that would cost me? The ticket alone was less than $100. I think it was around $50. 1st. offense, less than 15 mph over the speed limit and 15 yrs. ago.
I live in Jersey. I got a ticket in North Carolina. I hired a lawyer from Charlotte who got it reduced to a non moving violation and no points. As a result, no increase in insurance premiums. Money well spent. Also, I did not have to leave home to go to court.
@@40billwaugh Being from GA and not AR, and seeing as how the violation was less than 15 mph over the posted speed limit (45 in a 35), I received no points and my insurance did not go up. I bet a lawyer would have cost me more than the ticket did.
@@reb1050 you hire a local lawyer we truck drivers do it all the time
My father's advice if ever having to deal with the police was "always respect the fact that they can make you have a very bad day". "Yes Sir. No Sir. And answer their questions truthfully and politely" was his advice. Luckily, I never intentionally speed. But I have friends who, while doing their best to keep to the speed limit, were pulled for doing 31kph in a 30kph zone ( true story ). So in that circumstance, the police have become tax collectors, nothing more. This just undermines respect for them in the community.
Solving crime doesn't pay their bills, writing citations pays their bills. Solving crime is just advertising the service. Policing for profit is a crime against the citizenry.
@@ronparker8582 Cops don’t get paid anything extra to write tickets unless it’s some sort of traffic enforcement overtime detail.
@@bradleyperry1735 The city, state, county revenue generated by citations, licenses, fines and court costs are big business and goes above and beyond our taxes. Governments don't make money, they take money.💵💰
@@ronparker8582
Citation please. Just how much do you think a municipality makes from traffic citations?
That’s kinda weird, legally speaking they can only pull you over for speeding or going to slow within 5 miles per hour of the speed limit
Was pulled over about a year ago and she asked me if I knew how fast I was going .. I responded with "the speed limit ??" She laughed and said not quite .. about 20 over .. she asked if I had any points already on my license or not and since I said I didn't (cuz I honestly didn't) she only wrote me up for going 5 over instead of 20 over .. which meant no points would go on my record .. wasn't the most ideal ending but I appreciate her kindness nonetheless 😁
one of the few actually useful-in-life things I learned in high school was from my government teacher, who told us to never admit that we knew we were speeding, because it admits wrongdoing. I've always answered this question by saying I didn't know my exact speed because I was paying attention to the road. Not sure why, of all things, that's the one that stuck with me, but I'm glad it did.
I admitted to going about twice the posted speed only because it wasn't like I was only going a few miles over. There was also a car in the next lane and a little behind (no we weren't 'racing').
I've also admitted to ~20 over because there was an accident and I had seen the guy since I pulled onto the Boulevard.
Everything has context.
Yeah I had a good high school teacher and he taught us all about not having to id and getting badge numbers and this was in the 80s. That was prime time for cops. They took all sorts advantage of us back then. No cameras
@kristenbooks that's probably the best way to address it. "My eyes were on the road, not my speedometer."
That way, they can't say you weren't paying attention.
I wouldn't address it this way if you don't feel you were speeding, because then they have a recording of you on record at teh time of the event saying you weren't sure if you were speeding or not. So if you challenge the statement that you were you will have a harder time.
Honestly the best way is to just ignore the question and respond back with "Good evening officer, Could you tell me why you pulled me over?"...unless it was blatantly obvious like you doing 25+ over it is a reasonable question.
I had an officer coming from the opposite direction flip on his lights, pull a u-turn, and pull me over. He tried the old "how fast do you think you were going?" trick on me, which didn't work because I'd driven through that neighborhood to and from work for over five years and knew exactly what the limit was in that area. The officer admitted that he didn't know if it was me speeding *or the guy behind me* but since I was the one who stopped, apparently I had a guilty conscience. Got no ticket, didn't even get a warning, just got 10 minutes sucked out of my drive in to work.
As the police car took off and passed me I noticed a teenager wearing a letterman jacket to one of the local high schools sitting in the passenger seat. So yeah, mister cop apparently decided to show off for his kid that morning and I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Even when they're doing a good job, even when they're actually doing what they're supposed to do, don't trust the police. They don't have your best interests at heart.
I am afraid I am with you, I absolutely do not trust them, I am very cynical about them, especially after being pulled over twice by Delaware troopers who lied about my speed a while back! I have no love lost for the police, that's for sure!
I was a collision reconstructionist. I investigated hundreds of collisions and fatalities. It was my job to find the actions and speeds of each vehicle in a fatality. WE DO have your best interest in mind even if you don't think so. I have seen so many dead bodies I have lost count. Everything from infants, elderly, pregnant women, people cut in half and still screaming, children killed in various places... the whole gambet. So if you have a problem with a traffic stop, thats your probem.
@@daveengstrom9250 I don't have a problem with a legitimate traffic stop. I have a problem with representatives of the state dropping the hammer of their office on random citizens' heads for no other reason than "because they can."
@@daveengstrom9250 Have a chip do we? Accidents happen...you are a bit jaded AND biased!
BLESS YOU MY CHILD
“I was keeping up with traffic” or “I was keeping my eyes on traffic.” In my experience, cops don’t like it when you ask them questions, they even say “don’t answer a question with a question” and begin escalating. Our job is to deescalate so that the cop doesn’t get violent, so giving a partially sufficient answer is better than an insufficient question that might be seen as a challenge to authority.
@UC2-mVwwcQjYFB9_GFgYpGEg Your right, but sadly that's not the county we live in. If we can't hold police officers responsible, we must at least try to keep ourselves safe and alive.
I agree with this, there is no need to be passive aggressive to the cops it won't make your situation better
I thought the same thing
I agree, but as a lawyer her job is to challenge authority I suppose.
If any cops get violents because of your answer. You shouls sue their asses.
My main technique is to always drive sober and never speed. It's worked brilliantly so far.
do you also exclusively practice Driving While White? I've heard that's also extremely helpful
@@werdwerdusdriving while white didn't get me out of a speeding ticket
It’s insane to me that we need to practice ways to verbally defend ourselves from the police.
“How to avoid getting an extra ticket when an officer tries to trick you into one”
America needs to change
They used to be called 'peace officers' now they are law enforcement. big difference
I was thinking this the entire time, and shocked it isn’t the main topic in the comments. 🤯🤦🏽♂️
Amazing people break the law so often they get involved with them so much...
Could be worse. Most places the cops beat the living crap out of people.
@@rustyjones7908 wdym. they do that here too
Per my attorney's advice, the answer to all first questions is always, "Why did you pull me over?" - The only thing they are allowed to address is the reason they pulled you over, unless you give them probable cause...so don't.
They ask you anything they want and you don’t have to answer anything. Only exception is you have to identify yourself in a verifiable manner and in some states you have to sign recognizing recipes of the ticket.
Yup, you got to beat them to the punch. If you don’t address it up front, they’ll find multiple bs reasons.
@@quanerams Wow, so you speed and you know it and your advice is to not cooperate? That will ruin your day as the officer can now arrest you and take you downtown.
I'm pretty sure speeding would be a reason for a officer to suspect something else might be going on.
@@martingillette7613 In what way? Only people who are in the process of committing other crimes speed?
Nope...the Supreme Court has ruled that they are only allowed to detain you for as long as reasonable to conduct the original reason for the stop. If he pulled you over for speeding then only address the speeding ticket. No chit chat...get the ticket and go.
I drive Hybrid, and I'm usually very aware of how much fuel I'm burning, and by extension, how fast I'm driving and who else is around me.
The last time an Officer pulled me over and asked that question, I actually wasn't speeding, and had just been passed by a couple of kids in "Tuner cars". So the conversation went like this.....
"Do you know what the speed limit is on this road?"
"Forty Five"
"Do you know how fast you were going?"
"Forty Five"
"I clocked you at Fifty Eight"
"I don't believe that for a second, and I don't think you do either"
"Would you like me to show you the Radar?"
"Sure thing, and while you're at it, I want to see the dashcam footage showing you clocked me and not those two other cars that sped passed us you didn't bother chasing. Because if you'd like I'll be able to show you my GPS record showing Forty Five"
I did NOT get a speeding ticket that day....
I had a buddy in a similar situation, ask the cop to point the radar gun at a tree.
@@livenhfree 🤔
@@livenhfree I point to my dashcam and say: is that the story you're going with ?
I would have taken the ticket, had my day in court and produced my own dashcam footage.
Making those dipshits look like dipshits: priceless
Another bullshit story!
Best answer, "I believe I was doing the speed limit." Put the onus on the officer to explain everything he's got.
In my experience, putting cops on the defensive leads to some very strange retaliatory actions! They are by nature very aggressive to begin with and do not take kindly to those who make them feel impotent! A simple statement declaring your right to silence is more effective and cannot be construed as confrontational by a Judge or Supervisor!
I tend to agree. I've had exceptional luck with them by being forthcoming. I would never do this with a DUI or more serious crime, but for speeding and minor offense, it seems to work. I haven't ever had a ticket and I should've had many. I've also gotten out of three duis (without admitting to anything)
Sounds like you have had lots of experience....You must be a real winner!
@@jedidiah5131 how many tickets have you had?
so the cop asks if you know how fast you were going and you say "I am exercising my right to remain silent"? is this supposed to result in you _not_ getting a ticket? because I'd write you one.
Just say "I dont answer questions " through the 1" crack you've left in your window. Ever see that video? Search it.
I would simply say "I was traveling 55 (or whatever the speed limit is where you are stopped, assuming you're positive you're correct about the speed limit). Let them tell you thats not what they clocked or thought.
If I’m on the highway with other cars,I’ll usually say”I thought I was driving with the flow of traffic”.If I’m alone on the road I’ll say”NoSir/Ma’am what did you clock me at?”As an add on:I’ll always immediately pull over when I see the lights and remove my sunglasses(if it’s daytime)and turn the car off,roll down the window and have both hands on the wheel.If it’s at night,I’ll pull over immediately,put on the hazards,roll down the window,turn on the interior lights and again wait with both hands on the wheel.
Being friendly and respectful usually puts the officer more at ease .I’ll also ask permission to grab anything they ask for.I know this is a long answer but it usually makes the whole thing a lot quicker and less confrontational.I’ve(knock on wood)had better results with this tactic.
I have a few relatives that are cops and I do the exact same thing based on their advice. I usually have my hands at 9 and 10 so they’re easily seen. I only move them when asked to retrieve something and I let them know where they’re going and always one at a time.
This is exactly how I conduct myself
Cop once had me dead to rights for popping a wheelie in front of him. I think the time I spent shutting off the bike, taking off my gloves and helmet, getting out my wallet and such, all while he was getting out of the car and coming up to me made all the difference. Showing a basic level of respect *while* knowing and exercising your rights is the way, in my opinion.
I got pulled over once. Cop asked me "Do you know why I pulled you over?"
My response was
"Because real criminals frighten you...?"
now THATS funny!🤣
DirtyCaveManDotCom, what's the rest of the story though? Did he order you to get out of the car, turn around, lean against the car, bend over and spread your cheeks?😂😂
That's the question I aways get asked.
😂😂😂😂😂
That’s fuggin hilarious!!!!😂🤣😂🤣
As a retired officer with over 30 years I can not recall ever asking that question. I just told them who I was and why I had stopped them.
I answer that question with "I don't know officer." That reply has gotten me out of several speeding tickets over the last 32 years where I was actually speeding and deserved a ticket. I also use that reply if the cop asks, "do you know why I pulled you over?" With that reply you're not admitting guilt or saying something self-incriminating. If you get cocky with him and answer his question with another question like suggested in the video or you pled the fifth or say "I don't answer questions", you're almost guaranteed to turn a possible warning into a speeding ticket, and maybe a couple of other extra punitive tickets. Just grit your teeth, try to be civil and it might save you a whole bunch of legal trouble.
I once got pulled over by a Washington state trooper on I-5, and he asked if I knew why he pulled me over. I said, I don't know, actually. He then told me that I was going 60 in a 55 zone, one of my taillights was out, and I was spending too much time in the passing lane without passing anyone. He apparently been following me for a couple of miles. I guess I looked pathetic, so he just gave me a warning and told me to get the taillight fixed.
I agree. Saying "You pulled me over but you don't know how fast I was going?" Seems EXTREMELY antagonizing! I wouldn't do it! I don't know seems safer because you're still not giving an answer but you're also forcing them to show you were speeding.
Well given she's black it's likely she's been pulled over more often than you and treated more antagonistically. So the advice might be better for a cop that's not acting civil. Even regardless of who you are I personally know that cops act very different depending on where you are. Where I used to live in Tennessee being civil did not work because they were hell bent on giving tickets regardless of legality. That's what happens when police have a quota of tickets they need to write. They were like ravenous hyenas when it was a few days before the end of a month.
@@PleasantLeech
He says to an anonymous person on the internet who they have never seen at all
@@arandomsupra what's your point? That's just the entirety of youtube comments and most communication on the internet.
With all due respect, speaking as a former LEO, trying to “trick” the officer or “put the officer on the defensive”, as this video suggests, is definitely NOT a good strategy to avoid getting a ticket
Why not try? These days you're likely to get beaten and/or shot to death no matter what you say or do.
You’re going to get a ticket anyway, the point is that when you contest it the officer doesn’t have a confession from you that you were tricked into giving that bolsters their case
Its better just to say "I believe I was going the speed limit."
You are absolutely correct. Being smart-ass will get you a ticket FOR SURE.
Officer: Do you know how fast you were driving back there?
Me: You came to me. Say what you need to, please. If there is any incriminating evidence here, I'd rather be presented with it, given my documentation suggesting said offence, so I may give it directly to my lawyer and move on with my peaceful existence. Sound good?
Officer: ...License and registration please.
Me: Okalee Dokalee.
"Do you know how fast you were going?"
"I was going the same speed as my vehicle."
That's the funniest reply to that question I've heard so far. Good show!
@@somebodyelse6673 I get some wood on the ball, every once and a while.
I almost spit my beer on my screen....lmao
🤣
Ha ha
I'm 72 yrs old, and the few times I've been stopped and asked that, I have responded with a simple, "Why?" I never got a speeding ticket until 2014. Then I got 2 in one day! 🙂
I knew the officer hadn’t gotten me on radar. He asked, I told him “35”. Which was the posted speed limit. And I was approaching a traffic circle so that wouldn’t have been too far off. Nothing he could do. Until he saw the tread on my rear (motorcycle) tire was too low. I told him I had a tire at home (true) and an appointment the next day to have it mounted. He asked me to be careful and let me go.
Next time an officer asked me why I was in a hurry. He had me dead to rights. I told him the truth. My wife called and there was a huge snake in the chicken coop. I was trying to keep it under 15 over. But I slipped over 60 in a 45. The highway patrol around here generally come from the rural areas around here. He certainly sympathized. And let me go.
Ah yes the old snake in the chicken coop excuse.
I think that saying you were driving the speed limit is the right answer, it admits no fault and corners the officer if they didn't actually get you on radar.
Sounds like you're white
As a former cop my advice is "Officer, I don't answer questions." No matter what they ask. No matter what they say. No matter what the accuse you of. Never talk to a cop. They are NOT your friend.
No you weren’t
Yes well said 👏🏻
thank you for being honest. they also werent driving, but traveling but i like your method because holding court withem will provoke an escalated argument that usually ends up being inconvenienced.
cops are trained to lie and love to hide behind qualified immunity witch need to be removed totally and back dated just like the games that law makers like to play , make a new law and then back date it .
@@hartsfire5706 I fully agree about qualified amenity. The Blue Gang depends on it. When they are sued and the community pays out thousands it doesnt change a thing for them and therefore they dont change.
I got pulled over and asked this question and I responded “well I believe I was going the speed limit.” (I really did think I was!) and the cop responded “well if you were going the speed limit be wouldn’t be here now would we.” His tone was so rude! I’m still not even convinced I was really speeding.
The more that I think about it, the people who say the answer should just be "yes" are probably right. If you say yes, then it shows that you are confident and were paying attention. Then, when you ask them how fast they think you were going, they know that you might be ready to contest it. If you show signs of ignorance, than they can gaslight you into thinking you were driving a speed higher than you actually were.
From a logical point of view this sounds like logical and sound advice. From a pragmatic point of view, the driver sounds like a smart ass, who is bound to make a bad situation even worse. As a matter of course, this is why people should be using their cruise control to maintain a constant speed.
Most cruise control will increase speeds uphill and downhill. Then as up or downhill levels out cruise control will return to set speed. If you sound like a smart ass by answering with a question then chances are you were a smart ass already.
Tire diameter size and inflation pressure differ with ambient air pressure. Unless your vehicle's speedometer is routinely calibrated (can be done by yourself and recorded in a continuous contemporary record book) you simply cannot depend on the accuracy of any OEM speedometer. OEM speedometers (oil driven pressure gear operated from the tail shaft of a transmission) without routine calibrated verification of output are typically at a worst case are 'off' by ±5-10%, max.; IF and only if, the tires are new, pressurized to spec. and are of specified dimensions and the ambient temperature remain somewhat constant as when the speedo was (monthly) calibrated.
The best, is a dash cam with imprinting GPS on the recording video (that YOU regularly verify and record the calibration accuracy .... versus time and speed that used GPS between formally surveyed & set mile marks as found commonly on 'federal' interstate highways)_ and then duly record at least monthly in a contemporaneous hard copy continuous record). Such, with that contemporaneous calibration verification record is pretty much unimpeachable evidence for an appearance before an 'honest' court.
i always use the cruise control
I love when cops think I’m being a smart ass. They get mad and it’s their job to be professional and de-escalate and with video recording today, they can’t do sh*t.
@@richh1576 GPS will indicate your road speed. That's how I found out my speedometer is off -2mph at 70mph.
I would tend to disagree, the last time I got pulled over I was going 70 in a 60 at 11:30 at night, before the trooper got to my vehicle I rolled my window down, turned on the dome light and had both hands on the wheel, the trooper asked me if I knew why he stopped me, I said yes sir I was speeding, when he asked how fast I was going I told him 70 mph, he took my license, registration and proof of insurance, came back to my vehicle and gave me a warning, told me to slow down and to have a good evening, and before he left he thanked me for rolling down my window and putting my hands where he could see them.
How does that make you feel?
@@trevorgibbsnc I'd imagine good because he didn't get a ticket as he showed some respect to the officer and recieved respect back?
@@trevorgibbsnc It probably makes him feel bitter. Distrusting of the system that’s out to get him.
Or alternatively, he feels like he had an honest face to face interaction with another human being. He showed respect and he got respect. Honestly, if you want to see what normal policing looks like, move somewhere where it isn’t culturally normal to be cynical of the police. You would be amazed at how much of what you see in the world around you is driven by your own outlook. Go visit a small rural town, far away from Democratic policies/philosophy, and you will see how much brighter life really is in a society ruled by laws, not men.
You were lucky. At best its 50/50 chance this will happen.
My go to answer to that question has always been "Oh, I'm pretty sure you're going to tell me." usually with a smile on my face. I've never had any negative consequences from that answer. Usually they'll show me what the radar caught and write me up accordingly (or even write it down to a lower infraction). Let them tell you what you did wrong, don't volunteer.
My answer to that question is always, "Is that why you stopped me?"
It is neither challenging, (which they really hate)
nor an admission, (which is what they are after).
Try not to antagonize the officer, which will annoy them and cause them to escalate things.
If they really push you for an answer, say, "Respectfully, sir, I'm not going to answer that question."
If they ask why, be blunt. "I'm not going to give you an admission that you can use against me in court."
Be assertive, but polite.
Yup, be polite, but outside of questions like to identify yourself which you may be legally obligated to answer where you live, only respond to questions with questions, evasions, respectful denial to answer, or "I do not consent to any searches, officer"
The goal is to steer the conversation in the direction of "am I being detained, or am I free to go?" without directly answering anything you don't absolutely have to.
I feel like just answering "No" to that question is better, being a smartass and asking them why they don't already know how fast you were going seems like it would just piss them off and increase the likelihood of you getting a ticket.
25 years as a cop.... The "do you know how fast you were going" question is all about honesty, and was one of the primary determiners as to whether I issued a warning or a ticket. People who were honest with me and took responsibility for their action were far more likely to benefit from the warning than the person who lied to me. First rule of cop school (and I heard it in law school as well!) is to never ask a question you don't already know the answer to.
You also need to have an honest cop, sadly that is not always the case.
I'm aware that trial attorneys are taught that, but cops?... But what you're saying is a bit confusing, so you're telling the RUclips community that cops already know the answer when they ask, "do you have anything illegal in the car that I should know about?" If you mean other types of questions please let us know. A lot of us are trying to understand how to handle these situations. Any insight is helpful. Thanks in advance!
@@lsweet6568 I think he just meant answers that they could POSSIBLY know for sure. My own way of dealing with the police is to always be honest, always be genuinely courteous, and admit guilt when I was wrong. That has saved me MANY tickets along my forty years of driving. And I used to no less than drive three hours per day, dive days per week, for twelve years. I've had police that were gruff but I didn't give him any flak and truly, I could.understand why he was rather rude when he explained that he was tired of seeing squashed people out in the country where I was speeding. I don't treat the officer as an enemy and out of maybe 25 officer interactions, only once did one seem to be really trying to push my buttons to get a reaction. The rest were all excellent. That includes the years when I was smiling dope and had to deal with them directly for some reason. 🙏
Tickets should be based on the evidence you have before you stopped someone. Otherwise you're fishing for a crime to issue a ticket for.
@@lsweet6568 You seem surprised that officers would use leading and presumptive rhetorical questions to lead their investigation ? Don't underestimate them. The question; "Do you have anything illegal in the car that I should know about ?" Is just that .... a rhetorical question to observe your response. You were initially pulled over for something else, and now the officer observes or senses either alcohol, drugs, weapons or hostages could be in an active discovery prompting his reason to ask that question. Your verbal response and physical observations, and the officers training and experience play-out to determine the next step. What should you do if you are asked; "How fast do you think you were going" ? The best answer would be ........ "as fast as the law allows under these road and traffic conditions." This is your contemporaneous statement of observational awareness. It shifts the focus from speed to a fluid awareness of surroundings. It demonstrates honesty, and does so in a compliant manner by answering with a direct response.
I was stopped years ago driving into a built up area. I was driving 35 mph in a 40 then into a 30 mph and I cut my speed to about 25. Weather conditions dry and bright, very light traffic.The officer who stopped me asked my why I was driving under the speed limit to which I replied because you were behind me.
Suffice to say that stumped her a bit.She then went onto ask me if I had had a drink to which I replied Yes.She looked stunned.I went into to say I had drank 2 glasses of water, two glasses of a diet fizzy pop. The officer then asked me what difference did it make that she was behind me.I explained to her that growing up as a kid I was taught that the Police were there to protect the community and their presence was to act as a deterrent.
Thank you and enjoy the rest of your evening.
Officer: how fast were you going?
Me: How the hell should I know, I’m drunk?
I’m not very good at this
Not bad at all. . . . the officer will be rolling on the ground with laughter, then you may merely drive off! Good job.
I think how you answer this question depends on where you live. In some places, cops are honest and only get irritated when people act disrespectful or antagonistic towards them. Then there are other places where they're crooked and look to harass people. It can vary by department too, if you know which specific department lit you up (local city PD, county sheriff's, highway patrol) you may choose to act differently. For the cops that try to be respectful, this answer could be construed as confrontational and at minimum earn you a guaranteed ticket whereas if you are easy going with them, honest, making sure your hands are clearly where they can be seen etc, you can play more to the sympathy side and get out of it. Humor is also always helpful. My fiance got out of a HOV violation when the officer asked her where her second person was and she pointed to her pregnant stomach. The officer laughed and pointed out that it didn't count but he'd give her a warning and let her go.
At the end of the day, they're humans like we are, there's good ones and bad ones and it becomes like dealing with any other public human interaction.
I second this, during a traffic stop I was able to talk myself out of a much worse ticket than I could have gotten because I was friendly and cooperative. Won't work everywhere, but it's worth a shot if you are in a small town
No such thing as an honest cop (they are encouraged to lie to you all the time) and every department will cover up for a cops criminal and vile behavior to protect "the department." Need to treat every interaction as if your life depended on it, because it does.
@@dsabre4990 Sounds like you are the kind of person that causes problems to get themselves in trouble. 99% of traffic stops are nothing like what you see in the movies or what the media ttys to portray to get more views because they make money off of that shock value type reporting.
I have been pulled over many times for my own actions and have been in the vehicle with friends when they were pulled over. The friends that were confrontational and disrespectful always got at minimum a ticket if not arrested. Whereas myself being courteous and respectful to the officer, more often than not got completely out of getting anything even when I was very clearly in the wrong.
Give respect to get respect. Give an attitude and be disrespectful, see what you get back in return. Not just with the police either. Why don't your try it out in your daily life. See how your bad attitude affects dealing with people like a waitress, gas station clerk or even the person behind the counter at the DMV. Then spend a day being kind, friendly, smiling and joking with people you interact with and see how much thing change for the better for you.
You're welcome.
@@dracer35
Cool...very anecdotal.
@@dracer35 LOL..wanna bet? How about you tell me when your last traffic ticket was, and then I'll tell you when my last one was. It was speeding. 99% of traffic stops involve cops asking "fishing" questions to try to arrest the driver. But I'll wait on your last traffic ticket.
I was pulled over on the interstate in heavy traffic, multiple lanes. When asked that question by a State cop I replied that I was moving with the body of traffic and watching all traffic around me and not my speedometer so I can't say exactly what my speed was. I got a warning and proceeded on my way.
Two points need making: 1) By saying you don’t know the speed you were doing, you are admitting to not properly controlling your vehicle - You are supposed to be aware of your speed. 2) An officer being asked if HE knows the speed he pulled you for…will say yes of course. It won’t confuse or throw him off at all. Bad cops will lie anyway to see if you will incriminate yourself.
Many years ago my Father was pulled over, the officer asked "Do you know how fast you were going?". Dad answered "Isn't the speed limit 55 on this stretch of road?" caught the officer off guard, they talked a bit and let us go with a verbal warning.
Yup, ask a question, don't answer anything directly.
Also, if you say, "I don't know." Then the policeman knows that he can write whatever speed he wants and you can't dispute it because you just told him that you didn't know.
When I was a young man working for a hotel I got pulled over with a van full of passengers coming back from the airport. The cop thought I was speeding as I crossed in front of him at an intersection but I wasn't. He asked me how fast I was going through the intersection and I told the truth. I was literally going the speed limit, which was 55. I told him this and he went nuts, calling me a liar, trying to intimidate me. That worked, by the way, I was scared as hell. The cop was so mad that the passenger behind me, a complete stranger, told him that I was going 55 because he had seen the cop and looked at my speed out of reflex.
That cop went absolutely insane, threatened to arrest me anyway, and told me he drove that stretch of road every day and was going to be looking for me until he caught me speeding.
He never did but I think he pulled over some of my coworkers. lol
Off topic, but when I read the first line of your comment, my mind immediately started reading the next few lines to the tune of " the black parade".
Whenever I pulled anyone over for speeding, I already knew how fast they were going. I did ask the question, "Do you know what your speed was when you were at (blank location)?" It should not be a trick question, but one that does elicit an admission of guilt. That admission should support and be consistent with the observations of the violation. For that reason I actually agree with you. Answering with a question is a good way to re-direct the conversation in a way that is not confrontational and sometimes allows you to build rapport where you can talk your way out of it. I have never needed to fish for a violation by stopping someone for say registration, and then ticketing them for speed based solely on an admission. That is not ethical and in my thirty plus year career I have never seen any of my colleagues where I worked do anything like that. For an infraction violation it should have been witnessed by the officer and that officer should have articulable facts that support the violation separate from any admission. If I didn't see the violation, then no ticket. I agree with your advice, but your characterization that police by and large are trying to trick you is completely false. Simply put, they don't need to trick you if they observed the violation. There are plenty of people speeding so it is not like you can't find those violations, at least here in California.
As the operator of a motor vehicle, you are responsible for knowing how fast you are going, so there is one correct, non-self-incriminating answer to that question:
"Yes, of course I do."
When CHP (Calif. Highway Patrol) pulled me over doing 80 MPH on a 65 MPH (freeway), he asked me if I knew why he was pulling me over?
I replied, no sir, but I can tell that you’ve been around a while (he was seasoned) and that the CHP has the highest conviction rate of an Law Enforcement Agency in Calif, so I’ve got to believe it was for a damn good reason!
No ticket, just a thank you sir and a verbal warning.
Well, to play Devil's Advocate: all situations are different. I was going 20-21 mph over the limit and when he asked me, I answered "about 55?" and I looked backward through my rearview mirror at the license plate for the other side of the road and said "Oh, did it just drop to 35?" and he said "yeah, you were doing 57." After him seeing my license and seeing I was from Virginia (was up at Ocean city but was on my way to visit some people in Delaware) he asked me if I was there on vacation and I told him I was and he said "well, you have a good record and you were honest so just be careful from now on the speed limit drops by 20 in some areas along this road.
However, if you can't read people and don't have any real knack for psychological intuition, best not to answer or say you thought you were going go with the flow of traffic if you can. However, never say "you pulled me over but you don't know how fast I was going?" That is somewhat belligerent and you don't want to get sarcastic with cops.
This is bad advice but the lady seems nice and in most other cases, especially involving things more serious than speeding tickets, never admit to anything with the police. Also, white people get breaks more than minorities and women get more breaks than men from police. Every situation is different so if you are unsure, yeah, take the 5th.
Agreed that the advice from the last is, well, not very good. Putting the cup in a defensive position is going to piss him off. Besides, it can only work once. Myself, i HATE it when people try to answer a question with a question. So long as you are very polite Ave respectful you will have a better chance to get out of the ticket, race be damned.
Cop: Do you know how fast you were going?
Me: Why, have you forgotten already??
*holds hands out for cuffs*
That made me 😂😂😂
From experience, I've been completely forthcoming and honest in my answer to this question. I could have had my license taken on the spot due to the speed I admitted to, however, was let off with a much lesser ticket because of my honesty and respect for the officer. If you want to risk annoying the officer by being cagey and evasive, you're not allowing the officer to exercise some leniency and discretion.
You’ve had like the only reasonable and realistic comment so far.
This needs more likes.
For the record, this was in Australia on a country road. My answer: Well I was doing 160km/h when I overtook the two road trains that were at the level crossing, next thing I know you were tailing me, and I thought "who is this nutjob?", so I sped up to 180km/h, which is when you pulled up beside me with your stop police sign, so I slowed down safely on the road before stopping on the shoulder. If he had've booked me at 145km/h or over, my license was gone. He gave me a half hour lecture and a ticket for 140.
@@radumerkin even if that wasn’t the case. Just being honest and reasonable shows that you have respect for the law which means giving you ticket will be less effective in getting you to correct your behavior which is the end goal of police. If you are snarky, it shows you have no respect for the law and thus a form of punishment remains as the only option to try and get you to correct the behavior. Thus if you comply you are more likely to get out of a ticket.
@@quanerams The fact that the officer asked lots of questions, and I answered all of them honestly, allowed him the space to correct my behaviour, rather than simply try to punish me. I count myself lucky, not only that I was dealt with leniently, but that I am still alive. I was speeding because I was late for something. That half hour lecture gave me some perspective. I was still gonna be late regardless. I haven't sped to that extent since.
I have always answered honestly and have been let off twice because of that. Once I was going 84 in a 55 and when I answered the question he replied "you're the only honest person I've talked to today". Cops are people like you and me and if you're decent and respectful to them, in my experience they will be the same to you.
That's the kicker. You have to be decent and respectful, but that is too difficult for some people.
Tell me you're white without telling me you're white.
Sounds like the cop didn't want to rack up any new headshots that day. You must be white
@@pipkitten Not a black and white thing.
I've been pulled over for speeding probably about 5 or 6 times in my life. And not once did they ask me how fast I was going. Rather, they told me exactly why they pulled me over and exactly the speed they clocked me at. And they were right. lol. They never exaggerated my speed.
Because this propaganda that cops are out to get everyone is a load of bullshit. They don't want to admit that there are people good and bad at their jobs, or just good and bad period, with law enforcement being no exception.
@@blaynegreiner9365 The problem is that improper law enforcement has the likely outcome of dramatically changing or ending a person’s life. They must be held to the highest standard.
What not to say. My friend from HS was on his way to college in Jacksonville FL from NY. An officer pulls him over in Georgia and first thing the cop says to him was “Boy nobody goes through Georgia that fast!” My friend responded “Sherman did!” He was taken into custody and spent the night in Georgia.
Great answer all the same.
As an ex cop, in Australia, I asked this question to see how attentive the person was. A person who knew what speed they were doing, and why, was less dangerous to the general public, which I was there to protect. Again, Australia not US.
"Do you know why I stopped you?" No sir, I don't.
"Do you know how fast you were going?" No sir, I don't.
"What color was that light back there?" Yellow.
"And what do you do at a yellow light?" I get thru it before it turns red.
"No. You slow down and prepare to stop." _Not with a loaded dump truck and equipment trailer I don't. It'd make me lock my brakes up and slide halfway thru the intersection, potentially leading to an accident. The safest way for me to proceed is to keep moving and hope it stays yellow._ (No, there was nothing wrong with the brakes on either the truck or the trailer, the truck was loaded with mulch and the trailer had a stump grinder on it. I drove away with a written warning.)
It baffles me that some people think that big and loaded trucks can stop as easily as a little 2 door coupe.
The day I got my license, I was really close to some lights when they turned yellow. Well, there was a police car about to turn into the street I was driving on, which kind of spooked me, so I hit the brakes to stop at the lights... unfortunately, I was too close to the lights and wound up stopping right in the middle of the intersection. Luckily, there was nobody behind me, so I just backed up to wait for the lights to turn green. The policeman just turned into the street I was on with a wry smile on his face. True story. ✌️🇦🇺
As long as you entered the intersection when the light was yellow, then its still legal.
@KingMrBigE In Australia, you must stop when you see a yellow light UNLESS it is unsafe to do so. I'd be surprised if it's not the same in the US... or, in other words, what you said is incorrect in Australia and likely the US, too.
@@castleanthrax1833 the yellow light is only programmed for 3 seconds usually, thats why unless you see it from a safe distance what I said holds true. And most lights your lucky if its actually 3 seconds, I have seen some that are half that.
Great video! I was pulled over and the officer asked me that same question. Sadly, I answered. But my answer was "No, I don't know.". When you answer No..you have no recourse to fight that ticket because you just admitted that you did not know your speed!. And...the officer wrote on my actual speeding ticket "Driver admitted verbally that he did not know his speed". I learned a valuable lesson that day. Thanks for a great video.
I was pulled over when driving through Texas on the interstate years ago. The officer asked me if I knew how fast I was going. I truthfully answered "no". He said that I must have looked at my speedometer and I truthfully told him that when I saw the flashing lights I didn't even glance at my speedometer - I concentrated only on pulling over quickly and safely. He did not give me a ticket. I was curious so I asked him how fast I had been going and he said "Oh no! If I tell you, then you'll know how much over the speed limit you can go and get away with it!" So apparently I HAD been speeding, but not by very much.
I was *way* over the speed limit, zero traffic on the road, went by a speed trap. Cop pulls me over, walks up to my window and with a smirk says "I've been waitin' for you all day!" I said "Well I got here as quick as I could!"
(Didn't really happen - I read it somewhere a few years ago. Thought it was funny.)
Woman! I love you!!! I once had a police ask me if I knew why he pulled me over. I honestly had no idea and suspected he was fishing, so I just said, No, but you pulled me over so I guess you know. He let me go. Wonderful channel, subscribed!!!!!!
It would be interesting to see statistics (location specific) about what percentage of stops result in a warning and no ticket. That way, we could understand how badly we'll screw the pooch if we mouth off to the cop. Which reduces the odds of just getting a warning, pretty much to zero.
As a driver, I got away with no citation 75% of the time IFF I was honest and courteous.
As an officer, I cite 90% of stops I make. I do not care to waste peoples’ time by needlessly grilling and lecturing them for no reason. Either there’s something that needs intervention or there isn’t.
Run enough stops and you will find real things to cite and charge sooner rather than later. Contraband, warrants, fugitives, parole violations, stolen goods, you’ll find those aplenty doing traffic stops. It’s the single most important routine task in policing; nothing catches more bad guys and collects more evidence. It also directly correlates with public safety; doing more traffic work sees fewer road accidents.
It’s also the second most dangerous after domestic violence calls, so all the more reasons to not roll the dice frivolously.
Cop: " Why are you in such a hurry?"
Me: " I knew you were waiting for me, so I got here as quick as I could."
Long time ago I was driving on a highway coming into a city where the speed slowed down. I’ve taken this route many times and knew exactly where to slow down and how much, which I did. Checked my speed, steady 55, no issue, until a cop pulled out in front of me. I stopped paying attention to my speed then because I already checked it. But the cop started going faster and faster, and I didn’t realize because I was then driving in relation to him. Not long after I drove under an overpass, and another cop pulled out and stopped me for speeding. They totally trapped me on purpose. If the one wouldn’t have lured me, I would have stuck with the speed I started at which was fine.
This is why they have cruise control !
@@thomasdaum1927 Wasn’t a great area for cruise control. Just getting into the city.
@@marcilk7534 In the city I live in I use cruse control all the time ! I don’t race from red light to red light like most idiots !……
Lured you? What are you a fish ?
@@johnh6515 Pretty much
The best question I have found is “How can I serve you today?” After that all questions should be additional questions.
Here is a great example. I was caught doing like 90, but I drove 1/2 mile off the freeway as it was all farm land to a safe place for me and the officer. He was PO that I drove so far. When he asked why, I said I cannot live with myself that you could be in an unsafe location on the side of the freeway. That broke the ice and we then talked. No ticket was given. I have multiple events that good composure and character lead the process and ZIP, NADA, NO Ticket.
Until you are that pregnant lady who got pit maneuvered and flipped on the highway because the officer was pissed off she was only slowing down and not immediately stopping.
Sounds about white
Got pulled over for making an illegal left turn, officer said to me did't you see the arrows? I said Arrows ,I did't even see the Indians.
ROFL
"Why yes, I do, mister. I was driving at a speed that I, being a responsible person, deemed to be safe and appropriate for the road and its conditions."
I was asked that question, after being pulled over. My answer: No, the speedometer is broken. I DID know, however, that would have turned my speeding ticket into an equipment violation, which would result in the cost to repair the speedometer, and present proof of said repair, later. I owned the car for 18 years, of which the speedometer worked for about, maybe 7 years. Who puts a digital speedometer in a car with a manual transmission, but no tachometer? Oldsmobile (1990 Cutlass Supreme). In medium to heavy traffic, traffic flow was my alternate speedometer, which seems to be many other motorists' method, regardless of the condition of their equipment. In light to no traffic, the pitch of the sound the engine makes, was my alternate "speedometer." My alternate speedometer tactics served me well, since I was pulled over only once for speeding in the 18 years I owned and operated that vehicle.
My GARMIN Drive smart cost $45. at a pawn shop it has a speedometer
@@peterweller8583 I don't believe Garmin had such a device in 1997. And I replaced the car with a 2008 Chrysler Sebring convertible in 2008. 😏
That's cool. Sorry good luck with the Fix It Again Tony never had much luck with MOPAR
Driving stick, you're much more in tune with the car and it's speed, than automatic. Glad you get stopped for speeding so infrequently.
Doesn't your car need a working speedometer to pass inspection?
I told a cop "I only know you were going faster."
The judge didnt think it was that funny either.
Last year, I left my daughters boutique after a long dsy in retail…I was exhausted from standing all day (age 75). It was dark, I was fighting leg cramps. I got stopped by a Texas State Trooper, he asked for my ID and insurance. While I fumbled trying to find a Geico snapshot of my card on my iPhone…he returned and politely said, it’s ok ma’m I verified your insurance. I’m just writing a warning. I want you to get safely home, so please watch your speed. I did! I was so grateful to that young officer…I kept that ticket on my refrigerator over a year! It did help me remember to watch my speed.
Terrible. He adjusted his behavior based on your identity and appearance. If he really wanted you to get home safely he wouldn't have stopped you on an empty road in a safe situation. Another perfect example of cops giving a break to a specific class of people only, and then lying straight to your face about it to ingratiate themselves. ACAB.
I got stopped on my motorcycle near Kemmerer, Wyoming a few years back and got that question. I said that I can't watch my speedometer constantly but the last time I looked I was doing about 71-72 mph ( in a 65 mph zone ). I had been going much faster a few miles back down the road. When I got home and was trying to pay for my ticket, I realized that it was just a warning ticket. I still believe it was because I was being honest with the officer.
My scenario:
Officer: "Do you know how fast you were driving"?
After 5 to 8 seconds of silence.
Me: "I give up.......How Fast"?
Now I understand, because the original meaning just hit me: “Don’t talk to the police” is actually lingua-Franca for “Don’t hold casual conversation with an active-duty officer.” It doesn’t mean to remain completely silent or to give them a hard time getting anything from you, just to treat them as a business partner.
You're better off not saying anything at all, usually. You can use your 5th Amendment rights in a respectful manner. Whatever you say CAN and WILL be used against you.
I was asked this once by a state trooper. I responded with, "I had the ole girl cranked up, didn't I?" I never gave him a clear answer. He still wrote a ticket for 5 over, but I was going about 45 over, no lie. He even asked me to pop the hood to take a look at the engine, which I obliged. Nice guy.
Ask me how I know you're white
@@kylezo it's okay, the car is black so it evens it out. 😂
last time i got pulled over for speeding in the late 90s, cop pulled me over. he said "you know how fast you were going?" and i replied with "yes." after a second he said "well how fast were you going?" and i said "i dont have to answer that". he was like "yes you do! i asked a valid question!" and i said "you can ask any question you want, but i have a right to remain silent, and a right not to incriminate myself." he shot back with "well then how do you know how fast you were going?" and i replied with "i always glance at my speedometer while driving so i always know how fast i am going, and on the off chance i lied and said i did not know how fast i was going, you would be able to ticket me for negligent driving for not knowing how fast i was driving. so i know how fast i was going, but i do not have to tell you." cop took my stuff, went back to his car, and gave me a ticket for 55 in a 45.
Great response. I never knew how to respond to that question. I've had them ask me "where's the fire?" When I said I wasn't aware of any fire, he asked why I was speeding. I knew that was a trick question.
Back in my 20’s I was speeding and got pulled over. Cop asked if I know how fast I was going. So I told him 85 or so. 85 was only 10 miles over. The officer said “85 try 96”. It was true I had gotten up to that speed. 3 cars had passed me and I was going to try and ride with them. But they were doing well over 100 and I didn’t feel safe doing that speed. I told the cop that. I also wasn’t the only car to be pulled over. There was also a corvette. So the cop took my info and then went to talk to the people in the vet. When he came back he gave me a ticket for only 85 mph instead of 96 because I was honest with the cop. The person in the vet told the cop he had his cruise control set to 72. So he got the full ticket from what the cop told me.
I don’t know if I save myself some money or not by being honest and non evasive. But I believe I saved myself money that day. So for me it was a win.
My answer is always “Yes, sir; 2 miles under the speed limit. Therefore this is not a public safety stop.”
Thast a very stupid reply to their question....
You can still get a ticket for going under the speed limit.
“ Do you know how fast you were driving?” Apparently not fast enough officer you caught me.
I say (and it is usually true) “I don’t know, I was just going the same speed as all the cars around me.” This presents a dilemma for police because you’re pointing out that they singled you out and maybe for no good reason. Also, judges know there is a natural speed on every road and that speed is what 80% of drivers are doing.
Bad answer. If you and the other cars were speeding, they can only pull one person over and you were that unlucky person. Everyone else was doing it is not a good defense and admitting that you don't know how fast you were going also destroys your defense.
That's what I've always said. Just going with the flow of traffic. Works alot of the times.
Breaking the speed limit because others were is no defense against a ticket. Obey the law and you are bullet proof
@Robert N
"I've always said" was a poor choice of words on my part obviously you took it as I get pulled over for speeding alot. That's not the case last time I got pulled over for speeding was 2012 and he let me go. I was just commenting that in the past I have said things like I was just going with the flow of traffic rather than say an actual speed I was driving
Hope this clears up any confusion.
@@arthurl.9985 Going with the flow is safer than following the limit and being a safety hazard.
I always say, "I was just going with the flow and I wasn't paying attention to the speed, officer." Here in Florida, you might find yourself doing nearly 100 mph in a pack of 20 cars.
So true!! I grew up in the LA area, now live in a moderately large metro area... and the speeds you guys do in Florida terrify me! I also get claustrophobic on your highways, knowing I am trapped and there's often no way out except through alligator swamps. God forbid you miss your one and only exit :-(
@@cherylmockotr 🤣🤣
"I was following the flow of traffic and Im never the fastest in the pack"
Funny story; I was speeding one day and got pulled over. The patrolman brought me back to his car where I was sure I was getting a ticket. He asked me if I knew how fast I was going to which I replied, yes sir. He asked if I knew what the speed limit was, again I replied, yes sir. At that point I was certain I was getting a ticket. Then he said, "Well honesty counts for something in this car so I'm giving you a warning, slow it down." I said, yes sir, got back in my truck and didn't go over the speed limit the rest of the day.
I came up to a slight bend in a county road (trees hiding sight lines) and a deputy came rolling the other way. I was 69 in a 55. Saw the cherries pop in my mirror and was pulled over before she got turned around. She asked why I pulled over right away..... how I knew she was pulling ME over vs responding to a radio call. I just shrugged (and smiled). She ended up giving me a ticket for no proof of insurance (drops off if you prove it within three days). Maybe she thought I was cute?
I guess the next day was a different story 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂
Only the rest of the day? lol.
Then tomorrow came around, and I had places to be.
"Do you know why I pulled you over?"
"Sorry officer, I'm not a mind reader."
I love that question! I say "why yes I do, and so does that camera and so does the other camera. Any other questions?" Love the expression I got the one time I was pulled over. I'm one of the few people that actually drives the speed limit. Less problems that way. Other than that "I don't answer questions".
Thanks for the Advice, many wouldn't know how to answer that question.
I got pulled over one time and the cop asked that question. I asked, "How fast did you clock me?" He said, "You were going 62." I said, "I most certainly was not." He asked me again, and I told him, "I have a dashcam." He asked if it had gps. I replied yes. He then stated, "Well maybe you weren't going that fast..."
Let him write the ticket and hopefully you can get him written up over a fraudulent stop
I'm a retired state trooper, and I never asked the question, "Do you know how fast you were going?" because then I'm inviting the driver to lie and it would lead to arguments alongside the roadway. I would immediately tell the driver why they were pulled over and use positive statements.
How long did it take you to rehearse that lie before you typed it out?
Usually I get a highly reduced fine or just a warning .
I’m a guy who knows exactly how fast he’s going , and that’s 10 to 15 over posted or more depending on traffic flow .
I never speed in residential areas, beyond a slight bit , no more than 5 .
I speed thousands of times ( 7 years since last ticket ) , without a problem, so the $200.00 is not much of a tax , considering the weeks I’ve saved .
But all that and , damn that’s one beautiful attorney!!!!!
LEO: "do you know how fast you were going?"
You: "i believed i was in compliance w/ the speed limit ... officer"
"believe" is what's going to get you. You can "Believe" anything.
I always know exactly (within +/- 2 mph) what speed I am going. I usually respond with yes and say the speed limit and that I had cruse control on. I have never gotten more than a warning.
If I know that I rolled through a stop sign, I admit it (this happen about 3 years ago) and said, “Thank you officer/deputy for pointing this out to me. You are correct an thought I did look both ways before I proceeded I realize that it is no excuse…could you please let me off with a warning citation!
It has always worked for me. Show the cop that you respect his authority and unless he is have a particularly bad day he or she generally responds to that show of respect and knowledge that if one’s driving record comes up clean (he will certainly run it) he has the authority to give you a written warning.
The psychological aspect is clear. I have had many cop friends who have even told me this. Their attitude towards you is directly related to how you come of to them. They have admitted letting off good looking members of the opposite sex but a good joke or anything that makes them genuinely laugh endears them to even a same sex traffic stop…but you gave to have charisma also! If you are ugly or come off as ugly this will not work for you.
I always have a good joke ready and am always ready to make the stop novel for the cop. And am ready to use attractiveness on a female cop or deputy.
I always say something along the lines of "I dunno, your radar gun is more accurate than the speedometer in my old shitbox car. How fast did you clock me?" Once, I even got a small town cop to admit he hadn't actually gotten a chance to get a reading on me, and I said "ok, so why did you pull me over then?" He kept threatening that he could give me a ticket anyway for speeding and for this, that, and the other, but I just said "ok, well can we get going? It's 2am, I just got off of work, and I have work in the morning." Then he tried to impress upon me that he was going to be generous and let me off with a warning, even though he absolutely could give me a citation if he wanted to. Bless his heart. 🙄
You must be from Texas if you say "Bless his heart." 😂
Just be honest and respectful to the cop. This goes a long ways. Yes sir, yes mam. I’ve gotten out of many tickets this way. When I was younger I was rude to the cops and they always gave me tickets.
Some officers have already decided they're giving you the ticket. You could be the nicest person in the world and get along great. They're just doing the job, and sometimes the job is writing up tickets.
Just be honest is terrible advice. Dont answer questions you dont have to but dont be rude
Well, you're white, Todd.