# Do you know why I pulled you over? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2018, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964 "2018-05-11T05:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/21 "2018-05-11T15:00:24Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Because you like getting shot in the face? **Moderator Warning** **Isamu** , you’ve been here long enough to know that professional jabs are not permitted in General Questions. This is jerkish enough that it deserves a warning instead of just a note. Do not do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Perderabo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Perderabo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perderabo)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/22 "2018-05-11T15:08:47Z")
I always say: “No, sir, I don’t.” Since I have no mind reading ability this is always true. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/23 "2018-05-11T15:17:00Z")
one time I was asked where I was going. Is that a common question? ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/24 "2018-05-11T15:22:37Z")
“Lack of anything better to do?” ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/25 "2018-05-11T15:33:23Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > I’m just happy they never ask “[What you got in the trunk?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZjZbJuhPAo)” Feh. The best answer to that never-asked question is “Junk.” The answer to “Do you know why I pulled you over” is “because you’re behind on your quota” but it’s not one I’d ever say out loud. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/26 "2018-05-11T15:36:23Z")
“Yes.” ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/27 "2018-05-11T15:48:19Z")
I get ‘pulled over’ 3-4 times a year, on average, and I’ve been driving for 35 years. So, I am well over 100 traffic stops. Generally, just respond with ‘How can I help you officer?’ …and provide any documents after you’ve clearly asked if you can reach for them. Everything you do is with the officer’s concern in mind. Just don’t answer the question. You can’t be seen in a bad light, because you are offering to help them. Use general psychology and persuasion, don’t incriminate yourself, but show concern for the officer’s well being. There are exceptions. Get a read on the situation. I made a U-Turn on the NJ Turnpike, and while the odds were super long, an officer saw and stopped me. I pulled over before the first photon of his lights hit me, and had my paperwork ready in record time, with both hands out the window. He appreciated the honesty and cooperation, and I explained there were no cars in sight (I kept safety in mind). I did not get a citation, but he explained that my penalty was the 11 dollar full toll charge I would have to pay, since I’d not have a ticket to exit from the other side of the Turnpike. . ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/28 "2018-05-11T16:12:16Z")
Obligatory Schrödinger/Heisenberg joke: Heisenberg and Schrödinger are traveling in a car and are pulled over by a cop. The officer asks, ‘Do you know how fast you were going?’ Heisenberg replies ‘No, but I know where I am.’ This arouses the officers suspicion, so he asks to check their trunk. He looks inside and asks ‘Are you aware there’s a dead cat in your trunk?’ To which Schrödinger replies, 'I do _now_. :mad: ’ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/29 "2018-05-11T16:27:56Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > “Lack of anything better to do?” > [@gnoitall](#): > > The answer to “Do you know why I pulled you over” is “because you’re behind on your quota” but it’s not one I’d ever say out loud. **Moderator Note** Once again, keep the professional jabs out of this thread. Since these are mild, I’m making this a note instead of a warning. But further remarks of this kind may be subject to a warning. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/30 "2018-05-11T16:30:22Z")
> [@pool](#): > > “Sir, your eyes look red have you been drinking?” > > “Officer, your eyes look glazed, have you been eating doughnuts?” I missed this one. Everybody cut it out. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/31 "2018-05-11T16:34:02Z")
Or the famous “Do you know how fast you were going?” Yes: You knowingly violated the speed limit. No: Then you can’t say in court you knew you were going the speed limit. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/32 "2018-05-11T16:41:00Z")
Well, there was the time I passed a cop car. I had been following a very slow car only driving 25 in a 35 zone in a rural area. The road straightened out and the yellow center line went away so I swung out and began passing him. I immediately noticed he had been following an equally slow police car. Crap! Oh well, I’m out here and legally passing. Sure enough he pulled me right over as soon as I got around him. He began his talk by saying, “You know it is illegal to pass on a solid yellow line”? I replied, “But what about this dashed line”? He looked around, realized he had not been paying attention and let me go. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/33 "2018-05-11T16:47:02Z")
I always only say that I need to see their license, insurance and registration and tell them briefly why they were pulled over when asked. Once they give me the documents I’ll give as long an explaination for the stop as needed. “Do you know why I stopped you” is a crutch of a conversation starter that gets picked up somewhere. I would much rather get the documents up front than hear the answer to that question. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > The LEO is hoping you will self-incriminate. Doing so gives the LEO even more evidence that you’re guilty. It doesn’t matter. Very few motor vehicle statutes require intent. For the ones that do asking that question won’t help. > [@Arkcon](#): > > “Didn’t you see the stop sign?” > > “Oh, yes I did, really officer, I _ **was** _ paying attention, and your speed gun should have told you I wasn’t speeding, but I just couldn’t stop in time” > > “Well, if those things are all true, you must be driving with faulty brakes and tires. Here’s a citation for those.” > > This came up in a driving course I took. You get cited for driving a faulty vehicle. How can a cop possibly have analyzed your vehicle, when the repair shop takes half a day to run diagnostics? > > About five people chimed in at once, “Because you told the cop your vehicle is faulty.” > > “Aw man, this damn car, officer, I am completely attentive to all road situations, never distracted by the radio, or my cell phone or my mood, I never speed, and yes, I had a beer an hour … uh … 3 hrs ago and I didn’t finish it even. It can’t be me. The car is conspiring against me. All these chips they put in. The CIA must have tapped into them. Conspiracy!” > > When we were teenagers, my friends got out of missed stop signs with a “Sorry officer, must have hydroplaned.” Well, maybe that works, if its raining or snowing. Then again … > > “Well, your tires look OK. But I have a depth gauge right here … oh, you’re right, they are bald. Here’s your citation. And thank you for your co-operation.” > > That never happened, but it could have. If you tell me that you are driving an unsafe car that shouldn’t be on the road I’ll be towing it for public safety. That’s not a good idea. I did see someone in court try to tell a judge he shouldn’t be found guilty of speeding because his speedometer was inoperable. He had receipts from a mechanic. “So you are telling me that you have no proof you weren’t speeding and you are admitting you were purposely driving an unsafe vehicle?” It did not go well. > [@MikeF](#): > > I’m on board with pkbites. I instruct at a police academy and we train our recruits to just tell the driver the reason for the stop at the beginning. You can find verbal judo videos on YouTube and it makes perfect sense. Getting an admission form the driver isn’t as important as you might think. This isn’t the Lindbergh kidnapping that’s being investigated. If that’s what you case depends on, you shouldn’t have made the stop in the first place. IMHO, the real reason most officers do it is because they’ve seen it on TV, had it happen to them before they were cops or had a training officer do it. If you ask them why they ask the question, they usually can’t give a logical answer. I agree with all of that. There is little to be gained by playing games with the driver. The case will hinge on my observations or in the case of speeding, qualifications and calibration of equipment. I guess it’s possible but I have never seen a case be made on the answer to “Do you know why I pulled you over?” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/34 "2018-05-11T16:55:20Z")
Only been pulled over twice in the last 10 years, once on a false accusation of drunk driving by a road raging driver and the second when I was 2 blocks from my apartment building after driving 620 miles that day (burned out tail light). Neither asked me if I knew why they pulled me over. I once kept asking an officer why he pulled me over, since I was at the tail end of a large pack of cars and just driving at traffic speeds. It was for speeding :rolleyes:, but the asshole never told me that, never answered my question and started to get a little too hot for comfort over my repeated asking. Honestly had no idea until he handed me the ticket. What a fucking asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/35 "2018-05-11T16:56:52Z")
One or more of the times I went to traffic school, ‘prevailing rate’ was brought up. It’s been a couple/few decades, so I don’t recall the details. ISTR that a cop is unlikely to pull you over if you are driving the same speed as anyone else. Of course, this was in Southern California where the rule seems to be ‘Don’t be a jerk.’ i.e.; Speeding is tolerated if you’re keeping up with traffic and not doing a lot of maneuvering, driving too close, etc. And speaking of traffic school, I recall there is a difference between ‘speed limit’ and ‘maximum speed’. Something along the lines of ‘speed limit’ means you can go faster than the posted speed, within reason, if conditions permit it. (See ‘prevailing rate’.) ‘Maximum speed’ means you may not exceed the posted limit. Again: These are decades-old recollections from a region that has its own driving customs. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/36 "2018-05-11T17:03:26Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > one time I was asked where I was going. Is that a common question? It’s amazing how often people have diarrhea of the mouth & incriminate themselves when not answering would be better. It’s not wise to say you were coming from your drug dealer’s, yet people do. I was asked both where I was coming from, & going to, at a sobriety checkpoint recently. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/37 "2018-05-11T17:20:34Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > It’s amazing how often people have diarrhea of the mouth & incriminate themselves when not answering would be better. It’s not wise to say you were coming from your drug dealer’s, yet people do. > > **I was asked both where I was coming from, & going to, at a sobriety checkpoint recently**. Neither question you are obligated to answer, in that situation. Of course, refusing will likely get you pulled aside for “further testing.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/38 "2018-05-11T17:34:05Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I was asked both where I was coming from, & going to, at a sobriety checkpoint recently. ‘Where are you going?’ ‘Down the road.’ ‘Where are you coming from?’ ‘Up the road.’ ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/39 "2018-05-11T17:50:24Z")
Once when I was young, I got pulled over and asked that question. I said I didn’t know. He then said, “You looked like you were going to weave.” “What?” “You looked like you were going to weave.” “Did I weave?” “You looked like you were going to.” I waited, and he sent me on my way with a warning not to do so again. To this day I try to look as if I am not going to weave. If I plan to weave, I will try to avoid the appearance of such intention, and do so suddenly, by surprise. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/40 "2018-05-11T18:08:37Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > And speaking of traffic school, I recall there is a difference between ‘speed limit’ and ‘maximum speed’. Something along the lines of ‘speed limit’ means you can go faster than the posted speed, within reason, if conditions permit it. (See ‘prevailing rate’.) ‘Maximum speed’ means you may not exceed the posted limit. > > Again: These are decades-old recollections from a region that has its own driving customs. According to the CA DMV, all speed limits ARE maximums, and there is no such thing as a “prevailing rate”. > **[Driver's Handbooks - Driving Test Resources - California DMV](https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-handbooks/)** > > DMV driver's handbooks help you prepare for a drive or knowledge test. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964.md?page=3)