# 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:** 3
**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, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/41 "2018-05-11T18:17:07Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > ‘Where are you going?’ > > ‘Down the road.’ > > ‘Where are you coming from?’ > > ‘Up the road.’ It was either a Trinity movie or a Man with No Name movie where someone asked Terrance Hill where he was coming from. He just jerked his thumb over his shoulder. Then they asked where he was going and he just pointed down the road. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/42 "2018-05-11T18:19:37Z")
Thanks pkbites, MikeF and Loach. The way you handle citations seems efficient and professional. I’ve been asked this question before and I assumed that the officer just wanted to get an admission out of me in case I appealed the ticket. Sure, he already had the radar reading, but it can’t hurt to also tell the judge about a declaration against interest from the officer’s notes. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/43 "2018-05-11T18:21:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > 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. I understood that the term “prevailing” had to do with: a) requiring that posted speed limits be generally in line with the way people drive on a given road, for the general purpose of not allowing speed trap of suddenly having a 25 mph speed limit on a limited access, divided highway; and b) the general concept that one must travel at a safe speed for the prevailing conditions, and that one can be under the speed limit and still ticketed for exceeding a safe speed given the conditions. I’m pretty sure there’s no “everyone was driving 20 over, so you can’t ticket me.” ---
**Author:** ![Pinmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@Pinmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pinmin)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/44 "2018-05-11T18:25:05Z")
I once heard a story about Harry Carey getting pulled over for speeding (he apparently like to drive fast). He told the officer he had drugs in his car and a dead hooker in the trunk. The officer, not knowing what to do, called a superior to handle the situation. When he arrived, he walked up to the car and told Harry “The officer says you have drugs in your car and a dead hooker in the trunk.” To which Harry replied, “Let me guess, he told you I was speeding too?” ---
**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, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/45 "2018-05-11T19:21:05Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > 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/dmv/detail/pubs/hdbk/speed_limits++#maxspeed) In Oregon, almost all of the postings say “Speed” above the number. There are signs that say “Speed Limit” over the number, but most do not. ---
**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, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/46 "2018-05-11T19:30:24Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > In Oregon, almost all of the postings say “Speed” above the number. There are signs that say “Speed Limit” over the number, but most do not. And? The speed limit is still a maximum. > [@](#): > > The basic rule does not allow you to drive over the limit. > [@](#): > > In addition to the basic rule, Oregon has maximum speed limits. pages 15-16 of the Oregon Driver Manual. > **[37.pdf](https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Forms/DMV/37.pdf)** ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/47 "2018-05-11T19:45:33Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > In Oregon, almost all of the postings say “Speed” above the number. There are signs that say “Speed Limit” over the number, but most do not. And photo radar in the cities. ---
**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, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/48 "2018-05-11T20:07:51Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **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 No “professional jab” intended, but it did seem, from earlier posts than mine, that “smart-ass” answers were the going trend. Sorry for any ruffled feathers. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/49 "2018-05-11T20:34:56Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Neither question you are obligated to answer, in that situation. Of course, refusing will likely get you pulled aside for “further testing.” Which means, in effect, that you are obligated to answer. I think I’ve only been asked that once, and I replied, “To a friends”, and there was no follow up. Apparently, I had a headlight out, it was barely dusk, so I didn’t notice, and it had been months since I had driven actually at night. When he pulled me over, he did ask me if I knew why he pulled me over, and I honestly answered that I had no idea. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/50 "2018-05-11T20:41:48Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I was asked both where I was coming from, & going to, at a sobriety checkpoint recently. Funny story: On the night **Super Troopers 2** opened, as I was leaving the theater, I ran into a sobriety checkpoint. I happened to be wearing my Super Troopers 2 t-shirt. The officer asked me how much I had had to drink which I truthfully replied: “None”. She then backed away from the car and said: “I like your shirt!” and I told her I had just come from the movie and she needed to go see it and watch it all the way through the credits. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/51 "2018-05-11T21:55:50Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > ‘Where are you going?’ > > ‘Down the road.’ > > ‘Where are you coming from?’ > > ‘Up the road.’ The couple times I’ve tried that it seemed to make them even more interested in me. My standard answer is now “work” and “home from work”. Regardless of where I’m going/coming from. ---
**Author:** ![scarbrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@scarbrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scarbrow)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/52 "2018-05-11T23:19:25Z")
Once when asked “How fast do you think you were going?”, I said under 45, and I thought that sign back there said a speed limit of 40. The cop looked at me funny, slowly wandered back to his car, and drove off. ---
**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 12, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/53 "2018-05-12T00:04:06Z")
The only time I can recall being asked this was in Florida some years ago. I was on a two lane road in a rental car. I came onto a straight stretch of road and there was no other traffic, so naturally enough I sped up a little. But I honestly wasn’t keeping my eye on the odometer so I didn’t have any idea how fast I was going. When the cop pulled me over, he asked me the question. I said, “I’m not sure, but if you told me I was speeding I wouldn’t be able to deny it.” He scolded me to keep better track of how fast I was going and let me off with a warning. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/54 "2018-05-12T00:07:09Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Because whatever you say will make it into the little repot on the back of the citation. “Violator stated I pulled him over because he was driving 75 miles per hour”. If it goes to court that little statement will get read when the officer testifies and it does carry weight. > > I use a technique called Verbal Judo. > > “Good evening. I’m Officer Beitz with the Thistowne police department. I want to see your driver license, vehicle registration and insurance card. The reason I pulled you over is because I clocked your vehicle with Laser traveling 48 miles per hour and the posted limit is 30.” > > This answers a lot of questions people start babbling about why they are pulled over and it answers them immedietly. Then I may ask them if they knew what the limit is, if they realized how fast they were traveling, and if they can justify traveling that fast. I can be in and out of a traffic stop with a cite issued in 6 minutes or less. > > And since ‘82 I have not lost a single one of my speeding cites. That is exactly the way we were trained to do it when I went through the academy in 1974. As you said, it cuts off responses at the knees to start off with. We were specifically taught to NOT open with a fishing expedition type question, as they cause more trouble than they are worth. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/55 "2018-05-12T21:44:48Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > It was either a Trinity movie or a Man with No Name movie where someone asked Terrance Hill where he was coming from. He just jerked his thumb over his shoulder. Then they asked where he was going and he just pointed down the road. 1960, The Magnificent Seven, Yul Bryner’s character. [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-\_7CwSpMtFw](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7CwSpMtFw) I have sometimes asked students who have plagiarized to come see me in my office and I ask them, “do you know why I asked you here?” Much of the time they admit they plagiarized. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/56 "2018-05-12T22:42:53Z")
> [@Pinmin](#): > > I once heard a story about Harry Carey getting pulled over for speeding (he apparently like to drive fast). He told the officer he had drugs in his car and a dead hooker in the trunk. The officer, not knowing what to do, called a superior to handle the situation. When he arrived, he walked up to the car and told Harry “The officer says you have drugs in your car and a dead hooker in the trunk.” To which Harry replied, “Let me guess, he told you I was speeding too?” Do you mean Harry Caray, the sports announcer? I heard Ryan Dempster tell this story imitating Harry Caray on [Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me](https://soundcloud.com/phil-scarr/harry-caray-speeding-ticket). It brought the house down. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2018, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/57 "2018-05-13T00:27:48Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Do you know why I pulled you over? Me - Because I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt? Cop - No, your licence plate is expired. Here’s a warning and buckle up. That I was on my way to court–not traffic court–never came up. > [@Philster](#): > > Use general psychology… I got a C since I blew it off. It was an 8AM, so had a reason. What I learned was not to schedule a class before 11AM, though I blew them off, too, and that ruled my college experience. Going to the first few was important to get the test schedule (fucking off your way through college AND getting a lower car insurance required SOME effort) and checking out the professor (re: Young Kathy Reichs {she aged well for a blonde, but 1975?} and did you SEE my Art History prof?). > [@Chimera](#): > > It was either a Trinity movie or a Man with No Name movie where someone asked Terrance Hill where he was coming from. He just jerked his thumb over his shoulder. Then they asked where he was going and he just pointed down the road. I read the story of a B-17 crewman, shot down over enemy territory, who knew that POWs were used as agricultural laborers, being fit and adequately fed. He grabbed a shovel/hoe/whatever and walked his way across France. At each checkpoint he was asked, “Wo kammst sie?” (he was a sergeant and outranked his interregrator, so the formal form was required). He responded by shoulder his wp > [@Pinmin](#): > > I once heard a story about Harry Carey getting pulled over for speeding (he apparently like to drive fast). He told the officer he had drugs in his car and a dead hooker in the trunk. The officer, not knowing what to do, called a superior to handle the situation. When he arrived, he walked up to the car and told Harry “The officer says you have drugs in your car and a dead hooker in the trunk.” To which Harry replied, “Let me guess, he told you I was speeding too?” > [@Colibri](#): > > The only time I can recall being asked this was in Florida some years ago. I was on a two lane road in a rental car. I came onto a straight stretch of road and there was no other traffic, so naturally enough I sped up a little. But I honestly wasn’t keeping my eye on the odometer so I didn’t have any idea how fast I was going. > > When the cop pulled me over, he asked me the question. I said, “I’m not sure, but if you told me I was speeding I wouldn’t be able to deny it.” He scolded me to keep better track of how fast I was going and let me off with a warning. > [@Clothahump](#): > > That is exactly the way we were trained to do it when I went through the academy in 1974. As you said, it cuts off responses at the knees to start off with. > We were specifically taught to NOT open with a fishing expedition type question, as they cause more trouble than they are worth. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2018, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/58 "2018-05-13T00:33:56Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Do you know why I pulled you over? Me - Because I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt? Cop - No, your licence plate is expired. Here’s a warning and buckle up. That I was on my way to court–not traffic court–never came up. > [@Philster](#): > > Use general psychology… I got a C since I blew it off. It was an 8AM, so had a reason. What I learned was not to schedule a class before 11AM, though I blew them off, too, and that ruled my college experience. Going to the first few was important to get the test schedule (fucking off your way through college AND getting a lower car insurance required SOME effort) and checking out the professor (re: Young Kathy Reichs {she aged well for a blonde, but 1975?} and did you SEE my Art History prof?). > [@Chimera](#): > > It was either a Trinity movie or a Man with No Name movie where someone asked Terrance Hill where he was coming from. He just jerked his thumb over his shoulder. Then they asked where he was going and he just pointed down the road. I read the story of a B-17 crewman, shot down over enemy territory, who knew that POWs were used as agricultural laborers, being fit and adequately fed. He grabbed a shovel/hoe/whatever and walked his way across France. At each checkpoint he was asked, “Wo kammst sie?” (he was a sergeant and outranked his interregrator, so the formal form was required). He responded by shoulder his weapon. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2018, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/59 "2018-05-13T00:54:45Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > […]I use a technique called Verbal Judo.[…]Then I may ask them if they knew what the limit is, if they realized how fast they were traveling, and if they can justify traveling that fast. I can be in and out of a traffic stop with a cite issued in 6 minutes or less. > > And since ‘82 I have not lost a single one of my speeding cites. How many times do you let them go without a ticket after hearing their answers? I am just inferring that you must make some sort of judgment during that process to decide whether a citation will stick, ahance the perfect record. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/60 "2018-05-13T02:38:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **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 > [@Colibri](#): > > I missed this one. Everybody cut it out. When did Li’l Ed shove that stick up your ass? You used to be fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964.md?page=4)