# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2018, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/61 "2018-05-13T02:47:36Z")
I’ve never been asked this question. It’s always been, “May I see your license and registration?” I got one dude in some country bum-fuck place in NE Louisiana who asked if I had any priors. I said “I don’t know” I immediately recognized the “WTF do you mean you don’t know” expression on his face, to which I interjected and said “Uh, I mean, it was like years ago, so I understand it’s off the record, right?” So he runs his priors and says, “Okay, I’ m gonna give you a warning. Just slow down.” The shit of it was, there was no fucking sign telling me to slow from 55mph to 35mph. I slowed to 45mph because I assumed any place with a school zone couldn’t be 55mph, but that was my goddamn deduction, not their excellent regulatory sign work. Better yet, I got pulled over a 2nd time that same night in Mississippi. It was goddamn 98 degrees that entire day. I’d played golf. I’d had a coke and maybe a tad bit of water. I was obviously dehydrated. I got to Woodville, MS and encounter a 4-way flashing stop light but instead of moving through the intersection, I spaced out for a minute and then proceeded. THen I see blue lights of MS State Police flashing behind me and I’m fucking freaking out. I immediately flash back to Mississippi Burning and I’m like “Shit, do they know I’m a registered Democrat?!” Fortunately, this soul brotha officer steps out and just asks “Hey man, I saw you were at that light for 3 minutes. You ain’t drunk, eh?” ANd I said I’ve just had this can of coke. He let me go. But…I was afraid. ---
**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 13, 2018, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/62 "2018-05-13T05:39:09Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > When did Li’l Ed shove that stick up your ass? You used to be fun. **Moderator Warning** This is an official warning for being a jerk. Do not do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/63 "2018-05-13T13:59:10Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > 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. Every stop, violation, and individual encountered is different so every outcome will be different too. Around here an equipment violation gets a 5 day warning cite. Fix the violation and have any peace officer inspect and then sign it and you are good to go, no violation. Ignore it and after 5 days an actual cite is issued with fine and such. We can issue an actual citation at the initial stop but rarely do. The warning cite is known as a “courtesy stop” to let you know somethings wrong and let you fix it. Around here the judges do not convict speeding until 13 over. So a lot of us don’t write until 15 over. A 50 year old driver with a clean record who is not being a dick is much more apt to get a verbal warning than a 20 year old with multiple record entries and flapping his big know-it-all mouth. Pull someone over for going 15 over and they don’t argue much. Hard to deny it, blame tire inflation, etc… Do you know what I’ve had people argue about? Get this: _“You couldn’t have clocked my car at 18 over. My laser detector didn’t go off!”_ Bad news, folks: your laser detector is worthless. Laser beam is usually aimed at the front license plate. Your detector on the dash or visor won’t see the narrow beam. And if it does, all laser is “instant on”. By the time your detector does make a sound I’ve already locked in your speed. I think allowing 15 over is pretty fair, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2018, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/64 "2018-05-13T16:05:02Z")
Laser jammers, on the other hand… Do you throw the entire book at them if they have such a device (detectors included)? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/65 "2018-05-13T16:21:25Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Laser jammers, on the other hand… > > Do you throw the entire book at them if they have such a device (detectors included)? There are no laws against laser jammers in Wisconsin. And if there were how would I know if someone had one? There are several causes for an error lock on a Lidar unit. Usually someone pulled over with a laser/radar detector has torn it off their dash/visor and it’s on the floor or they stuffed it between their legs. “_somethings beeping down there_”. Heh. fun to say to a woman, right? ---
**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 14, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/66 "2018-05-14T00:36:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Neither question you are obligated to answer, in that situation. Of course, refusing will likely get you pulled aside for “further testing.” It was late, & I was tired & it’s my understanding that there needs to be a “DUI/Sobriety Checkpoint Ahead” sign with at least one legal turnoff before the checkpoint, which I did **not** see. Detailed information on my whereabouts was **not** provided. He was _very_ offended that I wouldn’t take his literature before pulling away; I had to tell him I didn’t want it three times. > [@Sailboat](#): > > 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. You’re a **Sailboat** , the correct term is “tack”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/67 "2018-05-14T05:05:20Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > The shit of it was, there was no fucking sign telling me to slow from 55mph to 35mph. I slowed to 45mph because I assumed any place with a school zone couldn’t be 55mph, but that was my goddamn deduction, not their excellent regulatory sign work. Some places have a default speed limit. Such a law states that you should assume that the default is in effect unless you see a sign saying otherwise. > [@pkbites](#): > > I think allowing 15 over is pretty fair, anyway. I wish you had been around when I got pulled over for doing 4 – repeat, 4 – over the limit. ---
**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 14, 2018, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/68 "2018-05-14T06:48:09Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > You’re a **Sailboat** , the correct term is “tack”. 😉 That is only when you are beating – if you are running, it is call a “gybe” (such as when one might make a comment like that to the constable). ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/69 "2018-05-14T16:16:58Z")
> [@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. It may have been in more than one movie- - - But that was Yul Brenner in **The Magnificent Seven** near the beginning right after driving the hearse up to Boot Hill. I am pretty sure he is responding to Steve McQueen (who for the first time had just “rode shotgun on a hearse”), but it might have been the bra salesman whom had just given them a half full whisky bottle in appreciation of their bravado. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/70 "2018-05-14T18:02:40Z")
> [@K2500](#): > > 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. Unless it happens to be true, that strikes me as a bad idea. The follow up question:“Where do you work?” can complicate that answer. He or she has your license and is looking at your address. If you happen to be driving through a sketchy neighborhood late at night and your home and place of work are both far away and do not require you to be anywhere near where you are-- you have just lied to the cop making it all the more likely you are hiding your intentions for nefarious reasons. Even if you are in a “good” neighborhood a lie is more suspicious than the truth. You get someone who is bucking to be an investigator (or even just a thorough cop who smells bullshit) and you have opened a can of worms you’d rather you didn’t. First, a flat out traffic stop during the workday for an obvious reason is different than what I am talking about. The cop wants in and out for a traffic stop-- no one is looking to build a career off a traffic stop (although careers are made and lost on a single interaction all the time). But if you are being asked where you are going/coming from-- either don’t answer, or give an answer that matches logic and reason. Don’t say you are travelling between two place both due east of where you are. If you try to cover your previous lie by saying you dropped off a buddy from work you are going to be asked his name, his address, how you know him, and depending upon those answers- does your friend have a criminal record. Something else to consider, once you stop answering questions – that is treated as a defacto confession, that is the same as “lawyering up”. If you suddenly realize you have told a story that can’t possibly be true and clam-up that is going to first confirm you are up to no good, and second invite more investigation. Just tell the truth up front, or tell him or her it is not important where you are going, what is the purpose of this stop? If you are stopped at a sobriety checkpoint, where you are going and coming from are reasonable questions; ‘a party’, or ‘a bar’ leads to: “So you have been drinking.” Even if you answer: “No officer, I am the designated driver. I just dropped off the last drinker and I am on my way home to make gift baskets for our first responder’s and overseas troups”. You had better know the name and address of someone that matches the direction you are coming from. If you have vague information you may be asked if they can search your vehicle. “So you are driving around in this area known for drug dealing because you dropped off a friend, but you don’t know his address and you have called him by two different names?!? Hummm, do you mind if we search your vehicle? No? What do you have to hide???” This is just too long to make the point, but you don’t have to do anything wrong to get stopped. If a cop is looking to catch bad guys and stop crime, and he or she gets the idea you are up to no good, they can create a context on the spot: “You blocked the sidewalk while you were exiting that parking lot.” The best response is; “Yes sir I did, sorry about that- give me my citation and I will be on my way”. But that isn’t why you were stopped, you were stopped so he could have a face to face and confirm his (or her) suspicion you are up to no good. A blocking the sidewalk citation would be thrown out in a second and they know it, they want to see if you slur your words, have a reason to be in the area, have obvious violations in plain sight, and run your license to see if you have wants or warrants. Just driving a new car is suspicious in certain neighborhoods. Unless they think you have a million dollars worth of smuggled drugs in your trunk, or are on the ten most wanted list- no cop is going to ‘investigate’ your answers. But if you answer: “I am on my way home from work” when it can’t be true-- that makes you someone who might have a half million dollars worth of smuggled drugs in the trunk-- or be on the most wanted list. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/71 "2018-05-14T18:17:20Z")
> [@Kropotkin](#): > > 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. > [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > It may have been in more than one movie- - - > But that was Yul Brenner in **The Magnificent Seven** near the beginning right after driving the hearse up to Boot Hill. I am pretty sure he is responding to Steve McQueen (who for the first time had just “rode shotgun on a hearse”), but it might have been the bra salesman whom had just given them a half full whisky bottle in appreciation of their bravado. Thanks for the clip, I obviously remembered it wrong. I knew it had to be one of the two I mentioned-- figures it was the drummer and not Steve McQueen’s Vin. (Do you think the tall, thin, blond haired, blue eyed S. McQ. character was supposed to be an Italian named Vincent? “My name is Vincent, it means ‘extra special’ in Italian”) ---
**Author:** ![bardos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bardos/32/1069_2.png) [@bardos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bardos)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/72 "2018-05-14T19:01:01Z")
I have never seen a thread with more moderator warnings than this one, kind of a touchy topic i imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Corner\_Case](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/corner_case/32/234_2.png) [@Corner\_Case](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corner_Case)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/73 "2018-05-14T19:04:03Z")
I was traveling the highway at the posted 75 and missed the 55 when entering the city limits. I don’t think it would have been such a big deal, since I was traveling the same speed as the majority of the traffic… But, I did signal and change lanes in front of the police officer, and maybe he didn’t like that. I was pulled over into the center median and even heard via loudspeaker to pull over a little further (due to traffic). I was asked to get out of my car. I had been driving a number of hours and had to put my shoes on as I was exiting. The office asked, “How are you doing?” I nodded and waited. He asked again, “How are you Doing?” with a bit more emphasis. I said quietly, “Oh, I thought that was a rhetorical question” (not meaning to be snarky, it’s just what popped in to my head) and then said normally, “I’m fine officer.” In hindsight I think he was making an initial assessment as to whether I was drunk. I was clear and concise and he just finished the ticket and that was that. Tangentially: There was an eighth-mile backup every morning at an intersection where I just wanted to turn right. One day, as did many people, I turned in to the strip mall parking, drove through it, turned into the Target parking, drove through it, and out on the far end to make my right turn. I stopped at each point in the parking lot with an entrance/exit even though there are no signs requiring it. I also used the lanes and didn’t zoom diagonally across the Target parking lot. But I was caught in a “Don’t-cut-corners” checkpoint along with others. Apparently Target complained about the cutters. I went to a small strip-mall lawyer recommended by a friend since I didn’t know any lawyers. He said he’d take care of it and with the courts it might take a few months. He’d call me. I forgot about it. Until I got a letter in the mail with an Arrest Warrant! Nearly had a heart attack! I walked in to the police department, paid the fine, and they were understanding. Whew! ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/74 "2018-05-14T19:08:16Z")
So the moral of the latter story is “don’t trust strip mall lawyers”? Did you call the lawyer up and ask why he didn’t do what he said he would - take care of it? ---
**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 15, 2018, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/75 "2018-05-15T00:47:07Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > I have never seen a thread with more moderator warnings than this one, kind of a touchy topic i imagine. The topic itself is not touchy, but the smart asses seem to be coming out of the woodwork. Which is frowned upon in GQ especially before conclusive factual answers have been provided. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/76 "2018-05-15T12:54:29Z")
> [@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. Wow, you can tell how fast you’re going by watching your odometer? 😃 > [@asahi](#): > > I’ve never been asked this question. > > It’s always been, “May I see your license and registration?” > > I got one dude in some country bum-fuck place in NE Louisiana who asked if I had any priors. I said “I don’t know” > > I immediately recognized the “WTF do you mean you don’t know” expression on his face, to which I interjected and said “Uh, I mean, it was like years ago, so I understand it’s off the record, right?” > > So he runs his priors and says, “Okay, I’ m gonna give you a warning. Just slow down.” > > The shit of it was, there was no fucking sign telling me to slow from 55mph to 35mph. I slowed to 45mph because I assumed any place with a school zone couldn’t be 55mph, but that was my goddamn deduction, not their excellent regulatory sign work. > > Better yet, I got pulled over a 2nd time that same night in Mississippi. It was goddamn 98 degrees that entire day. I’d played golf. I’d had a coke and maybe a tad bit of water. I was obviously dehydrated. I got to Woodville, MS and encounter a 4-way flashing stop light but instead of moving through the intersection, I spaced out for a minute and then proceeded. THen I see blue lights of MS State Police flashing behind me and I’m fucking freaking out. I immediately flash back to Mississippi Burning and I’m like “Shit, do they know I’m a registered Democrat?!” > > Fortunately, this soul brotha officer steps out and just asks “Hey man, I saw you were at that light for 3 minutes. You ain’t drunk, eh?” ANd I said I’ve just had this can of coke. He let me go. But…I was afraid. Wow… “soul brotha”!? really? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/77 "2018-05-15T13:22:48Z")
> [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > Thanks for the clip, I obviously remembered it wrong. > I knew it had to be one of the two I mentioned-- figures it was the drummer and not Steve McQueen’s Vin. > > (Do you think the tall, thin, blond haired, blue eyed S. McQ. character was supposed to be an Italian named Vincent? > “My name is Vincent, it means ‘extra special’ in Italian”) Tall, blonde and blue-eyed isn’t an unusual look in Northern Italy; they’re nicknamed _tedeschi_, which means German. ---
**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 15, 2018, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/78 "2018-05-15T13:34:40Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Wow, you can tell how fast you’re going by watching your odometer? 😃 As long as you have a clock why not? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/79 "2018-05-15T15:36:53Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > As long as you have a clock why not? I just use those triangle markings at the the side of the highway and count steamboats. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964/80 "2018-05-15T18:41:20Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Tall, blonde and blue-eyed isn’t an unusual look in Northern Italy; they’re nicknamed _tedeschi_, which means German. That is what I am told, I have never been there. On the other hand, I have never noticed any great abundance of men who could be described that way in any “Little Italy” I have ever visited. Those residents tend to be short to medium in height and dark skinned, eyed, and haired. Most guys I know named Vinny look more like the character from Donkey Kong than they do like Steve McQueen (including a few cousins). I have also read that loyalty was more to region than to nation in Europe and many Italian-American marriages would have been considered mixed marriages in Italy. When I was a kid, “Where are your people from?” was a standard first question when meeting an Italian for the first time. There is a book on smuggling on the Great Lakes during Prohibition (which I can’t find on my bookcase right now) which mentioned a guy known as ‘Westfield Jimmy’ who was known, among other things, for brokering squabbles between people who had a beef with a neighbor that went back to the old country. My great grandfather was apparently a Marshall around the turn of the century when he wasn’t working in coal mines in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. My uncle, his grandson was mesmerized by the romance of a frontier lawman in his history- “Just like Matt Dillon!” he would claim. His uncles would laugh at him and tell him that he wouldn’t stand in the street and call out the bad guys like they did on TV, he would sneak around behind them with his gun already drawn and yell at them: “You sticka upa you handsa, you son of a bitcha!” in broken English. He was pretty tall for his time, but he was no Steve McQueen. Somewhere, his ancient revolver is an heirloom that is still being fought over by distant cousins of mine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over/813964.md?page=5)