# In any state, are cops required to tell you the reason for pulling you over before demanding ID? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 12, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550 "2025-06-12T22:49:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550/42 "2025-06-22T17:14:44Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > but it seems odd that a police officer pulling me over needs a conversation starter. The more you talk, the more clues the officer can pick up on your status, alcohol usage, nervousness, etc. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2025, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550/43 "2025-06-22T19:43:38Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’ve said it before but no one seems to believe me. In 25 years I’ve never once saw the answer to that question used against anyone in court. In the rare instance someone takes a ticket all the way to trial we’ll sometimes play our body cam, squad cam, or both. I’ve had video played where the defendant said “I know I was going 60 in a 40 but can’t you give me a break!?!” While it’s not needed it still corroborates what I’ve been testifying about. And the look on their face when they see the video is priceless. I still rely on the old Verbal Judo model: “Good evening, I’m Officer Beitz from the XYZ Police Department. The reason I pulled you over is because I observed you driving at a high rate of speed and clocked you with laser going 20 mph over the speed limit. Please show me you driver license, registration, and proof of insurance”. In 10 seconds I’ve answered every pertinent question: \*Who am I \*Who do I work for \*Why am I detaining you \*What do I want from you I don’t need to ask them questions to incriminate themselves because I already have the evidence I need. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2025, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550/44 "2025-06-22T19:55:47Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The more you talk, the more clues the officer can pick up on your status, alcohol usage, nervousness, etc. I know that USCBP uses that technique for port entrants but do cops really do all this assessment for routine traffic stops when there is no other cause for suspicion? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550/45 "2025-06-22T20:08:56Z")
That sounds a lot like what the OP is describing. Is that your department’s policy, or were you trained to do that, or do you just like getting the encounter over with quickly and efficiently? ---
**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:** [June 22, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550/46 "2025-06-22T23:44:59Z")
During my first career as a Sheriffs Deputy (1982-2007) Verbal Judo was an in-service course. I always used it but don’t remember being mandated to use it. A lot of Deps were still doing the “gimme your license. You know why I pulled you over?” Thing when I retired. I started a second career with another agency. Department policy dictates we identify ourselves and the reason for the contact when possible. Sometimes you have to skip over all that in some situations. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550/47 "2025-06-23T03:19:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > getting the encounter over with quickly and efficiently Or perhaps because it is polite, and you like being polite to people? I’ve been stopped by ticket inspectors on public transport more often than I’ve been traffic-stopped. They are, at minimum, supposed to be identifiable as inspectors or ‘proper officers’, and _if they are wearing the coat_ you can see the badge, but on hot days, some of them don’t even bother with that. Just some random stranger in your face demanding your ticket. That is quick and efficient: it’s a safe assumption that a random stranger, in your face, demanding your ticket, is a ticket inspector. But it’s not polite. Polite is, you introduce yourself when approaching a stranger. Polite is, you talk to your mother first when introducing your girlfriend, then talk to your girlfriend identifying your mother. Polite is, you turn to your boss before turning to your co-worker. Demanding ID before producing ID is an implicit power play. It is quick and efficient and puts you in your place. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550/48 "2025-06-23T10:35:38Z")
If you drive in England (cotland and N. Ireland _may_ be different), s163 of the RTA 1988 does not require a police officer to have reason or justification to stop a driver. Failure on the part of a driver or cyclist to comply with a police request to stop constitutes a criminal offence. S163 enables police to stop a vehicle, but it is not technically a stop and search power, although vehicle stops are often escalated to a full stop and search. Typically, a driver will be stopped for an offence such as faulty lights, using a mobile phone, or speeding. This may escalate into a drug or alcohol offence or anything else, depending on what the cop sees. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550/49 "2025-06-23T16:31:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That sounds a lot like what the OP is describing. Is that your department’s policy, or were you trained to do that, or do you just like getting the encounter over with quickly and efficiently? Unless for some reason an individual department has set strict rules as to what an officer should say everyone comes up with what works best for them. I preferred to be more conversational. I felt it led to fewer confrontational traffic stops. Some officers are damn near robotic. We had one guy who got a few complaints about his demeanor over the years. Reviews of his stops showed he did absolutely nothing wrong. He was professional throughout. He was also so robotic that it came across as cold to some people. Enough that some complained because he was unfriendly. He was exactly the same in every stop no matter the driver. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-any-state-are-cops-required-to-tell-you-the-reason-for-pulling-you-over-before-demanding-id/1019550.md?page=2)