# Officer: "Do you know why I pulled you over?" Should the answer always be "no?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2019, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545 "2019-12-08T03:22:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/21 "2019-12-08T17:44:32Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > So I’ve been pondering this lately and lo and behold, I got to try it out tonight (but I came out on the wrong end of things). > > I foolishly made an illegal U turn on a street that previously allowed it. It’s 100% my fault–we were in a hurry to get home, we came out on a goofy side-street that spit us out the wrong way from where we were trying to go, so I went to turn into a hotel parking lot to turn around when I realized there was no oncoming traffic and no possibility of danger. I also noticed the hotel parking lot didn’t have an easy out so I’d have to go around to exit, so in the split second I just decided “eh screw it.” There were distant headlights, what are the odds it’s a cop? > > 100%, apparently. He hauled ass to come nail me. > > As I was waiting for him to approach, I asked “do I feign ignorance or fall on the sword and hope for mercy?” > > Then he asked: “Do you know why I pulled you over?” > I said: “Probably for the U-turn.” > ‘yep.’ > I said “ok but we were coming up the artery street _points_ and we are trying to get on the highway over here _points_–it spits you out going the total opposite direction–what’s the correct way to navigate all this?” > > He kind of breathed in like he was thinking it over then said (with a sympathetic tone): “well…the \*CORRECT \*way…? Hmm. I guess you’d have to travel a mile down to the next light, turn left, and go all the way around the entire city block until you came back to the right street.” > > “Oh, really…” I muttered. > > “Yeah, I guess they finally put that ‘no U-Turn’ sign up after a few accidents” (acknowledging it’s new). > > After checking my info and going back to his car, he came back with a citation. > > This is the thing that makes me curious: > > He said “So since you admitted to the moving violation when I asked you, I wrote you a ticket.” > > I have a squeaky clean record (to my recollection this is my first moving violation in at least 20 years) and I thought my honesty would be valued. But, nope! If anything, I admitted guilt to make his job easier. > > So when they ask if you know why they pulled you over, do you just play dumb? Is the answer always “no?” IMHO, you “admitted” guilt and got a ticket. If you didn’t admit it, you get a ticket and they take you to court to prove it. Hair splitting, IMHO, you get the ticket either way. (unless you try prove you didn’t make the uturn in court) The zealot cop wasn’t in a “warning” mood that evening. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/22 "2019-12-08T18:01:23Z")
[Never talk to the police.](https://youtu.be/d-7o9xYp7eE) ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/23 "2019-12-08T18:51:33Z")
No I don’t fess up to possible driving infractions. I did get a ticket for speeding once when I was driving a rental car, an Infiniti Q#. It was bigger quieter car than I was used to and I had no idea I was nearing 100mph until I saw the state trooper in the median, I checked my speed, gasped and let off the gas. It took a couple minutes to pull over and when the Trooper asked me how fast I was going I shrugged said no. He asked again, I explained it was a rental car I’m not used to it and no I have no idea how fast officer. He askedd again but said so you must’ve been going really fast as it took me awhile to catch up to. I remained silent. He wrote me a ticket for going 5 miles over the limit, but said before he handed me the tix - I know you were going much faster am I right? Im sorry officer I really have no idea. Thank you! I dont think he really knew how fast I was going just that it was much faster than traffic. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/24 "2019-12-08T19:03:44Z")
> [@chela](#): > > No I don’t fess up to possible driving infractions. I did get a ticket for speeding once when I was driving a rental car, an Infiniti Q#. It was bigger quieter car than I was used to and I had no idea I was nearing 100mph until I saw the state trooper in the median, I checked my speed, gasped and let off the gas. It took a couple minutes to pull over and when the Trooper asked me how fast I was going I shrugged said no. He asked again, I explained it was a rental car I’m not used to it and no I have no idea how fast officer. He askedd again but said so you must’ve been going really fast as it took me awhile to catch up to. I remained silent. He wrote me a ticket for going 5 miles over the limit, but said before he handed me the tix - I know you were going much faster am I right? Im sorry officer I really have no idea. Thank you! > > I dont think he really knew how fast I was going just that it was much faster than traffic. Probably radar wasn’t turned on. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/25 "2019-12-08T19:17:17Z")
I’ve played it both ways; it depends on the read I get from the officer as he exits his car, approaches, and addresses me. If I feel an attitude I keep answers short and don’t admit anything. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/26 "2019-12-08T19:23:14Z")
Thanks, Mallard. I’d been wondering that myself. If I cop stops you because he observed you breaking a traffic law, he doesn’t need you to admit to anything to issue you a ticket, just like if a cop has probable cause to arrest you, you get arrested even if you claim ignorance. Whether or not you admit a violation only matters if you decide to contest the charges in court. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/27 "2019-12-08T19:24:25Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The honest answer is always the best one. Then wouldn’t anyone who is not capable of reading minds always answer ‘No’, as you don’t actually know what the cop was thinking? I mean, if you’re really talking about honesty and not something like ‘you should confess to possible traffic violations’, the only way to answer that question is in the negative. You literally don’t know what is going on in the cop’s head, and even if he tells you you can’t be sure that what he told you is true. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/28 "2019-12-08T19:40:47Z")
My go-to answer if I’m in a 4-wheeled vehicle is “Yes, officer, I do know. You stopped me because I wasn’t paying attention.” This is true, if I had been paying attention, I would have seen the cop and wouldn’t have gotten pulled over, but of course I don’t say that part. My answer seems to work, I get scolded while agreeing that I need to always pay attention when I am driving. I haven’t gotten a ticket since I was 17, so it seems to work. If I’m on 2-wheels, that means I’m on my '97 Sportster. My answer then is “Crap, what fell off this time?!?!” ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/29 "2019-12-08T19:51:45Z")
That’s what I thought he didn’t have radar on. I thought I was caught on radar, there were two MSP’s at the bottom of hill that I crested going 98ish and boom one was on the move as soon as I saw him. But he never said I clocked you and were going this speed \_\_\_ mph. But he knew I was breaking the law, breaking the law ntl. And he gave me a ticket, just not the one with the severest penalties I may have deserved. I was not driving reckless in addition to speeding but at that speed it may be one in the same. don’t quote that 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/30 "2019-12-08T19:59:16Z")
Be polite. “Because you’re an asshole” is not a recommended response. I have a fairly spotless driving record despite the muscle car. The last ticket I got was in 1997. There was a long parade of cars backed up behind someone driving 35 mph on the open road, a two lane main highway. I made a safe pass with a top speed of maybe 50 mph but I crossed a double yellow no passing zone line. Then I noticed the state trouper about five cars back. He waited another couple miles then pulled me over. “Do you know why I stopped you?” “Because I didn’t see you back there” was my answer. He almost laughed. I got a ticket for passing in a no passing zone. I don’t even remember how much the ticket was, not much. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/31 "2019-12-08T22:28:39Z")
> [@Dana\_Scully](#): > > don’t admit to anything; play dumb I excel at appearing stupid, but not intoxicated. Which is the goal. My response to the impossible question is to look alert and curious. Then I shake my head and in a friendly tone say, “I’m afraid I don’t.” Seems to have worked a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/32 "2019-12-08T23:48:46Z")
“Why don’t you tell me, officer”. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/33 "2019-12-09T00:25:45Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > This is the thing that makes me curious: > > He said “So since you admitted to the moving violation when I asked you, I wrote you a ticket.” > > I have a squeaky clean record (to my recollection this is my first moving violation in at least 20 years) and I thought my honesty would be valued. But, nope! If anything, I admitted guilt to make his job easier. > > So when they ask if you know why they pulled you over, do you just play dumb? Is the answer always “no?” Been years since Ontario cops asked me why they pulled me over, the last time a couple of weeks ago cop nailed me on a downward hill getting some free energy. Basically i drive a Ford Escape, second or third generation, not the tooth paste blobs that you see on the road today, so its not a vehicle that rewards speeding. So all he did was ask for license and insurance and came back with a ticket and i just took it without comment, as in no vocal interaction with this cop at all. So if anything, in regards to your question i would reply that you were driving under the speed limit and thats it, its up to him to prove it in court, if you wish to exercise that right. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/34 "2019-12-09T02:37:12Z")
So problem the first for me is I don’t get pulled over often enough to “have a method.” I literally pondered if I cop to it or play dumb as he walked to the car, and I clearly made the wrong decision. So I presume since he stated I “admitted to making an illegal U-turn,” I have no recourse for fighting this in court? The ticket is kind of steep–just under $200. It’s less than speeding 10 over and the same as running a red light. Ouch. I’m going to see if I can do traffic course or something. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/35 "2019-12-09T03:11:09Z")
> [@chela](#): > > No I don’t fess up to possible driving infractions. I did get a ticket for speeding once when I was driving a rental car, an Infiniti Q#. It was bigger quieter car than I was used to and I had no idea I was nearing 100mph until I saw the state trooper in the median, I checked my speed, gasped and let off the gas. It took a couple minutes to pull over and when the Trooper asked me how fast I was going I shrugged said no. He asked again, I explained it was a rental car I’m not used to it and no I have no idea how fast officer. He askedd again but said so you must’ve been going really fast as it took me awhile to catch up to. I remained silent. He wrote me a ticket for going 5 miles over the limit, but said before he handed me the tix - I know you were going much faster am I right? Im sorry officer I really have no idea. Thank you! > > I dont think he really knew how fast I was going just that it was much faster than traffic. I had a situation like that - I was coming up behind a cop at night, I was doing 160km/h in a 60km/h zone. First words out of his mouth - I don’t know how fast you were going but I think it was at least 100. No ticket, and I sure wasn’t admitting it. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/36 "2019-12-09T03:48:20Z")
I’ve admitted to speeding at least twice, maybe three times? Specifically, times when I was clearly exceeding the limit and the officer obviously saw it (lurking by the side of the road to catch speeders). In each case I said sheepishly, “I guess I was going a little too fast back there, huh?” In each case they seemed to appreciate my forthrightness and I was let go with a warning. Like _realitychuck_, I’m white. I also drive Boring cars. Both might have helped the result. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/37 "2019-12-09T03:58:34Z")
I’m another who’s insufficiently reckless to be pulled over much and so have no “method”. Just 4 stops in 55years. But in general, I admit nothing to cops. A mirror sticker reminds me, “I have nothing to say.” Smile and be polite. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/38 "2019-12-09T04:41:15Z")
Depends on context. I’m a bald white guy pushing 60, so probably get the benefit of the doubt. If it’s sooooo egregious, cop to something less horrible. Last time I was pulled over was for doing 85 on a 65 max freeway in the middle of nowhere Oregon heading toward Boise. He asked something like “I think you were doing about 80?” “Sounds close” (it was more like 85) “is there a good reason why you were speeding” I just smiled, and said “of course not Officer” He gave me a bit of lecture, told me to keep it under 65 while in Oregon and to have a nice day. I think playing it dumb in that situation would have got me a ticket. “Why, Officer, I have no idea why you pulled me over” ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2019, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/39 "2019-12-09T05:35:51Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Regardless of your response, it should never be an admission. Whether it’s some kind of joke like harmonicamoon’s response, a simple “no, ma’am” or a question like, “I wasn’t speeding, was I?” Often the officer will make little notes on the back of their copy of the ticket so that they can recall the details if it ever goes to court. One of those notes will be, “Driver admitted to speeding because he was late for his son’s recital” or whatever. Be polite, but don’t admit anything. Even back when I worked campus security and worked with the police department, they were voice recording most of the conversations, if not all of them. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2019, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545/40 "2019-12-09T06:09:06Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > If I cop stops you because he observed you breaking a traffic law, he doesn’t need you to admit to anything to issue you a ticket This. I usually don’t ask the driver if they knew that they were committing a violation. I use the Verbal Judo template and have for over 30 years PK: _Good morning. I’m Officer Beitz. I want to see your driver license, registration and proof of insurance. The reason I pulled you over is because I clocked you with radar going 73 miles per hour and the speed limit is posted at 55 here._ In under 10 seconds I’ve answered any reasonable question they could have. **Who** am I, **What** do I want, **Why** am I detaining them. I don’t care if they admit or not that they were doing what I pulled them over for. It’s completely irrelevant to my case if they admit it or not. When I get their documents I tell them to stay in their vehicle as I’m going back to my squad to evaluate the information they’ve given me. If I’m going to issue a cite I try to wait until I’ve returned to their car door to tell them. I’ve found that if I tell them right away their demeanor changes, they try to run back to my squad while I’m writing out the ticket and plead, etc… And unless someone really does something super stupid or dangerous I don’t give a lecture when I issue a cite, and I don’t give a cite when I give a lecture. It’s almost always one or the other, not both. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/officer-do-you-know-why-i-pulled-you-over-should-the-answer-always-be-no/844545.md?page=3)