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Know Your Rights: Traffic Stops

When you're pulled over by police during a traffic stop, the officer will you usually ask you "Do you know why I pulled you over?" That's basically the same as asking you "Do you know why you're guilty?" The sensible thing to do would be to not answer the question or to simply ask them why they pulled you over, even if you know why they did.

Another common question they may ask is "Do you know how fast you were going?" Again, a potentially incriminating question. The sensible response to that would be to say "Yes." If they ask you how fast you were going, say you do not wish to answer; that you're just invoking your right to silence.

You're not under any obligation to answer questions from police officers, especially if the questions involve you acting as a witness against yourself. I'll go more into officer questions on another post, but when it comes to traffic stops, these are some basic things you ought to remember in the event you get pulled over by a cop.

Always know your rights!

[i]Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, this is just something I'm posting for informative purposes. Most of it is ripped from a segment of the same name on my sister's podcast, so credit to her for giving me something to post about here.[/i]
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SinlessOnslaught26-30, M
Those questions are tricky because if you say "yes", you're incriminating yourself. If you say "no", you're showing a lack of attentiveness at the wheel.

I wouldn't ask why they pulled me over because it could also be seen as a way of saying "No, I wasn't paying attention to how I drive".

Just politely invoke your 5th amendment right.

Idk why some cops have to play those games, though, unless they're pulling over a felon. 馃檮
Ducky31-35, F
@SinlessOnslaught It's not incriminating to answer "yes" to being asked how fast you were going. Whether or not an officer perceives you asking why you were pulled over as you not paying attention is irrelevant. Inquiring why you were pulled over is a valid question. But simply remaining silent through the whole interaction is very much another option.
MaryJanine61-69, F
@Ducky The one I witnessed was a Black teenager on a bike. The cop grabbed the handlebars as he tried to slip through and began to yell two-forty.