If a cop pulls you over...

[waggy]

Me: You're not looking for dead hookers, are you?

Cop: No

Me: Ok, search away.

lol

 

[ichy]

then whats the point of the question? if they are going to do they are going to do it. But if asked i say no.

I'm just amazed at how many people will roll over for the police. I once saw an amusing episode of Cops where a girl gets pulled over for some traffic violation. After writing her a ticket the officer asked her if she understood that she was free to leave. After saying that he asked her for permission to search her car. She said yes and he found drugs. I'm anti-War on Drugs, but anybody that terminally stupid deserves whatever bad things happen to them.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Lock the car if he asked you to get out, and refuse to open it for him. If you're in it, just say that you do not give consent without a warrant.

Edit: And they need a warrant to search the trunk.

 

[ichy]

Lock the car if he asked you to get out, and refuse to open it for him. If you're in it, just say that you do not give consent without a warrant.

Edit: And they need a warrant to search the trunk.

I'm pretty sure you're wrong about that. A cop needs to be able to articulate probable cause to search your car, he does NOT need to go to a judge for a warrant. Cars have fewer protections than homes.

 

[Linflas]

Politely decline.

 

[Krynj]

Go ahead. I don't have anything to hide. My car's as clean as the day I bought it, almost 2 years ago.

Search away, officer.

 

[gevorg]

Just let him do it, a cop can easily ruin your life if he really wants to.

 

[Linflas]

I'm just amazed at how many people will roll over for the police. I once saw an amusing episode of Cops where a girl gets pulled over for some traffic violation. After writing her a ticket the officer asked her if she understood that she was free to leave. After saying that he asked her for permission to search her car. She said yes and he found drugs. I'm anti-War on Drugs, but anybody that terminally stupid deserves whatever bad things happen to them.

I really don't get the "I have nothing to hide crowd" in the context of the question the OP asked. I have not had anything I was worried about a cop finding in my car since the 1980's yet I would still politely refuse permission for a cop to search my car. A simple traffic stop should not be the beginning of a fishing expedition absent some probable cause to believe I am carrying something illegal on my person or in my car.

 

[ichy]

Just let him do it, a cop can easily ruin your life if he really wants to.

It's a lot easier for them to ruin your life if you waive your rights. Asserting your rights can't hurt you, just like voluntarily waiving them will never, ever benefit you. Seriously, you will not find a defense attorney OR prosecutor who'll say that it's ever in a suspect's interests (regardless of whether he's innocent or guilty) to talk to the police.

 

[Zargon]

"sorry officer but I will not give consent to a search"

 

[Krynj]

I really don't get the "I have nothing to hide crowd" in the context of the question the OP asked. I have not had anything I was worried about a cop finding in my car since the 1980's yet I would still politely refuse permission for a cop to search my car. A simple traffic stop should not be the beginning of a fishing expedition absent some probable cause to believe I am carrying something illegal on my person or in my car.

Because it's not worth it to me to have to sit there and tell the cop why I don't want him to search my car. I know I have nothing to hide, but after being refused the right to search my car, he'd probably get suspicious and think I'm guilty of something, and would then most likely go to even further lengths to try and nail me for something. If a cop wants to search your car, he thinks you're guilty of something. It's worth it for me to sit there, watch him waste his time, and then come up empty handed.

 

[jlee]

I'm pretty sure you're wrong about that. A cop needs to be able to articulate probable cause to search your car, he does NOT need to go to a judge for a warrant. Cars have fewer protections than homes.

YMMV based on location. A warrant is required in NH.

 

[ichy]

I know I have nothing to hide, but after being refused the right to search my car, he'd probably get suspicious and think I'm guilty of something, and would then most likely go to even further lengths to try and nail me for something.

Who cares what he thinks? If he has no PC then he can't keep you. Remember to ask "excuse me sir, but am I free to go or am I being detained?"

Also, simply refusing a search won't necessarily make him think you're guilty. Do you honestly believe that a cop would ever waive any of HIS rights if he was under investigation, even if he was totally innocent?

 

[Turin39789]

So I'm curious to see what people's attitudes/beliefs are about this. Let's assume you're pulled over, and after running your license and tags the cop asks you if he can search your car. What would you do?

I would correct his/her usage of can/may.

 

[HendrixFan]

When I drove beaters at a younger age I was constantly being pulled over when driving in nicer areas.

One time the cop came up to my vehicle, gun drawn, and told me to put my hands on the steering wheel. He opened my door and checked the paneling. He asked to search my vehicle and I said no, and that he shouldn't be checking my paneling. I asked why I was being pulled over and he said my license plate light was out. He ran my information and allowed me to leave. When I got home I saw my plate light was fine.

Another time I was pulled over for expired tags (they weren't expired, they said they looked expired as I drove past them at 45mph). I pulled into a parking lot and while one cop was at my window the other was on the passenger side looking into the backseat area with his flashlight (through the window). They asked to search the car, I said no. They ran my information and let me leave.

Other times I was pulled over, all for BS reasons and all at night, the cops seemed surprised that I was a small white kid driving around in a huge old cadillac. After giving their absurd reason for pulling me over, they would ask if I had guns, knives or drugs in the car. I would say no, they would run my information and let me go.

Since getting a new car, an 06 Camry, I have only been pulled over for legit traffic violations and in those occasions I have not been asked about guns, knives or drugs, nor have I been asked to have my car searched.

 

[Texashiker]

What would you do?

Tell the cop "no, you may not search my car. "

Then follow up with "The doughnut shop closes in a few minutes, so why dont you run along now and stop pestering me."

Cop ask another question, repeat "am I under arrest or am I free to go?"

 

[Howard]

Have you all who say "my car is clean" never heard of officers who plant illegal-to-possess materials?

 

[jlee]

Tell the cop "no, you may not search my car. "

Then follow up with "The doughnut shop closes in a few minutes, so why dont you run along now and stop pestering me."

Cop ask another question, repeat "am I under arrest or am I free to go?"

That's a brilliant idea.

 

[Liet]

Since getting a new car, an 06 Camry, I have only been pulled over for legit traffic violations and in those occasions I have not been asked about guns, knives or drugs, nor have I been asked to have my car searched.

It's almost like those cops were profiling! I thought that was illegal!!!!! Shocked and appalled, I am.

Ahhh, cops. Never had a problem with them as a white guy in NYC. But they all scare the fuck out of me.

No wait, once I was physically searched by a detective outside a donut shop as I was walking home. No joke, they jumped out and I swore they were jetting into the donut shop. Then they felt up my pockets.

 

[gorcorps]

In the past I would have said "fine, waste your time and mine" just to get it over with. But after talking with some retired cops I know, they don't just peak around your car... they tear the shit out of it. Rip off door panels, take out seats, anything goes.

Always say no because if they get to search, they will search headlight to taillight for anything.

 

[dabuddha]

Me: You're not looking for dead hookers, are you?

Cop: No

Me: Ok, search away.

ok I might be drunk on my huge lunch but that made me LMAO

 

[monovillage]

Never consent to any searches or submit to questioning without a lawyer. They are not on your side. Doesn't everyone know this?

The right answer, now / thread.

 

[BoomerD]

There's zero possibility that the cop would find anything illegal in any of my vehicles, but, depending on whether I had the time and inclination to go through the waiting process, I'd probably tell him, "No. You do not have my permission to search the vehicle."

If I either was in something of a hurry, and/or just didn't want to spend the next couple of hours sitting in the back of his patrol car in cuffs, then I MIGHT give him permission...grudgingly. Otherwise...no fucking way.

 

[ichy]

Tell the cop "no, you may not search my car. "

Then follow up with "The doughnut shop closes in a few minutes, so why dont you run along now and stop pestering me."

Cop ask another question, repeat "am I under arrest or am I free to go?"

I would never be disrespectful about it, since I believe that most cops are good guys doing a difficult job. You can assert your rights without being a dick.

Edit: I have been pulled over once by the police, it was for having burnt out tag lights. I pulled over quickly, kept my hands in easy view and took my keys out of the ignition and put them where the officer could see them. I was as polite as possible, the officer was polite to me in return, and I was let go with a repair order rather than a ticket. Like I said, I trust most cops. The reason I'd be assertive about my rights is for insurance since a small minority of police officers are sociopaths on a power trip.

 

[jlee]

There's zero possibility that the cop would find anything illegal in any of my vehicles, but, depending on whether I had the time and inclination to go through the waiting process, I'd probably tell him, "No. You do not have my permission to search the vehicle."

If I either was in something of a hurry, and/or just didn't want to spend the next couple of hours sitting in the back of his patrol car in cuffs, then I MIGHT give him permission...grudgingly. Otherwise...no fucking way.

Or if they're going to call a dog...dogs can scratch the shit out of a car and I'd much rather deal with the annoyance of waiting around for a search than to have a dog gouge my paint and then try fighting with the department to fix it.

I once heard of a department that had to replace a seat in a car after a dog destroyed it (and found nothing)...