If a police officer asks to search you car...

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Would you consent to a police officer searching your car?

  • Yes

  • No


Results are only viewable after voting.

QueBert

Lifer
Jan 6, 2002
22,553
834
126
Edit: Both times were kinda like QueBert's. Lets just say one time when I was stopped the cop said I ran a stop sign (which I didn't because I damn well saw the cop in my rear view mirror). Then when I told him I didn't he said, "you could also have a tail light out", and tapped the butt of his mag light against my tail light, implying he would smash it.

The way the cops who pulled me over were harassing me from the jump I was a bit wary. And their mannerisms had me feeling quite unsafe. It took all I could muster up to deny them the search request the 1st time. They were already upset and visibly more so when I told them to get a warrant. When they came back and said they had one and I knew they didn't. I felt any objection on my part would result in things turning out badly for me. It's easy for people on here to say they would refuse, but until they're in a situation with a dude who has a gun and is acting like an asshole bully. It's impossible to know you'd tell them they can't search. Feeling unsafe around a cop is one of the worst feelings I've ever had.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,960
8,204
126
the only time that I was asked for a search--

My buddy and I just drove into Fort Lee, NJ from NC--we were planning to tool around in NYC for the weekend--and we made a few strange U-Turns as we were trying to find our hotel. Just coming off the expressway, near a junction to the GW bridge, cop followed us in the the hotel parking lot.

He separated us and asked a few "you boys ain't from around here" questions, then asked to search. We were like, "No problem. Any reason why?"

he explains that it's a major drug-trafficking area, people jumping on the bridge into and out of the city, they look for "non-locals" making strange unfamiliar-with-the-area driving maneuvers.

I suppose that is probable cause. But, you know--Any traffic corridor can be a major drug trafficking area.

...It's kinda sneaky, when you think about it. If you were on your shit and for whatever reason, found yourself in court with such a refusal, you would have to look up numbers and prove to a judge that this isn't even the top 30 major corridors in the country--in the state, the city, whatever, if they stopped you out in some odd area. :\

Cops are like lawyers, and you can assume anything they say is a lie. They'll do what it takes to get their way, truth be damned.
 

reitz

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
3,878
2
76
But like I said, I've never been pulled over for anything since I started driving 6 years ago. I behave myself on the roads, so there is no reason to pull me over in the first place ;)

Careful...I was pulled over a few years ago while obeying all traffic laws. When stopped, they immediately flooded the car with the spotlight; one cop approached with his hand on his gun and the other stood ready at the door of the cruiser. Before the first cop even got to the car, another car came screaming up with his lights on and immediately turned on his spotlight.

Apparently they had randomly run my plate while in traffic and it came back with a "hit" for a guy from Atlanta who was wanted on an outstanding warrant. They were polite and professional once they realized the mistake (I think it helped that it was 1:30 AM, and I had my infant son sleeping in the car seat), but it easily could have gone differently.

Don't think that just because you're following all of the traffic laws you'll never get pulled over...
 

Estrella

Senior member
Jan 29, 2006
900
0
76
You do not have to give the officer any reasoning behind your answer.

If you say no and the officer asks why, you do not have to explain why. The less words the better. Be polite to the officer.

Always, remember that anything you say can be used AGAINST you. Explaining yourself to the officer will only cost you, if it ever goes to court. More than likely, there will be holes in what you said to the officer. They will rip into those holes and fry you in court. Remember: Yes, Sir; No, Sir. That is all you need unless they ask you for your name.

Any personal questions, other than "do you have a weapon?", you do not have to answer. If they need personal information, they can refer to your ID and their computer.

We need to make some law along the lines of,"When performing their duties(on the clock) in public, an officer has no expectation to privacy(meaning one can record the officer without their consent)."
Of course, that law will never come to be.
 

x-alki

Golden Member
Jun 2, 2007
1,353
1
81
The one time I was asked if they could search my van I told them no. They said they would get a warrant and said go ahead. They got a warrant, searched the van and found nothing. One of the cops apologized to me.
 

gophins72

Golden Member
Jul 22, 2005
1,541
0
76
i live in a police state and fear the government, i would allow it only because they could make my life pretty miserable.
 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
32,080
10,883
136
You do not have to give the officer any reasoning behind your answer.

If you say no and the officer asks why, you do not have to explain why. The less words the better. Be polite to the officer.

Always, remember that anything you say can be used AGAINST you. Explaining yourself to the officer will only cost you, if it ever goes to court. More than likely, there will be holes in what you said to the officer. They will rip into those holes and fry you in court. Remember: Yes, Sir; No, Sir. That is all you need unless they ask you for your name.

Any personal questions, other than "do you have a weapon?", you do not have to answer. If they need personal information, they can refer to your ID and their computer.

We need to make some law along the lines of,"When performing their duties(on the clock) in public, an officer has no expectation to privacy(meaning one can record the officer without their consent)."
Of course, that law will never come to be.

actually there was just such a ruling in MD for the case where a guy on a motorcycle had a helmet cam and recorded a police officer pulling him over. the officer filed a claim saying he was recorded without consent, but the judge ruled that public officers in public places should have no expectation of privacy, and without this there would be no way to hold public officials accountable for their actions.

:thumbsup: to the judge who ruled on that one.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
One of our local newscasters was fired for recording detectives without their consent which IMHO is bullshit. They were on duty and performing their duties.

I don't believe public servants should be covered under wiretap/videotape laws while working in their capacity of the job they were hired to do.

Every stop here is videorecorded, every officer is taping while he is next to you. You have not ever given your consent at this point and you are never usually told unless the stop goes south: "Mr. Smith, I wish to inform you that I have been recording this ALTERCATION since I stopped you. I wish you will comply so I do not have to arrest you."
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,407
39
91
I got searched once without the cop even asking me for consent. He probably thought I was some punk teen up to no good since I was driving around a sports car at 4am at night.
He just told me to get out of the car and proceeded to pat me down, then told me to get to the back of his car with my hands up on the railing.
Then he just dug through my car.
I didn't want to say anything because he was going to give me a speeding ticket(I was going 55mph on a huge long empty stretch of a 3 lane business rd at 4am) if I said something and I was incredibly broke at the time. He was probably counting on that.

But just when I thought I couldn't get more violated by the authoritays, a block after he lets me go, he pulls me over again and asks me if I picked up my credit card from my trunk lid that he left there, and if not, I should drive back to look for it. My credit card was in my wallet that was in the center console. So he FUCKING STOLE MY CREDIT CARD... WTF?!?!?
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
I got searched once without the cop even asking me for consent. He probably thought I was some punk teen up to no good since I was driving around a sports car at 4am at night.
He just told me to get out of the car and proceeded to pat me down, then told me to get to the back of his car with my hands up on the railing.
Then he just dug through my car.
I didn't want to say anything because he was going to give me a speeding ticket(I was going 55mph on a huge long empty stretch of a 3 lane business rd at 4am) if I said something and I was incredibly broke at the time. He was probably counting on that.

But just when I thought I couldn't get more violated by the authoritays, a block after he lets me go, he pulls me over again and asks me if I picked up my credit card from my trunk lid that he left there, and if not, I should drive back to look for it. My credit card was in my wallet that was in the center console. So he FUCKING STOLE MY CREDIT CARD... WTF?!?!?

not really stole it, but fuck I'd have been paying better attention.

I had an issue like this, I gave my license, reg and insurance card. I only got back the first two.

I said as he gave them back I need my insurance card back...he kept insisting he didn't have it. I insisted he did.

Long story short, I got out of my car and called my family friend that is a lawyer.

Officer made a stink but left. As he turned the corner he chucked my insurance card out into the intersection.

I picked it up. I had been speeding anyway so I got out of it as far as cost. I didn't get a ticket. I think my now ex-wife going off on him set me free. Looking back she probably hooked up with him later on. ;)
 

Nintendesert

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2010
7,761
5
0
All of you that say yes without so much as probable cause make me very sad. With very little effort from the state you have willingly given up rights that literally hundreds of thousands of your fellow Americans died to give you.

You have rights. People fought to give them to you. If they want to lie to try and generate probable cause, make them lie. Make them do something to take away your rights. Make them the party in the wrong.

Everyone wants to bitch about the TSA searches but right here, clear cut violations of established rights, and see how many are willing to piss them away. America really doesn't deserve any of the protections we had anymore.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,960
8,204
126
All of you that say yes without so much as probable cause make me very sad. With very little effort from the state you have willingly given up rights that literally hundreds of thousands of your fellow Americans died to give you.

You have rights. People fought to give them to you. If they want to lie to try and generate probable cause, make them lie. Make them do something to take away your rights. Make them the party in the wrong.

Everyone wants to bitch about the TSA searches but right here, clear cut violations of established rights, and see how many are willing to piss them away. America really doesn't deserve any of the protections we had anymore.

^^^
 

db

Lifer
Dec 6, 1999
10,575
292
126
If the cop has to ask, he doesn't have probably cause. It's a fishing expedition and you're a fool if you consent.
If you haven't done anything wrong you do not have to prove your innocence. If you did s/t wrong, you are stupid to consent.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81

This I can agree with...America is full on going to become run by the uber wealthy.

Many confuse this with a Monarchy.

I am just on cruise control until I can join them.

If that happens I am sure the stupid will promote my cause and I will bait them.
 

yhelothar

Lifer
Dec 11, 2002
18,407
39
91
not really stole it, but fuck I'd have been paying better attention.

I had an issue like this, I gave my license, reg and insurance card. I only got back the first two.

I said as he gave them back I need my insurance card back...he kept insisting he didn't have it. I insisted he did.

Long story short, I got out of my car and called my family friend that is a lawyer.

Officer made a stink but left. As he turned the corner he chucked my insurance card out into the intersection.

I picked it up. I had been speeding anyway so I got out of it as far as cost. I didn't get a ticket. I think my now ex-wife going off on him set me free. Looking back she probably hooked up with him later on. ;)

I think my case was different since he shouldn't even have TOUCHED my credit card to begin with, let alone take it OUT OF THE CAR.
 

gevorg

Diamond Member
Nov 3, 2004
5,070
1
0
I would say yes since he'll do it anyway if he wants to. Probable cause is bullshit that he can make up on the spot.
 
Dec 10, 2005
25,022
8,298
136
I would say yes since he'll do it anyway if he wants to. Probable cause is bullshit that he can make up on the spot.

If he can make it up on the spot, why bother saying yes?

You have some really retarded reasoning for voluntarily waving your rights.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
I think my case was different since he shouldn't even have TOUCHED my credit card to begin with, let alone take it OUT OF THE CAR.

Not really, my point was if you are having someone search something it's in your best interest to watch them.

Anything and everything in the vehicle and be opened. If they feel a need they can even separate panels and fabric.

In a vehicle search they have no responsibility as far as damage goes.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,517
223
106
Maybe.

If they're going to bring a dog anyway, I'd rather a person-search...dogs can tear the shit out of cars.
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
No.

Unless they produce a warrant "but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."
 

runzwithsizorz

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2002
3,497
14
76
It may also be a good idea to have receipts for stuff,(GPS,laptops,ETC), in your car. I had an after market stereo taken out of my car by a cop. He said I could pick it up at the station if I showed them a receipt for it.
 

HendrixFan

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2001
4,646
0
71
Back in the late 90s I drove an 83 Cadillac and it was a cop magnet at night in nice areas. I drove that car for about a year and was pulled over 6 times for all sorts of reasons, none of which I received a ticket for. They seemed to be made up or false, such as "license plate light was out" when it wasn't. One of the times when I refused the cop asked me to put my hands on the steering wheel and pulled his gun on me while his fellow cop opened my door and checked the paneling. Each time I was asked if I had "guns, knives or drugs" in the car, to which I replied "no". Each time I was asked if my car could be searched and each time I refused.

As I got older, I have gotten a nice car (newer Camry) and have been pulled over but only for legit violations. In those I have never been asked to search my vehicle.