Is there any point in admitting guilt when a cops asks you?

[cyclistca]

It depends on the situation. It certainly helps when stopped for a traffic infraction. I've gotten off several times by telling the truth. In time when I havn't they have always marked down the fine.

Man there certainly some parinod people on this board judging from some of the answers.

 

[waggy]

I have gotten a few speeding tickets. But only got out of 2 of them BOTH times i was honest.

1) when i was either 17-18 i was speeding home with my GF (now wife!) to have sex since my parents were gone. I got pulled over for doing 55 in a 45. The cop asked why i was in such a hurry. I told him the truth. That my parents were gone and i was takeing my GF over ot have sex.

the cop just laughed (he was young himself) and asked if i had protection and let me go.

2) i was sick and had stomach virus. I had BAD diarria. The cop pulled me over for speeding an asked why i was speeding. I told him the truth. He didnt belive me. I asked him if he can fallow me home (1/2 mile from my house) and he can write me whatever ticket he wants. I just needed a bathroom NOW. he got my info and walked back. about that time i err had a accident. when he got back i said no worries take his time. I STUNK. he just laughed and sent me h ome to shower etc.

 

[HaxorNubcake]

Originally posted by: waggy
I have gotten a few speeding tickets. But only got out of 2 of them BOTH times i was honest.

1) when i was either 17-18 i was speeding home with my GF (now wife!) to have sex since my parents were gone. I got pulled over for doing 55 in a 45. The cop asked why i was in such a hurry. I told him the truth. That my parents were gone and i was takeing my GF over ot have sex.

the cop just laughed (he was young himself) and asked if i had protection and let me go.

2) i was sick and had stomach virus. I had BAD diarria. The cop pulled me over for speeding an asked why i was speeding. I told him the truth. He didnt belive me. I asked him if he can fallow me home (1/2 mile from my house) and he can write me whatever ticket he wants. I just needed a bathroom NOW. he got my info and walked back. about that time i err had a accident. when he got back i said no worries take his time. I STUNK. he just laughed and sent me h ome to shower etc.

:laugh:

 

[Stuxnet]

Originally posted by: cyclistca
Man there certainly some parinod people on this board judging from some of the answers.

Maybe you haven't noticed, but a lot of that PARANOIA has been backed up by real-world experiences.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: Vic
Why not? I guarantee you the cop will. I've contested virtually every ticket I've ever gotten (except for some real out-of-towners), and won more than half of them. Every time I went to court the cop committed perjury and lied on the stand. Every time. One time a cop even lied to the judge that I was a nice guy who confessed and apologized at the stop. Seriously. I've had a cop who tried to change his story after he had testified and while I was testifying simply because he realized right then he was beat (in that particular case, he had cited me for the wrong infraction). Shut up, you had your turn.

Now keep in mind that I am never a jerk who a cop who stops me. At least never before he's handed me the ticket. Of course, cops are people too, just doing their job (but so are Best Buy CSR's). I'm just not playing his little game either. And the ultimate cop game is to get you to believe that if just confess your sins, everything will be all right and they'll let you go. They are, in fact, extensively trained in this, and it is similar to professional salesmanship.
Cops don't pull people over to give warnings. They write tickets. That's their job. And while they don't officially have quotas anymore, their performance is still graded on the number of tickets they write. Nice folks don't get off with a warning because they were nice, they get off because they had no priors.

Hey, maybe things are different in the kind rural setting where bradruth lives. But not here.

So you're 100% fine with perjury?

Whatever you claim how we decide whether or not to cite is absolute speculation on your part.

I live in a city of 50,000+, which is not rural, and yes, things are different than what you're describing.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: bradruth
I fail to see how we can arbitrarily hand out DUIs if people pass the tests and blow under the limit.

In my state a cop can determine you weren't fit to be operating the vehicle even if you are under the legal limit. If you blow a .003 and the cop thinks you can't handle it, you're in DUI Smackdown.

Yeah, that *can* happen, but it likely won't go anywhere in court and, as such, is more hassle than it's worth.

 

[CaptainKahuna]

Originally posted by: waggy
I have gotten a few speeding tickets. But only got out of 2 of them BOTH times i was honest.

1) when i was either 17-18 i was speeding home with my GF (now wife!) to have sex since my parents were gone. I got pulled over for doing 55 in a 45. The cop asked why i was in such a hurry. I told him the truth. That my parents were gone and i was takeing my GF over ot have sex.

the cop just laughed (he was young himself) and asked if i had protection and let me go.

2) i was sick and had stomach virus. I had BAD diarria. The cop pulled me over for speeding an asked why i was speeding. I told him the truth. He didnt belive me. I asked him if he can fallow me home (1/2 mile from my house) and he can write me whatever ticket he wants. I just needed a bathroom NOW. he got my info and walked back. about that time i err had a accident. when he got back i said no worries take his time. I STUNK. he just laughed and sent me h ome to shower etc.

You literally shat your pants to get out of a ticket. Excellent!

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: bradruth
So you're 100% fine with perjury?

Whatever you claim how we decide whether or not to cite is absolute speculation on your part.

I live in a city of 50,000+, which is not rural, and yes, things are different than what you're describing.

Of course I am not okay with perjury. You will note that my point was that it was the officers who were the ones committing perjury. OTOH, it is not perjury to refuse to incriminate yourself or to fail to volunteer self-incriminating information. That in fact is a constitutional right. Nor can one commit perjury while speaking with a police officer on the side of a road. Perjury can ONLY be committed while under oath.

I'm glad things are different where you live. I'm sure you have reasonable speed limits too, and not the artificially low ones that we have. In Oregon, smaller towns and cities that sit along major highways are affectionately known as "speed traps," as any Californian or Washingtonian will attest.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: bradruth

Originally posted by: jbourne77

Originally posted by: bradruth
I fail to see how we can arbitrarily hand out DUIs if people pass the tests and blow under the limit.

In my state a cop can determine you weren't fit to be operating the vehicle even if you are under the legal limit. If you blow a .003 and the cop thinks you can't handle it, you're in DUI Smackdown.

Yeah, that *can* happen, but it likely won't go anywhere in court and, as such, is more hassle than it's worth.

Even if the cop doesn't show up, that's still a pretty big inconvenience to the person he pulled over. Going to court and everything.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: CaptainKahuna

Originally posted by: waggy
I have gotten a few speeding tickets. But only got out of 2 of them BOTH times i was honest.

1) when i was either 17-18 i was speeding home with my GF (now wife!) to have sex since my parents were gone. I got pulled over for doing 55 in a 45. The cop asked why i was in such a hurry. I told him the truth. That my parents were gone and i was takeing my GF over ot have sex.

the cop just laughed (he was young himself) and asked if i had protection and let me go.

2) i was sick and had stomach virus. I had BAD diarria. The cop pulled me over for speeding an asked why i was speeding. I told him the truth. He didnt belive me. I asked him if he can fallow me home (1/2 mile from my house) and he can write me whatever ticket he wants. I just needed a bathroom NOW. he got my info and walked back. about that time i err had a accident. when he got back i said no worries take his time. I STUNK. he just laughed and sent me h ome to shower etc.

You literally shat your pants to get out of a ticket. Excellent!

Not one of my better moments. I did not mean to do it..i just couldnt hold it anymore! 10 years after it happened i can laugh at it.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Even if the cop doesn't show up, that's still a pretty big inconvenience to the person he pulled over. Going to court and everything.

I have no idea how a cop can just decide not to show up for court. That would get you in serious sh!t here.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: Vic
Of course I am not okay with perjury. You will note that my point was that it was the officers who were the ones committing perjury. OTOH, it is not perjury to refuse to incriminate yourself or to fail to volunteer self-incriminating information. That in fact is a constitutional right. Nor can one commit perjury while speaking with a police officer on the side of a road. Perjury can ONLY be committed while under oath.

I'm glad things are different where you live. I'm sure you have reasonable speed limits too, and not the artificially low ones that we have. In Oregon, smaller towns and cities that sit along major highways are affectionately known as "speed traps," as any Californian or Washingtonian will attest.

But don't you also claim it's fine to do so because you say the officers are doing it, don't you? It might just be me, but I believe in being the bigger man and doing what's right, rather than sinking to the lowest common denominator.

How low are we talking? Our interstates are 75mph, highways are 65mph, major city streets are 40mph, slightly lesser ones are 30-35mph, and residentials are mostly 20-25mph.

 

[tommywishbone]

Never cooperate at all w/ the man. Say nothing. Not a single word. Sign the paperwork, get in your car and leave. If possible, record the entire event. Get home as fast as possible and decontaminate yourself from the filth.

 

[Reckoner]

Don't admit guilt!!!!!! Especially if you plan on challenging the ticket in court. Otherwise once the cop tells the judge you ADMITTED speeding, you're fvcked.

 

[BabaBooey]

Admit nothing ,deny everything else..

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: sygyzy
There is a difference between volunteering and admitting guilt and telling the truth.

The oldest cop trick in the book is "do you know how fast you were going?" Just take a minute to think about it. What are they asking you? Are they trying to be nice and are giving you an opportunity to say "no, i have no idea how fast I was going. I drive a 3000 lb machine and I have no idea how fast it's going. Was I speeding? Please forgive me"

Or are they giving you a chance to VOLUNTEER guilt and confess to a specific crime/speed? The answer is the latter.

Cops can randomly pull you over guessing you POSSIBLY are speeding. Then when they ask you the magic question, you'll remove all doubt and incriminate yourself.

Actually, failing to know how fast you were going at any given time is a traffic infraction itself in most states. Often more serious than speeding. Careless driving, negligent driving, failure to maintain proper control of the vehicle, etc. So no matter how you answer the question, you incriminate yourself. It's the ultimate loaded question.
If absolutely pressed to answer, the only proper answer is the posted speed limit. Regardless of how fast you were going.

If they ask you 'Do you know how fast you were going?' and you respond with
'Yes, Do you?'

what happens next because I'm too chicken to find out.

 

[sygyzy]

How could anyone be fooled by "performance expectations"? In English, that means QUOTAS people!

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: bradruth
I give a lot more breaks to people who are honest than those who lie.

If someone was going 78 in a 55 would you give them a break if they were honest?

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: bradruth
So you're 100% fine with perjury?

Whatever you claim how we decide whether or not to cite is absolute speculation on your part.

I live in a city of 50,000+, which is not rural, and yes, things are different than what you're describing.

Of course I am not okay with perjury. You will note that my point was that it was the officers who were the ones committing perjury. OTOH, it is not perjury to refuse to incriminate yourself or to fail to volunteer self-incriminating information. That in fact is a constitutional right. Nor can one commit perjury while speaking with a police officer on the side of a road. Perjury can ONLY be committed while under oath.

I'm glad things are different where you live. I'm sure you have reasonable speed limits too, and not the artificially low ones that we have. In Oregon, smaller towns and cities that sit along major highways are affectionately known as "speed traps," as any Californian or Washingtonian will attest.

I just have to say that as an Oregonian, I've had mostly positive experiences with the cops here. I've been pulled over a couple of times in the past couple years and simply received warnings. The most recent time was coming out of my cul-de-sac and not stopping at the stop sign. I told the officer that I realized I hadn't come to a stop and I apologized. He said he understood that it's not a high traffic area, but that I still need to be careful and make sure I stop completely. Then he let me on my way.

I was pulled over three times for having a taillight out. Twice on the same day. I said, Yes, I realize the taillight is burned out and that I hadn't had time to fix it yet.

I do agree about some of the smaller towns being "speedtraps". I think some of these towns are financing their entire departments by ticketing interstate travellers. I-5 around Roseburg is the worst.

If you are accused of something serious, I agree that you shouldn't volunteer anything. It's not like they are going to let you off for being honest and admitting that you just finished a fifth of tequila.
But when you are talking about speeding or other minor infractions, it's my experience that the nicer and more honest you are, the better your chances of being warned instead of ticketed.

Besides, if you are actually dealing with one of those power tripping d!ckhead cops, the worst thing you can do is argue with him. Being honest may not get you off in those cases, but at least it won't get you charged with a bunch of other made up infractions as punishment for pissing the guy off.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: KrillBee

Originally posted by: bradruth
I give a lot more breaks to people who are honest than those who lie.

If someone was going 78 in a 55 would you give them a break if they were honest?

The thing is, with radar, he already knows that you are going 78 in a 55, and doesn't need admission of guilt.

That being said, I personally usually dont ask the question. I go up, get their info, and come back in 5 minutes with a ticket or a warning.

 

[Gillbot]

you have the right to remain silent.

that being said, it depends on what you did. often if it's minor and you admit it they will let you go.

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: Vic

Actually, failing to know how fast you were going at any given time is a traffic infraction itself in most states. Often more serious than speeding. Careless driving, negligent driving, failure to maintain proper control of the vehicle, etc. So no matter how you answer the question, you incriminate yourself. It's the ultimate loaded question.
If absolutely pressed to answer, the only proper answer is the posted speed limit. Regardless of how fast you were going.

Ironically I think knowing that you are going faster than the limit and admitting that to the cop, does you in more. The cop who gave me my speeding ticket for 78 in a 55, told me that he could have me written up for wreckless driving "because" i had told him I knew I was going close to 80. But he didnt. Had I pretended i had not known, he couldnt have given a wreckless driving ticket no matter what.

The one thing I did which I probably shouldnt have, was tell him that I thought the limit was 65, when I clearly knew it was 55. I did that, because I figured if I admitted I knew I was going 23 over (instead of 13 over) then he might for sure try to haul me off to jail or something.

I'm not sure if saying that i thought the limit was 65, was smart or not. maybe i should have admitted i knew it was 55.

And i asked at the very end, after he handed me the ticket, if there was anyway i could get let off with a warning, and he said "Absolutely not" in a very firm voice.

Shoulda asked him earlier, before he wrote the ticket. I woulda but I sorta forget to until the end.

 

[edro]

Don't worry Bradruth, I still like you

I have gotten 6 speeding tickets in my life (23 now), and I deserved every single one of them. I hold nothing against the police.

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: KrillBee

Originally posted by: bradruth
I give a lot more breaks to people who are honest than those who lie.

If someone was going 78 in a 55 would you give them a break if they were honest?

I'd be inclined to lower it to the 1-15mph violation bracket.

Originally posted by: edro
Don't worry Bradruth, I still like you

I have gotten 6 speeding tickets in my life (23 now), and I deserved every single one of them. I hold nothing against the police.

:thumbsup:

 

[KrillBee]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297



On the indirect taxation thing, I know many cops who have a quota of the amount of people they have to pull over and ticket each month for revenue reasons. I know it's prominent where I live but I was not sure in the rest of the states.

ticket quotas are illegal in my state, but I somehow doubt that is a law that gets enforced.

Originally posted by: ucdbiendog
ive gotten out of tickets 2 out of 3 times ive been pulled over by admitting what i did wrong and sounding worry about it. i hate kissing ass, but with the cost of the ticket and insurance, its worth it

how big was the violation? how fast were you going?

I tried acting sorry and sad when I did 54 in a 40, and it didnt work. since then i havent bothered acting sorry. (again Im never sorry, because when I drive i drive safely its just that sometimes my definition of the speed limit isnt the same as the police officer)

Only 1/3 times I've gotten pulled over, did I get a warning (going 72 in a 55), and that time he said i got off because he thought the expression on my face when i got pulled over was funny.

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug
public transportation FTW


<--- am one day either moving to the city or getting rich and hiring a driver

good idea, avoid police bullcrap altogether!

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
One of the best things you can do for a cop, is to let him know you are concerned for his or her safety, and while even though he put the lights on you 3 blocks ago, you simply tell him, that out of "concern for his safety, you wanted to choose a safer place to pull over". They love that. I actually did that one time, then admitted I was wrong, had a lapse of judgment, etc. After a fatherly type lecture, he let me go.

the time i got pulled over doing 78 in a 55, there wasnt a safe place for miles
I turned on both my interior lights, rolled my window down all the way. the only thing I forgot to do was turn my engine off, but then again it was below zero (friggin cold) and the officer didnt ask me to turn my engine of either, he just told me not to go anywhere when he had to go and input data in the computer.