LAWYER: What NOT to Say When You Get Pulled Over

Do you know how to respond to police questions during a traffic stop? Do you know what NOT to say? Let's go through some common questions you might encounter.

[Lazarus]

I was pulled over last year for failure to stop. The officer never ask me a question. It was just "I pulled you over for failure to stop, show me your DL" and so on. So I never said a word. When we went to court the DA had no video of the stop just audio. My attorney got the recording thrown out because they could not prove I was even their when the recording was made. We won the case. Only because I did not say anything.

[Supreme]

Rule of thumb(s) never talk to someone who is legally allowed to lie to you.

[jonesq]

After starting out as a prosecutor, I've spent 33 years as a defense attorney. The advice that you give in this video is spot on. I give the same

[The_Hagseed]

"Do you know why you were pulled over?"
"You want to sell me tickets to the policeman's ball?"
"Police don't have balls."
"Yeah. Uvalde proved that."

[JohnSmith-lzbz]

I've been asked the, "Do you know why I pulled you over?" question and the answer I give is a brief "No!". Totally disarms the officer. So, people say, "You probably lied to the officer, you knew why!" to which my response is that I can't read the officer's mind so no, I don't know. Do not elaborate! Do not explain! Just say no!

[toma.]

I did MP duty in the Military. The joke of "only two beers" comes from the drunk remembering the "First" beer and the "Last" beer. A total of two beers.

[markadams]

Excellent advice! Thank you very much.

Decades ago, a crafty TX DPS officer ticketed me for speeding along a lonely country road (that was the quickest direction to the hospital). I was on my way to the bedside of a dying parishioner. The cop could care less (even "Reverend" on my business card didn't sway him), so I invited him to follow me into the dyeing person's hospital room. He declined. When he roared out of sight, I resumed my race, made it to the saint's side, among the family, just in time for final thoughts and prayers. I learned years later that I could have contested the citation in court, with the proof of the funeral's worship bulletin. Who knew? I was young and dumb. (The officer's unconcerned and unkind actions, that day, became sermonic illusions through remainder of my career.) I continue to pray for Texas law enforcement.

[jackwsanta]

when asked "do you know why i pulled you over" i always reply "because i voted for joe biden?" it has worked 9 times out of 10. 😊

[Enju]

For that last one, we gotta be careful about how they ask the question as well, if they say "do you mind if I search your vehicle?" That's a double ended question, if you answer with just yes, they'll take it as yes they can search, if you answer no, they'll take it as "no I don't mind" and search anyways, best answer I heard for that is "I do not consent to an unwarranted search"

[davidmoushey]

"why did I pull you over?" "Since you don't recall, am I free to go?" It got a laugh, but I still got the ticket.

[Freddles]

"I won't be answering any questions."
"Why not?"
"That's a question."

[RenataDeThomasis]

The best answer to the question, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” “Yes, because you got all “C’s in high school.” You’ll get arrested, but it might be worth it.

[mrj-charles]

Thanks for all the info. I was pulled over in NC years ago and consented to a search of my van. Worst mistake of my life. They detained me for a couple hours and put me in the back of the patrol car with my dog. Then they did not give me my license back. I am the most silent person if I encounter anyone of authority now. There is another incident that caused me to have little faith in the process of the courts.

[DaddyBeanDaddyBean]

On an episode of COPS, an officer stopped a group of teens he suspected of something or other. He had everybody take a seat on the curb, and the ones with backpacks, he had them take them off, and he moved them four or five feet back behind each person, out of their reach. With the last backpack in his hands, he asked that kid "do you have any weapons or drugs in here?" Kid says "no sir". Officer says "Well you don't mind if I go ahead and check, do you?" Kid says "actually, sir, I DO mind." Officer Incredulous says "EXCUSE ME? What do you MEAN, you do mind?" And this kid says "Sir, you asked for my consent to search my bag, and I'm saying no. If you have probable cause or whatever, then I guess you're probably going to search it anyway, but I do NOT consent." The officer just stared at him, and then set the bag down with the others, and didn't ask anyone else for consent to search. ATTABOY KID. And now that I think about it, attaboy officer too!

[LucidDreamer]

"Two beers" is the same things patients say. I worked as a nurse in a hospital emergency department. When patients showed up intoxicated and suffering from some kind of medical problem, they would always say "I had two beers." One time I reached my breaking point with it and asked "Are you talking about the first two or the last two?"

[Bit-while_going]

I've found, when they finally realize that someone has no idea of their rights, they'll try to find a reason to mess with them. Like they'll say stuff like "You don't seem to like me." Or "You don't look quite right, is there something wrong with you?" Then they just wait for to them say the wrong thing and then use whatever excuse. Even they have to feel motivated. So don't give them a motive.

[jerseykaari]

Even when you know your car is 100% clean
And then when the officer plants something, you're screwed. While it's certainly very rare, it happens JUST OFTEN enough to be wary, because the officers that do it probably won't be caught until years down the road, after your life has already been trashed. Plenty of News stories to verify this.

[tthaas]

Thank you for teaching us more about protecting our Constitutional rights than a semester of civics in high school ever did.

[bamboolaceway]

When I was a kid I used to think if I hadn't done anything wrong, I would answer all questions, and allow the police to "look over" my car or even home. But as the years went by, I saw how common it is for an ordinary citizen to be railroaded. That's not to mention the times you hear about a "bad cop" who outright plants evidence.

There was also the time I was stopped by a cop about "running a stop sign, " I literally said, "I'm sorry! I thought I had waited long enough to go." The officer wrote down what I had said, and so there was "my confession" in writing, which would make it hard to get out of that ticket. That's it, the last straw. From then on I knew to just be quiet upon questioning.

[JohnDoe-rkbx]

Mr. attorney I want to say thank you for taking your personal time did you leave videos I think they’re informative and I think they healthy. Look, nobody is talking about getting away with illegal activities but if we don’t enforce our constitution we won’t have one anymore thank you again.