Being pulled over will probably send your heart racing and you feeling nervous and frightened. When the officer touches the back of your vehicle it most likely amplifies the alarm running through your body.
In this article, I cover the top three reasons why police officers touch backs of cars during a traffic stop and liberally provide you some helpful guidance and direction for the next time you get pulled over (although I sincerely hope you never do).
Why Do Police Touch the Back of Your Car?
The cop touches the back of your car first to connect to the trunk and ensure that it is shut so no one will jump out at the cop. The cops also may get a good sense of the nervousness of the driver and occupants by touching the back of the vehicle.
Finally, the process leaves the cop’s fingerprints on the vehicle for the event of something arises later.
#1. Secured Trunk.
Many of us don’t comprehend the level of danger the law enforcement is in every day, but they do. Therefore, they stay vigilant and measure the situation to make sure it is safe for not only the situation, but for the violator as well as their own situation.
As they briefly touch the back of your car, they can assure that the trunk is closed and latch is safe. If not, someone trying to hide could jump out and surprise the cops.
If the cops are working together, one officer will usually check the trunk and the other will move to the driver’s window. This way they are guaranteed that the driver does not use the opportunity to use as weapon while one officer is occupied in the back.
#2. Test Responses and distraction.
It is the role of the officer to determine your state of mind because the officer must allow you to leave since the city will be responsible to our citizenry if something goes wrong after they leave. The officers want to know whether you are using drugs, have unpermitted substances or violations in the vehicle.
As you are in your vehicle, you may want to hide things quickly when the police officer approaches, and the police officer is likely looking for that behavior.
Many drivers are not ready for the noise that the tap makes, so it makes them stop whatever they were doing and it gives the officer added time to look at what is going on with the driver and in the vehicle.
Police officers believe this contributes to more intoxicated drivers being arrested, more sellers being arrested for having unpermitted substances, and more people being arrested with unregistered firearms.
However, when they touch the back of vehicles with one hand, they place themselves at a little more risk because they do not have both hands in position if needed.
#3. Leave Fingerprints.
The last reason cops touch the trunk or tail light is to leave the officer’s fingerprints behind. If the cop happened to be in a dangerous situation, they could prove they made contact with the car driver based on the fingerprints they left behind on the vehicle at the crime scene.
These fingerprints on the back of the vehicle will only be helpful if there is a criminal investigation as a result of the traffic stop. A small chance that the fingerprints might get smudged or washed away because of the rain exists, and it’s not the best method either.
These days, police cars have dash cams installed, and the police officer has a body cam, to prove the officer interacted with the car if something would happen.
So, it is a bit of the past, but many police officers still do it.
What To Do When a Cop Pulls You Over?
#1. Be Safe.
Safety should always be the first consideration. You want to pull over, but it needs to be safe to do so. You want to pull over to a lit parking lot that is busy.
If you need to drive a short distance to a safe place, slow the vehicle down and turn your flashers on. This is signaling to the officer that you are trying to get to a safer location, but are not ignoring their request.
#2. Put Car in Park.
Once you are off the road, put the car in Park. You should also shut off the engine so the officer knows you have no intention to go anywhere.
When you put your window down, you want to remained as still as possible. You do not want to give the officer any reason to be concerned for their safety. Place your hands on the steering where they can easily seen.
#3. Stay Calm.
While you sit there waiting for the officer, take a deep breath and relax. If you are not doing anything illegal or have any illegal substances in that car, there is nothing to be worried about.
In most scenarios, the officer is going to either issue you a ticket or just a warning and send you on your way back onto your journey. In the grand scheme of things, this traffic stop is not going to change your life.
#4. Hop Follow Directions.
Be alert to everything that is said to you as the cop approaches you. Do not say anything unless asked to.
You will be asked for your driver’s license, car registration and insurance information. After providing all the information to the cops, put your hands back on the steering wheel.
#5. Be polite.
Even if the police officer is mean to you, be polite regardless. You can argue with them, but nothing will change with an argument on the side of the road.
You will need to argue your defense in court. If you defend the situation in court, your civil behavior will be an advantage. And everything you say to a police officer is likely admissible evidence.
#6. Sign the citation.
Once the officer hands you the citation, go ahead and sign it, you aren’t admitting guilt when you sign a citation, you are simply acknowledging receipt. You may choose to pay it or go to court and contest it.
There did not need to be a confrontation, no need to make the cop stand there in a position of risk because you were angry. Be polite and take the citation, let the officer get back to their job.
Then you can move on with your day of suffering from the encounter instead of prolonging the encounter unreasonably.
Why do police always leave the car running?
Police cars are generally outfitted with a huge amount of equipment like lights, radios and sirens.
Some equipment can pull considerable power, and keeping the car idling allows the officer to make sure the battery will not go dead. The last thing they want is a dead battery when an emergency call comes in.
How to behave if cops pull you over on the highway?
- In the United States, always pull over to the right side of any road. Stopping in the middle of the highway is very dangerous to your safety and dangerous to the police officer who is approaching. Turn on your flashers or right turn signal, which will indicate to the police that you are looking for a safe place to stop.
- If the road is very wide it is considered pretty safe and you can pull over immediately. Be sure to check your states laws prior to confirm.
How to avoid getting pulled over?
While I cannot provide you with a bulletproof method to avoid being pulled over, you can take steps to improve your chances of not getting pulled over.
If you can follow the law and drive safely you are greatly increase your odds of not getting pulled over. Always use your turn signals, obey the speed limit and always be aware of your surroundings. If you do get pulled over be courteous.nd cooperative with the police officer.