5 Traffic Stop TRICKS Cops Hope You NEVER Learn (Lawyer Explains)

Brief Summary

This video outlines five common police tactics used during traffic stops and provides advice on how to protect your rights. It covers strategies like using small talk to elicit incriminating information, misinterpreting silence, exaggerating movements as threats, using consent to search vehicles, and prolonging stops with drug dogs. The video emphasizes the importance of remaining silent (but explicitly invoking that right), keeping your hands visible, clearly stating you do not consent to searches, and recording the encounter. It also advises on what to do if arrested, stressing the importance of staying calm and contacting an attorney.

• Police officers use tricks to get you to admit wrongdoing.
• You must explicitly invoke your right to remain silent.
• Officers may use your movements as a pretext for further action.
• Never consent to a vehicle search.
• Be aware of tactics involving drug dogs and prolonged stops.

The Stress of Getting Pulled Over

The video starts by setting the scene of being pulled over by the police, even when you believe you've done nothing wrong, and introduces the concept of police using tricks that could lead to serious trouble. It serves as an introduction to the five police tactics that will be discussed in detail.

Police Trick #1: Small Talk & Bad Attitude

Police officers often engage in seemingly innocent small talk to encourage you to reveal incriminating information about your origin, destination, or activities. Similarly, some officers adopt a confrontational attitude to provoke a reaction. The video references an incident in Indianapolis where an officer berated a driver to elicit a response. The key takeaway is to avoid falling for these tactics by not providing unnecessary information or reacting emotionally to a bad attitude.

Police Trick #2: Invoking Your Right to Remain Silent (The RIGHT Way!)

While you have the right to remain silent, you must explicitly invoke this right by stating that you are exercising it or pleading the Fifth Amendment, as established in Salinas v. Texas. In many states, including Indiana, you are required to provide your driver's license or at least your name, address, and date of birth when operating a vehicle. Failure to do so can result in a charge of refusal to identify.

Police Trick #3: Your Movements & "Officer Safety"

Officers may interpret your movements inside the car as a threat or indication that you are hiding something. To counter this, keep your hands visible on the steering wheel and announce any movements you make, such as reaching for your glove box. If possible, record the encounter audibly or visually, but prioritize keeping your hands visible. Remember that officers can order you to exit the vehicle, as per Pennsylvania v. Mimms, and courts often give officers leeway when "officer safety" is cited.

Police Trick #4: The Car Search Consent TRAP

Police officers often try to obtain your consent to search your vehicle by asking ambiguous questions like, "Anything illegal in the car?" followed by "Then you wouldn't mind me searching the car?" Regardless of whether you answer yes or no, the officer may interpret it as consent. To avoid this trap, clearly state, "I do not consent to a search." Consent cures almost any issue, so officers ask for your consent even if they don't have enough for a warrant. Without consent, officers need probable cause and must adhere to specific conditions under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement.

Police Trick #5: The Drug Dog Delay Tactic

Officers may threaten to bring a drug dog to search your vehicle. They cannot prolong the traffic stop beyond what is necessary for a normal stop to wait for a drug dog. To counter this, ask when you are free to leave to put them on the clock. If the stop is taking longer than necessary or a drug dog arrives, record the encounter, announce the time, reiterate that you do not consent to a search, and repeatedly ask if you are free to leave.

What To Do If You ARE Arrested

If you are arrested, contact an attorney. Do not run or fight, and remain polite. Your behavior is often recorded on body cameras, and a calm demeanor can be beneficial in court.

Final Advice & Call to Action

The video concludes by encouraging viewers to like and subscribe for more "know your rights" content. It also provides contact information for legal assistance in Indiana. The final message is to always "play the game" by understanding and asserting your rights.