> I'm not sure I totally buy into the whole "never ever evar talk to the po-pos" spiel. > Unless they're being particularly hostile, if it's a choice between letting them > rummage around my car for 5 minutes or getting hauled in to the station and having my > whole day ruined, I'm probably going to let them rummage.
Yeah, there is no hard and fast rule. Situation dictates appropriate behavior.
Try to cooperate, try to understand why they are questioning you, be polite but be cautious too. A simple traffic stop can turn ugly if you don't conduct yourself or act like a possible threat.
At the same time, they do not have the right to search your car. They will ask permission in very tricky ways (they do this all the time, and are good at social engineering) and hope to nail you on additional charges.
At a gas station during a road trip, a friend had to urinate most urgently and since the station had no restroom, he went out behind the dumpster and a cop pulled up. He got a ticket. But then the cop questioned me as well, I was polite and answered everything. Then he wanted to search my car. Funny thing is, both of us had oregano-like spices in our travel bags, wink wink. I twice had to kindly decline and wished to be on my way. Defeated, he told us to have a safe trip and obey rules and stuff. Knowing my rights really paid off, I could have had a rotten day if I let him intimidate me into compliance. They are NOT looking out for you, they want to score arrests and show positive activity to their chief.
Edited by yaggy (08/12/13 05:20 PM)
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