Is it normal when stopped by the police to question the passenger?

My husband and I were driving from Illinois into Ohio and we noticed that the police had setup a speedtrap at the border of Ohio.

My husband was driving our motorhome and it's an older vehicle and virtually impossible to speed, so we were astonished when a policeman pulled us over.

But even more astonishing to me was when he asked my husband to step out of the vehicle and then after questioning him and checking his license and proof of insurance, he ordered my husband to remain at the back and then the policeman came to my window and asked me for my license and then questioned me extensively.

I felt very intimidated and scared, and I followed his orders and answered all the questions, which were thorough and had nothing to do with the reason we were stopped.

The policeman never did clarify why were stopped, and let us go.

Is this normal nowadays for the police to hassle people during a traffic stop?

We're an older couple and nowhere on our vehicle do we have bumperstickers!
Additional Details
Well, I think it was a speedtrap since there were 8 police cars, and the police had stopped 3 other vehicles that we noticed.
It happened in Ohio.
I've been a licensed driver for over 50 years, and I have never been pulled over by a policeman, I am proud to say. (and hope saying that will not jinx it!)
I just thought it quite odd that the policeman would ask me for my license and then question me so fiercely about our trip and when we left, where we stayed since leaving home, where we were going, how long we would be gone, how often we ate out on the road, if I had a job or was I retired, did I have family that I intended to visit, where my family lived . . . it just seemed so odd to me and I just wondered if it was common practice nowadays for the police to ask the passenger for ID and questions unrelated to the reason we were stopped, and also not to tell us the reason he pulled us over.
Seriously, my husband and I are older and we were frightened and afraid to ask the cop.

BOB

It is fairly common to be "hassled" by police officers nowadays. While officers don't see it as hassling it is just that, any detainment is a hassle and any excessive questioning without explanation is compounding the hassle. The ambiguous questioning is more common now than it was 10 years ago, and it seems as though it will only get worse.

The entire process is a hassle and the founders of our country knew this that is why you have the right to an expedient and public trail and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation. Unfortunately some people aren't as smart as the founders of this country.

But now you have a better understanding of the point of view of the younger generation because they go through this much more.

Another answer said if you don't answer the officers questions you can be arrested that is FALSE you always have the RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT you can never be arrested for remaining silent so you never really have to answer any questions.

I can understand your "fear" of officers, those who cannot are officers themselves or have a close relationship with officers. You should be fearful of someone who can jail you and potentially ruin your life because we know not all cops are good cops.

Nowadays officers are taught that all citizens can be criminals so all citizens are interigated as such and that is why you get the "Divide and Conquer" approach like the below answer because SOME officers are doing their job more for the power of conquering than for the protecting and serving.

Fred P

... a few questions....

1. How do you know it was a speed trap? Most states have laws prohibiting speed traps.

2. The officer has to give you a reason why you were stopped - if not, contact the local station for that agency to talk with them.

They may have been given a tip about drugs, kidnappings or something else in which an RV and an older couple were involved. Until you know some more details, you might want to lighten up a bit.

No - it's not normal to "harass" people on a traffic stop - but again, you need to get some more information.

California Deputy

Kenneth C

Depends on the state. In Missouri the courts are divided, but so far it seems that we can ask the passenger for a driver's license and ask them questions related to the stop. We can ask questions beyond that, but as long as it doesn't delay the stop. So if an Officer has no suspicions, they are more limited in what they can ask a passenger.

Did you get stopped in Illinois or Ohio? I know in Illinois police can legally demand ID from a passenger. Extensively questioning someone always moves you more and more into the gray area though.

faar_kivan

Of course the police can question the passenger. They can question anyone in the vehicle.

My question for you is why are you scared of the police? That doesn't make any sense.

I doubt it was a "speedtrap" that you travelled through. They were probably stopping many vehicles in an attempt to find someone. And your RV is a great place for a bad guy to hide. I hope you thanked them for doing their job and keeping you safe.

RV's are commonly used in the transport of illegal drugs along interstate highways. That is what he was checking. Just be glad that he's out there doing his job to make YOUR life better.

polly_peptide

It is well within their right to do that. It's pretty common as well. They were probably looking for something specific, and they don't have to tell you what it is. Questioning the passenger is done for a bunch of different reasons, most often to verify what the driver said. Any discrepancy between the two stories can be used as probable cause to search, arrest, or detain you. This technique often results in the discovery of contraband, intoxication, and other criminal intentions, so it's best to let the cops do what they need to do. A policeman can stop anyone at any time and ask for identification. The person above has this wrong... they can stop you walking along the street, it doesn't matter that you weren't driving. That only matters if they try to charge you with a driving offense of some kind. A cop can always ask for identification and can ask you almost any question they want to. Refusing to provide ID, or refusing to answer questions, or lying about anything, is legal cause to arrest you. After all, you might be a fugitive.

BTW, you haven't been 'hassled'... I've been detained for over an hour on a simple traffic stop where I didn't do anything, and I've had my car searched multiple times - regardless of what I was stopped for, they always want to look for drugs. I am transgender and I think I am subject to discrimination, but I have nothing to hide, and it's been a different cop every time, so there's no harassment either. Being an 'older couple' doesn't make you exempt from suspicion.

xtowgrunt

There have been numerous drug busts along that corridor (Chicago to the east coast)recently. Your vehicle, unfortunately, fit the profile. They will question you both separately to confirm your stories match. If they didn't, you would have seen a drug sniffing dog nosing around your RV.

Rek T

It could have been your Husband was scared. This made the officer wonder why he was stuttering a little, getting nervous, anything like this says ...Go ask the passenger the same questions. He was making sure everything fit with what your husband said. As for pulling you over and not saying why There are countless reasons for pulling you over and just as many for not telling you something. There are thousands of what if's and holes in the story. So best response would be no it's not normal to go ask the passenger a series of questions unless you think someone will lie. Best advice I can give you, next time you get pulled over take a breath relax and follow the officers requests. If you did nothing wrong you should have no reason to be afraid of an officer. Police are not out to ruin lives. Also you made mention other cars where stopped. It is safe to assume the officer had been asking a lot of questions that day and getting frustrated. This is not to say him walking up angry and threatening is okay but understand it was most likely not personal towards you or your husband. Sorry you had a bad expierence on the Highway.

NONAME

Were you traveling on a highway that is notorious for drug trafficking? do you know any BOLOs (Be On The Look Out) in the area where a motor home similar to yours might be involved? you say your an older couple, older couples can be drug runners also, theres no age limit. There was no harm done, other than a little inconvenience. would you rather they go find a place to hide and go to sleep and not even try to protect the public? everyone wants the Police to be proactive until it involves them. did they search your vehicle without probable cause or a signed consent?
as far as why they stopped you. have you ever heard of "just cause"? they stopped you "Just Cause" they wanted to, but you can come up with a reason to stop anyone. tell them they swerved a little and you are concearned about their safety to drive. there was probably a reason that they stopped you and questioned the two of you, i imagine you matched the description of an evil doer. good day

Mickey F

So if your kids or grand-kids were kidnapped by someone in a motor-home, you wouldn't be mad if the police had stopped that very motor home, and only questioned the driver, while the passenger, a woman lets say, was holding the kid in the back knowing they wouldn't ask anything or stop them?? Yea, right! Your so called "Speed trap" was a also a safety check of large vehicles, so as the others have said. you weren't hassled, and the Police were doing what they are supposed to do!!

California Street Cop

'What is it with the people that answer here?

"You should sue him and get a badge number and have his children confined...huff huff, blah blah."

I don't believe you were pulled over for speeding. There could have been and APB for your vehicle type or you and your husbands description, etc. You could have been driving through a major drug running corridor. Maybe something your husband said sounded strange so he wanted to talk to you to see what was going on.

If I ever get suspicious on a car stop I immediately do the same thing. Divide and conquer. When I talk to the two people separately I get two different stories, now I know something funny is going on and I figure it out.

Its no big deal, they were looking for something or someone and it wasn't you so you were on your way. There was no reason to be scared. Was he rude? Threatening?

CGIV76

It was for your own safety. Think about it. The Officer does not know the relationship between you, and your passengers. Individuals are separated to check for contradictory statements. What if a wanted person had forced his way into your vehicle. What if you were being kidnapped?. This sounded like a roadside safety check. You may have felt intimidated, but on the other hand, you were 100% safe.

â˜¼evolvedkwâ˜¼

They had no business asking to see your information if you were not driving. You should take down his badge number and file a complaint if it ever happens again.

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