Pulled over by cop - Do you have to answer all their questions?

Charles S

he's not just making conversation. he's asking because he's
trying to see if you are nervous or lying when you answer, could mean you are not gainfully employed and might be into illegal activity of some sort. i'm a former law enforcement officer and i
would ask questions like that and if they were married, had kids
etc. just to get some idea of who i was dealing with. the type of questions asked also depended on the age of the person and what i stopped them for. I stopped one person for a minor traffic
infraction once and asked him where he was headed to, he answered but was very nervous. i asked him if i could search his vehicle and he said no, i detained him and called the k-9 unit and the dog sniffed around his vehicle and got a hit on his trunk, we opened it and found 2 pounds of marijuana in a garbage bag. and it all started because i asked a simple question and got a nervous response. that's why police ask those simple questions, never know where it might lead.

Nunoyvgvna Awi

He was probably asking where you work to see if you might be coming from work.....most cops are easy going on those just trying to get home compared to those heading out. They understand you get into a blank stare while going home and just want to get there. I myself have been left off a few times just cause I was going home. He was trying to give you a break there.

But past that, no. You don't have to answer a single question they ask you. But in turn, they can then search your car, handcuff you and take you to the station, impound your car and after all that, not charge you with anything. But now your time is wasted, you have to pay to get your car out of the pound, find a ride there, etc.

When in doubt, consult an attorney. Since driving...and if 18+, its always wise to have an attorney, just keep their card in your wallet/purse. Doesn't cost anything to have one, but its nice when you need one....then it costs.

SOUTHPAW GOT REPORTED!!

It's their job to ask questions, to suss the bad guy from the good and to ensure everything is in order. Or perhaps he was trying to make a friendly conversation.
You don't HAVE to answers questions, but it would be a good idea to answer without hesitation to show you've got nothing to hide.

Anonymous

Was he making conversation?
In any case, I think the rule of thumb should be not to agitate the officer and just tell them what they want to know, especially if it's something innocuous like that.

maxima

Ask if you're free to go. Bring the point back to the citation. Take the ticket. Watch this video and protect your rights: (FF through legal intro)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8520847761350501823

IOU101

Just making conversation, Did you get a ticket? Were you driving a work truck / Van? But to answer your question the 5th amendment says you don't have to answer anything that might incriminate you, but if he is asking you straight forward questions, name, do you have any drugs or guns in the car.. I might answer the questions, just to keep from having to step out of the car..

bobbie v

My hubby was a cop, and I've found it's best to answer all the questions. Things work out a lot better that way.

artisticallyderanged

Technically you don't HAVE to, but it is generally a good idea. An annoyed cop can make life much harder for you. Especially if they think you're hiding something.

Billy T

You should tell the cop what he wants to know.If for any reason you honestly think he was going too far then you have the right to report him and have him investigated

Peach

probably to get a better imput on what kind of insuance u hav

Harold

For money? isn't that why we all work?

makeitright

Hi, I don't expect to get best answer but I agree with almost everyone who gave you an answer.
Just answer the questions in a friendly way, but not a seductive way. Please be attentive and serious. They are definitely checking you out by your response to see if your speech is slurred. You did not mention what you were pulled over for, so that would depend a lot of what his/her questions would be.

For the most part, police officers are there to protect and serve. A lot of thieves and murderers have been detected by a simple thing like a broken tail light, etc. You also have another group, unfortunately, but always answer their questions.

Good luck.

fr_chuck

He perhaps was trying to be friendly, making the best of the situation.

Perhaps if you had tools in the back, he was trying to see if they were stolen ??

You only have to provide him with the informatoin on your car, provide him a divers license. but talk nice and it can help

gabs4_28

u should ask him...y r u askin me this? it has nothin to do wit the stop....but better for uself just asnwer it

Robert F

The 5th amendment says you don't. When they ask questions it is a form of interogation.

bearcatz_07

they probably just wanted to know if your Employed?......and you should just tell them where you work or if you don't have a job tell em, no you don't have to answer all there questions but its nice to be corropertive just so they know your not envoled in any gang related things or any drug selling scam.....

but thats kinda wierd for them to ask you that. maybe it was just a nosey cop.

Danny

Never p!ss off a cop if you can help it.
He might ask lots of questions that ain't his business,but play along anyways.Things will go much easier if you're cooperative.
I know that chaps your @ss,but it's the way things work.I hate it too!
If you have absolutely nothing to hide (or to lose!) then by all means be an @sshole! He'll do one of two things....
He'll either f*ck with you until he has to let you go...
Or he'll decide that you're a waste of time,because no one with anything to hide (or worth arresting) would act like such an @sshole.
Either way....cops are a pain in the @ss.
Some of them are worthy of the honor that their job commands,but too many of them are just state-sanctioned bullies with guns.

BoardingJD

No, you do NOT have to answer questions about employment. He may have been trying to engage you in conversation to determine whether you were intoxicated, that is often the reason for light banter like that. But you are free to answer "I do not feel a need to answer that question," or "I do not have to answer that question." Just remember that answers like that will draw more suspicion, whether its fair or not. The only thing a police officer can require you to answer is a question as to your identity, and he can require you to produce documents proving your legal entitlement to drive a vehicle (license, registration, proof of insurance in some states.) Other than that, you can take advantage of your fifth amendment rights as much as you'd like.

cuteyes20390

i can tell you right now that he probaly thought u were some type of drug dealer, i dont know you, but your probaly young, if u have a nice car that will make him think that even more, well thats why the cops ***** with me

petral6

Nope. You don't. I also think it is inappropriate for them to ask.

thehiddenangle

Last I heard, you have the right to remain silent. You can simply say, "I don't wish to discuss my professional life."

If you have some deep-seated desire to be a wise ***, you could say, "I was wondering the same thing about you?"

pandabunny

you don't have to say anything without a lawyer present.

plead the 5th!

bcas

@ charles you said I stopped one person for a minor traffic infraction once and asked him where he was headed to, he answered but was very nervous. i asked him if i could search his vehicle and he said no, i detained him and called the k-9 unit and the dog sniffed around his vehicle and got a hit on his trunk, we opened it and found 2 pounds of marijuana in a garbage bag. and it all started because i asked a simple question and got a nervous response You can't search his vehicle based on a nervous answer, you asked for consent to search without a warrant and probable cause and he said NO. Were the drugs in plain sight? No, so you did not have propable cause. The fact is we as citizens do not need to answer any of your questions, we simply need to provide you proof of insurance, license, registration. For you to illegaly search his car was wrong.

Jev

The answer is no. Do not say anything. In most cases, this question has nothing to do with what they're pulling you over for, especially a routine traffic stop. Where you work has no bearing on anything. You are not required to answer this question. Those who say just answer to go along with it are just trying to desensitize you from realizing you have rights.

you should, if you don't, he/she will give you a hard time

payattention

Don't say anything!!!! because they might be creating a profile on you or setting you up to say something they can use against you(entrapment)in a court of law.....best thing is to demand to confer with your counsel if they have arrested you but if you are not arrested it is harassment and they can get sued,imprisoned and fired for that. Even though they are trying to protect the public infringing on our civil liberties makes them worst than the criminals they are trying to capture.

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