Say NO To Police Searches

[myrdale]

There is a really great article on the front page about excuses police use when searching you.

https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2025/05/23/10156812_8-legal-excuses-police-use-to-search-you-that-feel-totally-wrong.html

While this doesn't initially seem like a financial topic, it really, I mean REALLY is!

Even if you think "I'm innocent, I haven't done anything wrong" you could walk right into a trap in incriminate yourself.

It is a simple scenario. You're pulled over and the police ask if you mind if they can search you're car.

People like to be friendly. People like to talk. People like not to put up resistance. People end up in jail.

When pulled over, my advice is don't engage in small talk. Don't volunteer information. Don't answer questions. And Never let the police search your car.

Say the police search your vehicle and find a joint or some pills. Obviously you're guilty right? No, not really. Maybe you gave a ride to a coworker or a hitchhiker who dropped them. Maybe your spouse does drugs and you don't even know it. They don't care.

Assuming it is a legitimate stop the driver will have to provide ID, insurance, registration. But when the police ask further questions "Is the address still good" a simple response of "I don't answer questions" will suffice.

The police ask "Where are you coming from tonight" and you say "Oh I just left McDonald's out on I-20" No problems right? You don't know that they aren't looking for someone coming from that direction. And if not, they don't really care where you're coming from, it is an interrogation to get you to talk. Maybe you slurred a word or two, now he wants you to do a field sobriety test to "make sure you're OK to drive home". DON'T. Sober people fail them more than 50% of the time, and now you're potentially looking at $10,000 of fees and bills.

Be smart. Keep a clean vehicle. Don't leave potential problems visible in the open. Don't volunteer information.

"You know why I pulled you over tonight?" And you reply "Yeah I guess I was going a little too fast around that curve huh?" You just confessed!

I'm not suggesting you break the law, or be a horse's rear. But stand up for your rights. In a perfect world the police would be our friends. They serve a very important and dangerous job for which I am thankful. But when you are in their sights, know they don't care how much the legal cost will be fore you. Know your rights and exercise them.

[james.hendrickson]

This unfortunately a sad but true state of affairs.

[Drake3287]

Part of the problem is that the minute you say no to a search, you're guaranteed a ticket for what ever reason they pulled you over for in the first place. If you let them search your car and find nothing you're most likely going to get a warning unless it was something serious in the first place. I'm about the last person they'd ask to search a vehicle but assuming I know there's nothing in my car I might say yes just to get out of a ticket. Easy to say because I'm a typical older adult with no criminal history but younger people might be in a different position.

[ua_guy]

Interesting "financial" topic you've got here. What's next, advice on how to save money while manufacturing illicit drugs?

If anyone actually respects police, they offer them basic respect, cooperation, follow their commands, and give truthful answers. How you conduct yourself is up to you. However, knowing several active-duty officers, people offer probable cause and do things to get themselves in trouble. Car smells like weed? You're probably going to get searched, and now you're suspected DUI. Shouldn't be whining about why you're being questioned or searched, instead asking why you put yourself in that situation in the first place.

I'm not afraid of police nor do I fear for my rights when I interact them, but I realize that is a privileged position afforded by being a white male and not looking like someone who has something to hide. But again, a lot of people bring scrutiny on themselves by actually doing suspect/suspicious or clearly illegal things. Answering questions directly and following commands has always led to my best interactions with our public servants - why someone would recommend not answering basic questions like "is your address still valid" is stupid advice.

[Tabs]

In a perfect world the police would be our friends.

I can’t help but think some people tend to over-generalize and over-simplify things, to the point of some detriment. Are there bad cops? Yes. Are there good cops? Yes. Is it fair to lump them all together? Is it even about the officers? Are the people being stopped by said officers breaking the law?

[myrdale]

Interesting "financial" topic you've got here. What's next, advice on how to save money while manufacturing illicit drugs?

Get off your high horse ua_guy. I created the post because I really liked the article posted on the front page of Savingadvice.com. If you don't like the topic, I'd suggest taking it up with the people who operate the website. And should they ever put up an article about saving money on the manufacturing of illicit drugs, I'd be more than glad to throw my two cents in.

If anyone actually respects police, they offer them basic respect, cooperation, follow their commands, and give truthful answers.

At no point did I say to disrespect the police. But "cooperation" and "following their commands" only goes so far. Go ahead, give as many answers to their questions as you like.

I'm not afraid of police nor do I fear for my rights when I interact them, but I realize that is a privileged position afforded by being a white male and not looking like someone who has something to hide.

Please describe what "looking like someone who has something to hide" looks like. And by your statement alone you're suggesting the police treat non-whites differently? Maybe my post isn't for you, but is for them.

[myrdale]

Part of the problem is that the minute you say no to a search, you're guaranteed a ticket for what ever reason they pulled you over for in the first place.

If you're willing to give up the protections afforded to you by the constitution protecting you from warrant less searches, what other rights are you willing to give up?

....but assuming I know there's nothing in my car I might say yes just to get out of a ticket.

That is a big assumption. No one else EVER rides with you? No one else EVER drives your car? (You change your own oil assume). If we looked under your car seats right now, they are spotless?