Why do cops ask you if you know why they pulled you over?

It’s a great way to break the ice?

Or, maybe they hope to implicate you on something else.

I guess it’s one way of establishing whether you were acting in good or bad faith, i.e. were you aware of the traffic violation you committed.

Because they can.

To see if they can voluntarily elicit an admission of guilt on your part. Not every officer does this, however. Some just bust out asking for identification and proof of insurance. Or your home phone number.

Interesting.. My friend Nate is a cop and I have had this conversation with him. And he cited the exact reason wildflower posted above.

edit :: and I should add that he said that it is much easier if you admit your mistake.

haha….I used to want to become a cop, but decided I wasn’t enough of a goody two-shoes.
But I ask similar question if I’m ever in a disciplinary meeting with an employee….their intentions can play a part in deciding the consequences. I guess it’s the same for police.

Not to hijack the thread, but does anyone have any really creative answers? Like “Because the alien space rays told you to, but they didn’t get me! (laugh maniacally)”

@playthebanjo
Not quite, but:
Friend of mine was speeding on his bike, got pulled over, the cop comes up and says: “I’ve been waiting for this all day..”

My friend replied: “I got here as soon as I could”

Apparently the cop couldn’t help but laugh, but still gave him a ticket.

Once I was speeding approximately six miles over the speed limit because I was late for an appointment. It wasn’t the speed that I was pulled over for, it was navigating various lanes that apparently bothered him, but he was only addressing speed.

I nearly ripped the poor guy a new asshole, screaming at him, telling him that I was now even more late for my appointment, please write the f*cking ticket and let me go, and besides I had PMS and he should consider himself lucky I wasn’t packing heat. He just smiled back at me and told me to go on, but to drive more safely.

Imagine my embarrassment when I got to my appointment only to be told that it was for the following day.

Looks like wildflower has it.

curious… I will ask a few friends who are cops.

I thought it was because the cops on TV do it.

I’ve always thought they want to see if you are driving consciously or are in a fog—having no clue about your speed.

probaley to see if you look drunk or not

Maybe to see if you’ll lie or confess. If you admit what you did was wrong will they be easy on you? If you say “No, officer, why?” will they think “Oh, another one of these drivers.” and give you a ticket because they can?

I truly think “because they can” is unfair.

Removed by loser.

To see if they can catch you for something else besides what they pulled you over for. Like say they pulled you over for speeding, and then you say “because I was on my cell phone.” Oh really? I guess I’ll have to write you up for that speeding and the cell phone. Lol thats just a theory, but it sounds good.

Honestly there is such a thing call Verbal Judo… (google it) and you will see that officers who employ these tactics do not use that line.

I can tell you this with 100% certainty: YOU CAN TALK YOURSELF INTO A TICKET and/or ARREST!!!

ATTITUDE: YEP, Your getting a ticket.
CURSING: YEP, Your getting a ticket.
GET OUT OF THE CAR WHEN STOPPED: Possibly getting shot, definitely going into custody and if you are quiet you will probably get a ticket and be on your way.

HOWEVER, if you asked the cop, “don’t you have anything better to do like catch drug dealers”, etc…. you will probably go to jail!

I was once pulled over, and I could have sworn I wasn’t speeding. I told him I was going at a good speed. He pulled me over because a light was out. No ticket, though, just info. Nice.