Am I being detained?

[Petro6golf]

Thank you gentlemen. I appreciate the feedback and the insight. I'm not one of those crack the window guys or street corner attorneys. Just looking for a little info on how the other side thinks. My presumption from the beginning was to always use common sense and mutual respect during a traffic stop. I did want to know what it was like for you when you encounter people on a daily basis.
My personal philosophy is to be respectful and say as little as possible and to part ways expeditiously. I appreciate the candor.
RLTW

I read a lot of these threads about "am I being detained" or "I do not consent to a search of my vehicle" and feel they are silly. If you look like a somewhat normal person, act like a somewhat normal person and answer my questions in a respectful manner without giving me attitude, I know my rights stuff or any other verbal sorcery there is a 99% chance you will get away with a warning because I do not feel our contact will go much further than a ticket.

I didnt pull you over because I care about your license plate light, I pulled you over cause i'm looking for dope, warrants, suspended licenses and stolen stuff. If your missing teeth, are jittery, or have any dope related contacts then ill find a way into your car with friendly conversation and a smile. This whole "I do not consent to a search of my vehicle" stuff is for the birds. Who said I wanted to waste my time searching your car just to find nothing. People that pull lawyer crap just get a ticket and a have a nice day. Tweekers dont know their rights and have burned out brains and will let you search their vehicles and find their dope. If your intelligent enough to tell me you know your rights and dont consent to a search of your person then that gives me an idea that your a law abiding citizen that doesnt wanna be bothered.

Act like a normal person and get treated like a normal person.

[11bravo1p]

Thanks for the input

[11bravo1p]

Good info

[11bravo1p]

I kinda thought as much. You are hunters. You seek the right prey and you engage. Keep hunting. We need you guys.

[trob]

you're most likely guaranteed to get a ticket if you do #1 and #2....just for being an A-HOLE and implying that the officer is a crooked POS....and also probably for being one of those "anti-establishment" types.

just be a human being and treat the officer like one too.

pretty much sums it up:

Declining to answer anything or even speaking may have very well sealed your fate into signing a citation. Being nice and polite doesn't always get out of a citation, but it certainly helps. If you're one of those smart guys that cracks their window 1 or 2 inches while being on a traffic stop, then you're my favorite kind of person and you get special treatment.

Here's a great example of a guy being a jackass to the police. Sure you can practice his teachings, but I'd advise against it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwYBshAScmE

[johnthomas]

I haven't had a ticket in 20 years. The last one I got, I deserved, the only thing I kicked myself for was thanking him before he left. Why would I do that? I know the guy is doing his job, don't thank him, your thanks will be in the form of the fine.

[ls2monaro]

I still can't grasp how calgunners get pulled over so often. It has been over 10 years since I have been pulled over. Make sure your tags and lights are good to go, put on your seatbelt, put the cell phone away, and drive within the confines of the law.

[CSACANNONEER]

I still can't grasp how calgunners get pulled over so often. It has been over 10 years since I have been pulled over. Make sure your tags and lights are good to go, put on your seatbelt, put the cell phone away, and drive within the confines of the law.

I've been pulled over by LASD for drinking a diet cola. It isn't always the driver's mistake that gets the driver pulled over. The officers who mistook the diet cola for a silver bullet ran my license and the license of my passenger (who legally had to give it to them), looked over the vehicle and did everything they could to try to find a problem to justify their mistake. They finally let us go without any citation or apology for their mistake.

[ls2monaro]

If you don't mind answering what type of car, what neighborhood, and what do you and your buddy look like?

If it was lasd and it was two officers in the car it is highly likely one was on training just practicing car stops. Or someone might have called in a suspicious vehicle. Or they were bored and wanted to go fishing. I have gotten awesome felony arrests out of "bs" stops... no front plate, tinted windows, cracked windshield, etc...

Sorry to hear you had a negative experience though...

[IrishJoe3]

I've been pulled over by LASD for drinking a diet cola. It isn't always the driver's mistake that gets the driver pulled over. The officers who mistook the diet cola for a silver bullet ran my license and the license of my passenger (who legally had to give it to them), looked over the vehicle and did everything they could to try to find a problem to justify their mistake. They finally let us go without any citation or apology for their mistake.

I've done almost the same thing. But I make a point to apologize as soon as I realize my mistake and I immediatly end the stop. I make mistakes too, and its arrogant and unprofessional to pretend that I don't. It's unfortunate that you had a run in with a LEO that didn't have the same standard.

[Vetteodyssey]

My philosophy is that my posture will match the officers. I don't want the guy nervous, so car is off and keys are on the dash when he approaches. Window down and both hands where he can see them. I have to provide 3 things, license, registration, proof of insurance. If that's where it ends, then that's all I have to say and do. I answer questions with one word answers. Have you had anything to drink? No. Any weapons in the car? No. Where are you headed, Home/work/friend's house(OK that's two words) But you get the idea. Then when they try and slip in, "Mind if I have a look?" you politely say, yes I mind. No need to bring up the "I don't consent to searches" until it's an issue. If you are at Defcon 1 when he walks up he's gonna want to know why.

[CSACANNONEER]

I've done almost the same thing. But I make a point to apologize as soon as I realize my mistake and I immediatly end the stop. I make mistakes too, and its arrogant and unprofessional to pretend that I don't. It's unfortunate that you had a run in with a LEO that didn't have the same standard.

Both LEOs were polite and professional except for the fact that they kept fishing for non existent issues to save face. All in all, it wasn't the worst LEO interaction It only took a few minutes and provided me with a good story to tell. It wasn't like the time I left work (at a gun range) and went through a sobriety check point just 1/2 block from the range. That time LASD demanded to know where I if I had been drinking (I told them I had just left work at the range and can't drink there), then he asked where I was was coming from, where I was going and ordered me to hand him a can of Diet Coke so he could smell it. Oddly enough, he didn't pick up on the range thing and use it as PC to prone me out while he checked the vehicle for firearms.

[TRICKSTER]

Both LEOs were polite and professional except for the fact that they kept fishing for non existent issues to save face. All in all, it wasn't the worst LEO interaction It only took a few minutes and provided me with a good story to tell. It wasn't like the time I left work (at a gun range) and went through a sobriety check point just 1/2 block from the range. That time LASD demanded to know where I if I had been drinking (I told them I had just left work at the range and can't drink there), then he asked where I was was coming from, where I was going and ordered me to hand him a can of Diet Coke so he could smell it. Oddly enough, he didn't pick up on the range thing and use it as PC to prone me out while he checked the vehicle for firearms.

More likely he did pick up on it but didn't care. Nothing illegal or suspicious about working at a range.

[Ritchie8719]

If I asked for license, registration, and proof of insurance, that is all I want from you at that time.

Do you want to see a LTC if carrying? My Sheriff does not require disclosure, and it won't be seen while sitting. Goes for driving or riding I guess.

[P5Ret]

Do you want to see a LTC if carrying? My Sheriff does not require disclosure, and it won't be seen while sitting. Goes for driving or riding I guess.

Ask yourself this question, do you want to volunteer the information, or take the chance that it may accidentally been seen by the officer, without you letting them know it is there? If it is me and I happen to notice it, I can pretty much assure you that you would have seen mine from the wrong end. So your choice, to me it makes good common sense to speak up.