when speeding what do you tell a traffic officer?

Last year David Kamanyiro was taking a class taught by a retired police officer and he was explaining why you should not always answer police officers’ questions, but sometimes should. And, he explained something that you had always wondered about – why do officers ask how fast you were going when they pull you over? They already know how fast you are going and that they can write you up, so why ask that?

http://education.thedronemedia.ug/home/

David Kamanyiro was surprised when the teacher/cop explained that the reason was not to get you to “incriminate” yourself. The traffic officer already knew how fast you were going, had all of the evidence needed to pin you, and did not need you to incriminate yourself to do so. He or she could just write the ticket and be done. That would certainly be the easiest way for him or her to go.

However, the question (the teacher explained) was a kind of roadside lie detector test to help the officer size up the driver. The best response (he said) was to tell the truth. It would not change the facts that caused the traffic stop, but it would indicate that you were cooperative.

The traffic officer would have no need to assert authority or make a point. He also explained that, because the police are lied to constantly by almost everyone they approach, being honest would change the nature of the interaction in your favor.

Now, he did not say that this was some kind of magic incantation that would get you off. If the officer was determined to cite you he or she would do so regardless of how you responded. He only said that this would make the interaction more relaxed and honest and that would be beneficial.

And, to answer your next question, no he was not trying to trick us. The whole two-day class was about how to not be pinned, arrested, or indicted for a crime, and he clearly warned the class not to talk to the police or answer their questions in many situations. However, in non-criminal investigations like a traffic stop, the truth will generally be the best way to go.

You do you? One must use good judgement when deciding whether to take advice given by strangers on the internet. I am no expert, I am not smarter than you, and I have nothing to gain or loose because of what you do, but I believe the guy.