So, Iāve been pulled over a few times in my life. Not many, but a few. And Iāve also been in a couple of cars that got pulled over. And let me tell you, if you were actually doing something wrong, the officer doesnāt make any small talk, just straight intoĀ āI clocked you doing 70 in a 55.ā The only time Iāve ever gotten theĀ ādo you know why I pulled you over?ā was the time when I wasnāt doing anything wrong, and I got let go even though he insisted to the end that I was doing 87 in a 70 (white privilege at work).
āDo you know why I pulled you over?ā is a trap. It means thereās a good chance the officer doesnāt actually have a good reason to ticket you, and is trying to get you to waive your 5th Amendment rights and incriminate yourself. If you make a guess, thatās a confession of guilt.
But thereās another trap, that Iāve heard of but havenāt yet experienced. ItāsĀ ādo you know how fast you were going?ā With that one, theyāre hoping youāll say no, because then they can name whatever speed they want ā you just said you didnāt know how fast you were going, if you deny the speed they name then youāre lying to them.