At the beginning of a traffic stop, the classic question is often asked: “Do you know why we stopped you?” Of course, there are some variations as well as very suggestive formulations of this question, for example: “I assume you know why we stopped you?”
Many drivers feel challenged by this to make an immediate statement and admit a violation. You must and should However, never answer this trick question. Instead, just say “no” to it in a neutral way.
The reason for this: If there is initial suspicion, the police must first inform you about the accusation that is being made. In addition, the officers must inform you of your right to remain silent – if they do not do this, the statements you make will not be usable in court or will only be used to a limited extent.
But you must first be able to prove that you were not informed of your right to remain silent. So it’s better to hold back and… don’t burden yourself spontaneous statements. Otherwise, the traffic violation could also be interpreted as intentional, for example if you deliberately drove too fast.
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