this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2026
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[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Is that really why they ask where you’re going? Like coincidentally they think they are also going to solve some massive crime? Like “I’m in a rush to get to my drug deal! Oops.”

[–] HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago

The thing is, smarter people think better than to speed while carrying a body or a kilo of cocaine in the trunk, but smarter people tend not to commit crime as often, on average.

So as much as it makes no sense to you, it does when you factor in common criminals. Supervisors monitoring your KPIs don't care if the arrest was made on a dumb person or a smart person.

- Ex-cop

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I've had luck with "I really really need to go to the bathroom!"

[–] HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

If it were me, I'd respond: "Okay, I'll follow you to the nearest public bathroom, but you're still getting the citation."

Someone pulled that on me once, but I saw them pass a few public bathrooms as they cut around a line of cars in traffic to get to the turn lane a bit faster by going down the wrong way of the roadway, so they were obviously lying.

You might have more luck with your lie among lazier/less discerning/dumber cops, it's true.

- Ex-cop

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)
[–] HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Fair enough, it looked like you were implying it was a trick you're passing on to others.

Obviously it doesn't matter either way and I can't prove or disprove what you're claiming now.

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah I'm suggesting they say that if needed, but lie convincingly.

[–] HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Right, and I'm suggesting it's one of the older tricks in the book that only dumb/lazy cops would fall for.

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 1 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

But how would they know if someone just did the same stuff but was lying

[–] HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world 1 points 31 minutes ago

They wouldn't need to know, as I described above.

[–] toynbee@piefed.social 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Before I was old enough to drive, I once was riding with a friend who'd recently gotten food poisoning and who really needed a restroom. He was speeding to get there and, when he got pulled over, told the officer so.

I don't remember the exact words, but after issuing the ticket, the policeman basically said "just pull over and shit on the side of the road if you need to."

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Hey it was worth a shot. I'd ignore that advice because the next cop will brand you a sex offender for it.

[–] HCSOThrowaway@lemmy.world 1 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

As far as I'm aware that depends on the state; few states have the "peeing in public = sex offender" laws. Mine certainly doesn't.

Not aware of a "pooping in public = sex offender" law, but they might be covered under the same statute in the states that take issue with it.

[–] MangoCats@feddit.it 2 points 1 day ago

Well, I think the first clue is when they put their lights on and tell you to pull over, if you don't then they have reason to call in the cavalry and "maintain order and justice in the land" by forcing you to stop, comply, lie face down while they cuff you first and ask questions later.

If you play nice (darn) then they ask the questions politely first and look for "tells" - you know: blood dripping from the trunk, piles of loose cash in the floorboards, a dark complexion (driving while black) - all the "usual suspects'" signs - probable cause. A remarkable percentage of actual criminals are not stone cold liars who are able to cooly answer the questions and act like nothing unusual is going on.