If a cop asks to search your vehicle, how should you respond?

Question

Wouldn't a refusal raise suspicion?

Answer 1

You have the right to refuse. But they can also find reasons to do the search anyway, example: If they arrest you, they do not need permission.

But it all comes down to, if you have nothing to hide let them search. Also, if you do not have frequent contact with the police and don't hang out with the wrong people, chances are they will never ask to search your car.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Don't be afraid to say No. As an ex Cop, I will say that it does raise suspicions, but so what? If you have nothing to hide, You have nothing to hide. All it does is force the Officer to decide weather they have enough Probable Cause to search your vehicle or not, and any good Officer has that anyway BEFORE he asks you. What they have been known to do though, is take their sweet time checking you out, enough time to get a K9 unit there and have the Narc Dog give your vehicle a sniff or two, if he trains on your vehicle, Youve had it... And you have no options left.

Answer 4

You answer "No, I do not consent to any searches." This is your right, a right people have died to secure for you. If the officer feels he has probable cause he may hold you there while he seeks a search warrant. Even if you are sure there is nothing in your car.

My friend was pulled over with a couple of friends in her parents car, they were sober but she was speeding by 7 miles an hour, she hoped by agreeing to the search, which was brought on by nothing more then their youth, she might get off with a warning. He found a cooler in the trunk with 3 cans of beer in it and arrest her as a minor in possession. Her parents told the police and the court it was theirs, as was the car, left over from a cook out and the kids had no idea it was there.
End result, thousands of dollars in legal fees and fines and a conviction instead of a 25 dollar speeding ticket. Even though the officer agreed he had no cause to open the trunk, no one was drinking or had anything to drink and the car was not hers or under her exclusive control. Protect your rights and say no!
You may want to check out the following URL as well.
http://flyservers.registerfly.com/members5/policecrime.com/police.html

Answer 5

Respond however you like. You have rights under the Constitutiion that protect you from UNREASONABLE search and seizure. There is nothing wrong with saying no but understand that a police officer does not need a search warrant to get into your car. All s/he needs is probable cause to believe there are illicit drugs and/or illegal items inside of the vehicle and he can search it without a warrant. He can also 'detain' your car, send you packin' and wait for a search warrant if he desires. Furthermore, to the lawyer who said you'll wait on the side of the road until a K-9 gets on duty....NOT. If one is not on duty and can't be there in a reasonable amount of time then you can't wait for one. Also understand that the Supreme Court has ruled that an officer can conduct a 'frisk' of the vehicle to ensure there are no weapons...for his safety. (Terry v. Ohio) So much to tell you but so little time. So if you have nothing to hide say yes. If you have something to hide say yes and he'll search...say no and if he's a good cop who doesn't have probable cause he'll cut you loose. Have a great day.

Answer 6

You should never allow anyone to search your home of vehicle without a search warrant. Even if you THINK there is nothing in your car, there might be something that you didn't know about. And if it is there, then you are busted.

If a cop has grounds to search, then he will not need to ask you, he will just do it.

Officer, that knife is not mine!

Well it is now and you are busted for carrying a concealed weapon.

But it is a butter knife!

Too bad for you I am made of butter, you could kill me.

Answer 7

I've been stopped several times. No reason except it was 3 in the morning and I happened to be driving through the worst drug smuggling spot in the country. I'm guessing they thought my car looked similar to someone else's they were looking for. Still, they never asked to search the vehicle. So...whatcha been up to lately?
When you lend or borrow someone's car do your own search and make sure the car is free of anything that could incriminate you. Then when they stop you, let them search to their little hearts content. Saying no is a hassle for everyone.

Answer 8

Depends on how much time you have. He can detain you until late in the evening when the K9 units report to work and allow them to sniff your car for drugs. Its kinda a catch 22. If you say yes, he will search your car. If you say no, then you obviously have something to hide and that gives him probable cause or he will say he smells alcohol on you or the odor of drugs coming from the car and will search your car anyway. Whether they can get away with it depends on whether you can afford a lawyer to file a lawsuit. most people do not have 5-10 thousand dollars laying around they can blow on an attorney. It happend to a coworker of mine. He was driving a rental car through alabama one evening. He was pulled over for failure to signal lane change. They made him sit and wait for the K9 unit when he objected to the search. The dogs ripped apart the interior of his rental. They found nothing, he got a ticket and was knocked around a little by the local cops. Like I said it all depends on how much time you have and what you are willing to go through. Remember though, your rights violations are not going to be addressed on the side of the road.

Answer 9

First, please don't listen to that youtube.com piece. I would have had all 3 in jail in just minutes if they listened to that advice.

If asked about a search, if you are innocent, no problems. If you are hiding something and refuse, I'm going to have a good idea somethings up. If I really want to search your vehicle, I'll determine the seriousness of the violation. I could impound your vehicle and search it for inventory purposes. I could arrest you and search it incident to arrest. I even have the option of a dog. If I want in you vehicle, I'll get in legally. No threats needed. Simple advice, if you are doing something illegal, do it at home and don't take it on the road.

Answer 10

If a cop pulls me over & asks to search my car i respond like this, you go right ahead. Only if you have something to be guilty of you have a reason to ask this question.