Why do cops ask questions that they already know the answer too?, it's stupid. Like the question I find the most stupid is "have you ever been arrested before?", can't they find out for themselves?, c'mon, they have access to all our records, information, etc.
2007-12-10 13:03:08 · 9 answers · asked by introvertedguy06 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Plenty of reasons; to find out how much you lie, to take up time, pure BSing, build a rapport, often we don't have the time or real need to pull a criminal history etc etc
2007-12-10 13:19:14 · answer #1 · answered by lpdhcdh 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Intimidation. They ask you if you have ever been arrested in order to intimidate you. They change the topic onto the subject of: You are a bad person, and I am a cop and therefore a good person. They get you thinking: I am a bad person and cops are superior to me.
It is total BS. Whether you have ever been arrested before has absolutely NOTHING to do with whether you should be arrested NOW. If you are arrested and charged and go to trial, any prior arrests are INADMISSIBLE as evidence at trial--precisely because it's irrelevant.
When a cop asks ANY question, 9 times out of 10 it is not for information, it is to mess with you.
Cops are taught to ask these questions, but they are not taught why (because most are not capable of understanding why), so the answers here about testing you to see if you are honest are all nonsense. In a cop's mind NO ONE is honest--so why would he need to test you? He already "knows" that if you are not a cop, you are a criminal. It is for psychological purposes only--intimidation, and to cause confusion by switching the topic to something that causes distress.
2007-12-10 14:54:35 · answer #2 · answered by nobodyhere 5 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Another reason could be that if you don't have ID and give a false name, your answer may not match whoever you claimed to be. They can then use that to get you to tell them the truth. The WAY you answer, could also help determine if it is worth their time to look for evidence of something beyond the reason they stopped you.
2007-12-10 13:34:38 · answer #3 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, we have access to your records and we check them no matter what you tell us. the resaon we ask is to see how much BS you are going to tell us or if you are being honest
2007-12-10 14:32:48 · answer #4 · answered by jtw532 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all don't listen to whatnowwwww. He's clueless. Its to tell how honest you are. Also it can be done to get you talking, in order for them to smell if there is alcohol on your breath or hear if your stuttering or if your voice is quivering. Which can tell if you are nervous about something as in an outstanding warrants, drugs on you, drugs in your car, etc.
2007-12-10 21:03:59 · answer #5 · answered by Paul 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is a technique used to catch people in a lie. They will often change stories under extreme stress.
2007-12-10 13:13:27 · answer #6 · answered by rtopalovich 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They want to see if you are going to be truthful. If you lie about something they can and will find out about, what else will you lie about?
2007-12-10 13:09:01 · answer #7 · answered by tallerfella 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
This is to see if you will be honest.
2007-12-10 14:02:48 · answer #8 · answered by ~*shea*~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have to ask you won't understand.
2007-12-10 16:01:47 · answer #9 · answered by Combatcop 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋