Locking doors when pulled over

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acmax95

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Not really sure where to post this, but this seems like a good spot.

I have read, in a quiet a few places, that if you are pulled over by a LEO and asked to step out of the car it is a good idea to lock your doors behind you. My question is why? If you are talking to the officer your window would be down, so if you don't roll it back up when you exit your vehicle is still "open". My truck doesn't have power windows so I would have to physically roll my window up. It seems like reaching for anything would be a bad idea once asked to exit the vehicle.

I have my CCDW permit but don't have my gun on my person all the time, it is usually in my glovebox. I don't keep my vehicle registration/insurance in the glovebox for the sole reason that I won't be reaching over there if pulled over.

My routine when stopped is to pull over, turn off ignition, roll window down, place hands on top of wheel, and wait for officer.

I have only been pulled over a few times, and never with my firearm. I have only been asked if I have a gun once by a state trooper, but never by local LEO's. In KY, apparently they know you have a permit when they run your plate.
 
I've read that too and I don't get it either. I mean, if the LEO wants to search your car he'll just tell you to unlock it. Of course, he'd better go on record with a decent reason, i.e. "Gosh, I think I smell pot". Too, if you roll up the window and lock the doors, the officer is naturally going to think you ARE hiding something... just MHO.
 
sometimes officers take it upon themselves to search your vehicle, permission or not.

Pull you keys, put them in your pocket, lock the door then step out. This way there is no way.

If they want to search your car, they can get a warrant.
 
Some advocate getting out of the car immediatly and locking the door behind you before the officer has time to approach.
 
Once upon a time late at night I was pulled over after pulling away from a stop sign(I fully stopped and could clearly see the squad car sitting with his lights off).
The officer asked me to step out of the car while shining his flashlight right into my eyes and his partner started going through my truck .
When I looked back at him in somewhat of a staring disbelief he stopped and asked me if he could search my vehicle which I then told him no.
He did anyway and they gave me a $150.00 ticket for running a stop sign.
They pretty much do what the want to do.
 
It has to do with them searching your car without permission, and you letting them know "I know my rights, you're not looking in my car without a warrant" without actually saying anything. I've personally never been asked to get out of my vehicle (with the exception of at border patrol), so I've never had to do so.
 
Shadow,Of course not.
Pasadena Texas said I ran the stop sign and I took drivers education and the ticket was dismissed.
But all that still cost me $130.00.
Guy,you wont get any traction around here with that course of action unless you have some really solid evidence on your side.
 
I got pulled over and got asked to step out. I complied and as soon as I got to my tailgate and turned around 2 cops were already going through my truck. They didn't ask they just started riffling through my truck. Then they brought in a dog that tore one of my leather seats scratched the hell out of my paint, and they of course were kind enough to leave my truck trashed when they left. I have pics if anyone wants to see em. So now if I'm asked to get out of my truck I roll the windows up and lock the door and demand a warrant. (and people wonder why I avoid police officers)

PS sorry for the mini rant
 
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IMHO, it doesn't matter what the Supreme Court says. The S-C is not standing in front of you with a .40 S&W in his holster with everyone in his department willing to back him up. I'm NOT implying that most LEO exhibit rogue behavior. I'm say SOME do and, if they try to search without permission or do anything else out of the ordinary then the one in front of you, with a .40 S&W in his holster, is exhibiting rogue tendencies. Antagonize him at your own risk.
 
Pre cell phone days Shadow.
The cell phone my company provides me today cant take pictures and certainly cant record sound.
 
This would seem to be more a Legal question than a Strategies, Tactics and Training question...

lpl
 
@armoredman no charges filed against me. The officer ended up getting suspended for a month over it. The pictures definitely helped my case. It was a learning experience to say the least.
 
Don't open your window. Lower it enough to communicate. The officer can search the interior of your car for officer safety. As stated, if the car is locked, no search is needed and without RAS or PC, there is no legal reason for a search without a warrant. Don't talk other than complying by providing DL and Reg. Don't answer questions. It's your right not to. Anything LE finds after an illegal search is not admissable in Court. Why give them an opportunity if you have done nothing wrong?
 
My routine when stopped is to pull over, turn off ignition, roll window down, place hands on top of wheel, and wait for officer.
Click to expand...

That's good practice, but doesn't address your question, OP...

I've been pulled over a dozen or so times in my life, receiving a citation in a majority of those instances...

I, too, have never been asked to exit the vehicle, even by Pasadena PD.:neener:

I will, however, lock the car/truck behind me if ever asked.

It's the prudent thing to do, even though I am certain that I have "nothing to hide".

p
 
Of course, he'd better go on record with a decent reason, i.e. "Gosh, I think I smell pot". Too, if you roll up the window and lock the doors, the officer is naturally going to think you ARE hiding something... just MHO.
Click to expand...
If your vehicle is locked and sealed, its pretty hard for the officer to suddenly smell pot to justify a search. And really, unless he already has probable cause for a search, the hunch you may be hiding something it ultimately irrelevant. He can't search simply because he's curious, and if he tries the marijuana routine, he'll have to explain to a judge how he smelled (nonexistent, I'm presuming) marijuana in a sealed vehicle. Judges are often lenient, but thats pushing it considerably, especially if he goes ahead and conducts the search without turning up so much as a seed or stem. Its a hard pill to swallow that the cop could smell marijuana strongly enough it was appearent outside the vehicle, yet not one seed was found during the search. I could care less what a cop THINKS...as long as he doesn'tt violate my rights, he can think whatever he wants. However, a mre hunch is NOT PC in any way shape or form, and doesn't justify a search under any circumstances in and of itself.

Colt...searches involving dogs are different....if the dog indicates the presence of drugs, thats considered probable cause, and the courts will rule the search was lawful.
 
Owen Sparks said:
Some advocate getting out of the car immediatly and locking the door behind you before the officer has time to approach.
Click to expand...
I don't see this as a good idea. I've done this before years ago and both times they told me to get back in the vehicle. I'd wait for the officer to tell you to get out of the car. I don't see locking it at that time a problem. I've always had better results by being polite and just going with the program.
 
I don't see this as a good idea.
Click to expand...

I agree. I used to get out of the car when pulled over, I thought maybe the LE would feel more comfortable seeing that I was not doing anything threatening.

I've been told repeatedly that the opposite is true, for whatever reason. I've never been ordered back in the car but I stopped getting out years ago.

I'm all in favor of locking the door behind me if I was asked to exit the vehicle though, as ACLU recommends. Don't see any downside personally.
 
I try my best to not get pulled over in the first place, then I don't need to wonder if I should lock my doors. Personally, I would not lock my car doors if I were asked to step out of the car. There is nothing in my car that would be construed as illegal in any way, shape or form.
 
Discussions like this are useful, but I'm wondering...how does one gain experience in responding to getting pulled over? Why would would one want to? As noted by Friendly, wouldn't it just be better to avoid doing those things that get one pulled over?

In any case, many would deem it unwise to engage in any sort of "I know my rights" demonstration during a traffic stop. Cooperate, observe the officer's behavior, and note his or her badge number if you think something's amiss. Take it up later with the Department. You might not get anywhere, but you certainly won't get anywhere during the stop. Well, maybe jail.
 
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