Getting pulled over by the cops is never fun.
Whether you've got a broken tail light or you were caught speeding, most traffic stops follow a standard procedure. You'll be asked for your license and registration, some checks will be made, and - most of the time - you'll be given a stern talking to or a ticket, and both you and the officer will drive away and go about your respective days.
However, with the increased use of dashcams by law enforcement officers, some of you may have also noticed a small detail in traffic stop videos.
Yes, I'm sure many of us have ended up down that YouTube rabbit hole of traffic stop videos (I often do twice a month), and therefore you may have noticed that many cops will place their hand on the back of the vehicle they have just pulled over before speaking to the driver.
But why? Well, according to traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero, it is actually for two very good reasons.
While answering questions from News 6 viewers, one person asked: "I’ve seen police officers touch the back of vehicles right before they approach a car on a traffic stop. Why do they do this?"
Happy to help educate motorists, Trooper Montiero revealed: "When law enforcement officers conduct a traffic stop, there are plenty of procedures that need to be done, not only for the safety of the violator, but for the safety of that officer."
"One of those things is proving that that officer was with that car, so when officers approach a vehicle, they touch the rear of it," the officer continued, before explaining the two main reasons cops do so.
The first reason is perhaps the most obvious, with Trooper Montiero explaining that the officers needs to know that the trunk of the car is closed.
"It may sound a little crazy, but you want to make sure that no one is about to jump out of the trunk and that it’s properly secured," he said.
However, the second reason actually has some rather heartbreaking connotations - with the action proving crucial should the routine traffic stop take a nasty turn.
"Touching the rear of the vehicle puts the officer’s fingerprints on that car, showing that he or she was there with it," the officer further explained. "In case the driver decided to flee the scene, or if something happened to that officer, it ties both the vehicle and the officer together.
"This is just one of the many things that take place during traffic stops to ensure everyone’s safety."
There you have it! Although cops touching your trunk may look inconspicuous, it actually has very important reasoning.
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