Why Do Police Touch The Back Of Your Car When They Pull You Over?

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POLICE officers will ask a motorist for their license and registration during a traffic stop as part of procedure.

But why do officers touch the back of your car? Here’s everything you need to know.

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A police officer touching the back of your taillight is a common police actionCredit: Getty

Why do police touch the back of your car when they pull you over?

US police officers touch a vehicle’s taillight when they pull a driver over for many reasons.

According to Law Dictionary, before cameras were installed on the dashboards of most police vehicles, tapping the taillight was a way for officers to leave behind evidence of the encounter.

If something were to happen to the officer during the traffic stop, their interaction with the driver could be traced back to the fingerprints.

This would then help other police officers track down a missing member of the force even without video proof of a crime.

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The fingerprints would only be utilized if the interaction between the driver and the cop led to a criminal investigation, like a car accident or shooting.

Trooper Steve Montiero backed up this theory by telling News 6: “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, the officer was with that car. So when officers approach a vehicle, they touch the rear of it.”

Another reason an officer may tap the taillight is to startle the driver.

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Cops are aware that when they pull people over, some drivers may have illegal substances or prohibited items in their cars like guns, ammunition, or drugs.

Naturally, if the driver does have something illegal in the vehicle, he or she will want to hide it before the officer approaches the window.

So, one of the reasons why cops touch taillights are to startle the person inside.

The driver is likely not expecting the noise of the tap – which typically causes him or her to stop for a moment, giving the police officer additional time to witness what the driver is trying to hide.

Police officers face danger every time they put on the uniform and may tap the backend to make sure they aren’t ambushed.

Cops may touch the back of your motor on the way to your window to make sure the trunk is latched.

This tactic ensures that no one is hiding in the trunk and could pop out.

Trooper Montiero said: “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.”

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