So if the driver is handling illegal items like controlled substances, ammunition, or guns, their reaction to the officer’s tail light tap will tell the officer if the driver is trying to hide anything.
It’s a proven method!
While a driver might think that they have a few moments to clean up their car, the officer is already watching.
So don’t suddenly scramble, because someone is always paying attention.
This tactic has proven to be particularly effective.
It has led to an increase in the arrest of intoxicated drivers, an increase in the arrest of sellers of prohibited substances, and an increase in the arrest of people found in possession of unlicensed firearms.
This practice has proven effective in catching suspicious drivers off guard.
But there’s an even more important reason officers touch your tail light, and it has to do with protecting themselves.
Another reason an officer taps a tail light is to leave their fingerprints on the car.
This is helpful in extreme circumstances where the officer could find themselves in a dangerous situation, or they never make it back to the station after their shift.
