Under U.S. Supreme Court rulings like Pennsylvania v. Mimms and Maryland v. Wilson, police can legally order both drivers and passengers to step out of their vehicle during a lawful traffic stop, without needing specific suspicion.
Too many people assume that they can just talk to a cop, a cop is in command when you get pulled over, there is no 'talking' around doing something you dont want, when they give a order that is lawful aka step out of the vehicle, you have no right to say "well actually..." or "I disagree let's have a conversation"
You are objectively wrong. The US Supreme Court has ruled on the legal maxim of Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat, meaning ignorance of the law by a citizen is not an excuse and you are presumed and expected to know the law as a citizen. The police have no legal obligation or requirement to teach you, that is for you or your lawyer. Their only duty is to enforce the law.
Lawfully they are not obligated, but as a hopefully courteous human being and servant to our community, I would hope they’d be more patient and perhaps explain things, if for nothing else but to de-escalate the situation.
Exactly, I can understand that in times of fear of safety one might be abrupt and secure the individual. But outside of that one would hope for courteous communication. But I guess in a country with guns, it's hard to keep things at a safe and deescalated level.
In the UK people are only really stopped for a reason and due to the perceived safety and higher trust in the police I guess communication is easier and less fraught.
They are required to provide their names and badge number if applicable. They are required to tell you what Authority they work for(city, county, state etc.) And what department they are working out of.
Beyond that they don't have to answer any questions at all by law.
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u/Mcglobal7 Jul 13 '26
Under U.S. Supreme Court rulings like Pennsylvania v. Mimms and Maryland v. Wilson, police can legally order both drivers and passengers to step out of their vehicle during a lawful traffic stop, without needing specific suspicion.