YOU MAY HAVE WONDERED why a police officer asks you why you were speeding when they pull you over. After all, that’s why they pulled you over in the first place.
Of course, such a situation is no place for levity, but I’ve often thought my response should be “No, can you tell me a good reason that will get me off?” So far, I’ve managed to resist the temptation.
Like most things police officers do, there’s a good and practical reason for asking the question.
Should you answer in a positive way, indicating that you knew you were speeding, of offering the officer a reason why you were speeding, you have admitted the offence. Should the matter go to court, the officer will use it in the case against you.
The best answer you can give to the question “What’s your reason for speeding?” is “I have no idea why you have stopped me, and I do not wish to say anything further.”
Should the officer continue trying to get you to answer the question (in other words, trying to get you to admit to the offence), you may consider asking to have a legal representative present.
Fortunately, these days, most officers were body cams that cannot be switched off, so there will be a record of the traffic stop. If you have a dash cam in the car, make sure you leave it in record mode so that the exchange is recorded for your own records and defence (should it come to that). You could try and record the exchange on your mobile phone but it may not record very clearly, and the police officer may request that you turn it off (or, worse, charge you with operating a mobile phone while in control of a vehicle!)
Whatever the circumstances, be polite and patient. Losing your cool when being questioned by a police officer rarely has a good outcome.