why do cops surch cars?
462806
The officers cannot conduct a search without a warrant or without probable cause, unless there are specific special circumstances.\n\nGenerally, the police can pull you over for any suspicion.  Expired tags, no front plates, broken taillight, etc.  If they then "smell" something suspicious (i.e., pot or alcohol), they can then search your car under suspicion of possession or DUI.  If they place you under arrest, they can basically search every inch of your car.\n\nIf they ask if they can search your car YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY NO!!!!!  If you consent to a search, they have the ability to search your entire car.\n\nIf they simply give you a ticket and search your car without consent, they have violated your rights.  If they find any evidence in your car, it cannot be used against you in court.  If they found nothing or no charges were placed against you, you should still make a complait to the police department they were from. It will go in their file and it may help someone else (or you) defend themself in the future.
556932
Officers don't keep a list of things to pull people over for. Law enforcement officers are educated and trained to look for violations of the law or behavior that arouses suspicon of a violation of the law. To answer your question: No such list exists.
784500
I used to get pulled over all the time. I couldn't walk a mile without getting searched when I was young. I grew up poor, grew my hair long. So the cops assumed that was enough of a reason. Or I'd be in  a high crime neighborhood. Didn't matter that I LIVED there. Just that they stopped folks in that neighborhood. Also been in roadblocks where my car got extra special searching just for looking poor.
1181083
THEY SAVE LIVES.  THEY ALSO ARE EYES AND EARS OF THE CITY. IF YOU WERE IN AN ACCIDENT WOULD IT NOT BE NICE IF AN AMBULANCE WAS THERE TO SAVE YOUR BUTT!!
945346
Yes it is Alex B, and people are arrested for it quite frequently, it is also probable cause for a police officer to pull you over and search your vehicle looking for other doobies you may have forgotten to throw out.
92489
Partly because of interference from the civic officials who oversee them - law and order is a lot of what elected politicians make their stock in trade, and so interfere a lot to be seen doing something.\n\nAnd also because police unions tend to be quite powerful and influential with the public.
323760
Because there idiots and think there "pimping" out their car, but it just looks like a crap care with better stuff on it then the car deserves.
671608
To get ahead in life or for the money.  The police are exposed to Rich criminals everyday. They see the flaws and mistakes the criminals make and believe that they have the inside track to succeed in the game.
857713
Why the hell would you pretend you didnt see him? all that is gonna do is cause further problems. The excuse never works... the officer knows you saw them, and can get you for evading arrest. Do you want to add further problems onto what was already done? They might be pulling you over for something simple like having a taillight or tag light out, and you avoiding them will add a ticket or jail time to a simple warning. You need to remember something.... we all have jobs to do, and police officers are no different. They are simply doing their job, and aren't set out to ruin your life. Yes, they do have the power to screw everything up, and there are always some crooked cops out there who will take advantage of the power, but almost all of the officers are simply following the law. They see you break the law, so they enforce it. Its really that simple. If you are speeding then they might just give you a friendly warning to slow down- remember that traveling at excessive speeds puts not only your life at risk, but the lives of those around you. The laws were created to keep us all safe and living peacefully amongst ourselves. If there were no police officers, this world would be in complete chaos. Just remember the next time that you are getting pulled over that the officer has a family, and understands where you are coming from. They deserve as much respect as the next person- more, in fact, in my opinion because they carry the weight of everyone on their shoulders. They protect and serve... thats their motto and they follow it. now i'll step off of my soap box...
803207
The only thing I can think of is that the video surveillance can give the impression that we're seeing everything exactly as it happened, when in reality it's usually hard to see exactly what's happening on one of those videos, because they are somewhat low quality and have set focal ranges.\n\nAlso, police officers could feel they are not trusted, because in reality the cameras are there to watch the police as much as they are to watch the criminals.
79290
Maybe because crime is crime, and cops are cops.  And just about every idea (outside of supernatural type things) has been done.
975843
Well first off, they are going to run a drug dog outside of your car. If the dog alerts on any contraband, then they will search it regardless. HOWEVER: and this is a VERY big one: IF you do not let them search the trunk, they cannot search it UNLESS the dog alerts on that area of your vehicle. ALSO: if your glove box is locked, it is off-limits. They need to acquire a search warrant to search that area ONLY if it is locked. And unless you have a bloody knife dripping out of the cracks, chances are, they wont get one. Other answer: If you have nothing to hide, why not let the morons search? :)
1016333
That is just a motto to get departments more money.  If they really did protect and serve, they wouldn't give so many tickets for very minor offences, making angry drivers a real danger to traffic.
1010278
Policemen often have a need for power and control, and sexual advances toward defenceless girls is the ultimate in that.  They are protected by their authority, badge, "thin blue line", an unofficial code of silence on such things, and the fact that most persons just trust cops to do the right thing.\n\nIn small towns, they often hire cops fresh from the state police academy, which just about anyone with a high school education and no felonies can get into.  They graduate, they find a job in some podunk town, and they get to live their dream of being dictator.  You don't get situations like this in large cities, as where I am from; here, they do background and psychological profiles on applicants, which makes for a more professional force... :)
917487
a cop can pull you over for anything... they can say your left back tire looks like it has less air than the others... but to search it, they can only do if your kids gives them permission or they have a warrant
608106
Cops don't ticket other cops...and if you are lucky to have a relative that is a cop you can get a "get out of jail free" badge for your car...no more tickets...ain't it great?\nThere should be a law against that.
795198
Because criminals feed on society like maggots on meat.  They ruin a good thing without any redeeming qualities.  Criminals have the ability to turn around like any sinner, but as a group, the cop view is accurate.\nhttp://judgeright.blogspot.com