Why Police Officers May or May Not Touch Tail Light During Traffic Stop
Have you ever been pulled over by the police and notice the officer touch your tail light as they approach your vehicle?
If so, there are a few reasons why the officer may touch/tap the tail light on your vehicle. One, the officer may want to distract you. Yes, it's a tactic police use to stop those in a vehicle from concealing things in their car that may be illegal. A slight tap on the vehicle can distract those in the vehicle and stop them from hiding things from the police.
Cops may also touch your tail light during a traffic stop to leave their fingerprint behind. Prior to cameras in patrol cars, officers would touch the light in the event of something happening to the officer during the traffic stop. It was there way of putting themselves there when no one was watching over them.
The practice of touching a tail light during a traffic stop may be "ancient" these days, but if you notice an officer doing this during a traffic stop this may be why. Reports suggest now that some agencies discourage officers from doing this because it could be a distraction for them as they approach a vehicle.
Has anyone ever noticed an officer tapping their tail light during a traffic stop? If so, when and where did it happen?