re: If you get pulled over, do you answer seemingly innocuous questions?

Do not answer any questions.

Questions are framed for you to incriminate yourself before you are ever even read your Miranda Rights.

Be cordial, but do not answer questions.

I don't think I have ever been asked where I was going or coming from and I've admittedly been pulled over for speeding a good bit. I usually just get "Do you know why I pulled you over?" or "Do you know how fast you were going?" But you make an interesting point if ever asked those questions.

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I've never been asked these questions when stopped. They always start with "License and registration and insurance please." And then "I stopped you because _________." That's about it. I've been let off most of the time with just a warning.

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I’ve only been asked once and it was when I was stopped at a dui checkpoint. I told the officer that I was bringing friends home from my house and he let me go immediately. Didn’t ask for DL, insurance, etc…

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s not really about what they are and aren't entitled to. Unless you are in the midst of committing a yet-undiscovered felony, far and away the most pleasant and efficient thing to do is communicate like a respectful adult.

Refusing to answer questions is only going to slow you down at best.

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"Respectfully sir/mama, under the constitution, that information is irrelevant to this interaction. Thank you."

I don’t answer their questions and give what is legally necessary. It’s none of their business. Most cops don’t want the headache if it’s clear you know your constitutional rights.

Where people go wrong, they become hostile.

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I've never been asked these questions when stopped. They always start with "License and registration and insurance please." And then "I stopped you because _________." That's about it. I've been let off most of the time with just a warning.

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Same in my experience. I've been asked the where are you coming from, where are you going questions once...and it was when I was driving from Illinois back to louisiana and it was 3am. Got pulled over by Missouri State Police and he asked me that...I said I'm coming from chicago, going back to baton rouge where home is. His response, "Well damn, I'm not gonna hold you up, just slow it down a little and have a good trip."

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What are yall doing to get pulled over?

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I’ve been pulled over 4 times in the 20+ years I’ve been driving. Once was the checkpoint I mentioned earlier, another time I actually just remembered is when I got pulled over in New Orleans for a burnt headlight and was asked where I was coming from and I told the officer I just dropped off my wife at the bus station (a bunch of her classmates decided to ride the bus to San Antonio for a convention). He let me go and told me to get it fixed.

The other 2 times I got pulled over was for speeding and they didn’t ask me any questions other than DL, insurance, etc… and I got tickets for both.

Having just been recently pulled over for traveling at 79 in a 60 by the Tennessee State HP. Patrolman probably had the least attitude and was more polite than any I have encountered. Actually shared a few laughs and went on our ways. Told me why he pulled me over, which he had me dead to rights, asked for DL, registration and proof of insurance. That's it. Gonna cost me $165.

Found most city cops are aholes: Dublin, OH, Worthington, OH, Grandview, OH especially, Columbus PD not bad.

State police:
Illinois not bad
Indiana not bad
Kentucky not bad all business and quick release
Ohio - short man syndrome, handed him my concealed carry license and told him my gun was about six inches from my right hand. Made some weird crack about he has a gun too. Strange dude, eerily uncomfortable.
Virginia - short guy was an absolute prick
Virginia - also busted by camera in construction zone

Most out of staters ask usually ask where I'm going and where I'm coming from. I've never gotten out of a single ticket in my life because I'm usually well past the speed limit.

Have not had the pleasure yet of meeting any members of law enforcement on the roads of SC. Have met a couple of Simpsonville officers in person at events and they are generally unfriendly.

A now retired State Trooper friend said that he always approached a driver saying this :" Hold that thought". A lot more often than not, the drivers sat quietly till he started his traffic stopped conversation.

Of the half dozen times I've been pulled over, I've never had anything more than a civil conversation with the officer. Answered questions, shot the shite, signed the ticket and away we went.
Its just not that difficult. And that includes the trooper who conducted an eye nystagmus test on the side of LA30 by Brightside. I have a hard time believing that its so adversarial if you don't act like an arse with the cop.

downvote away.