Officers can often be seen touching the boot of the car once they’ve stopped – but why is this?
Getting pulled over by a police officer can be an incredibly daunting situation, but it turns out that they might be just as nervous as you when they step up to the driver’s window.
The majority of us would only have seen this happen in films, probably followed by the line ‘do you know how fast you were going back there?’
But if you find yourself in the situation where you’re not watching a buddy cop flick and the five-o actually pull you over, you may notice them doing something – they touch the back of the car before speaking to the driver.
Most police officers do this when a car has stopped. (YouTube/Dirceu Valadares)
The reasoning behind it is quite strategic, and it makes perfect sense once you hear it.
Clips of officers touching cars’ boots when they’re pulled over have gone viral online, though a lot of people have been left confused by it.
Though several social media users have theorised over why this might be in comment sections, a traffic safety expert has weighed in, revealing the real procedure behind it.
Trooper Steve Montiero explained all during an interview with News 6 – and he said there’s not just one sole reason as to why they do it.
“When law enforcement officers conduct a traffic stop, there are plenty of procedures that need to be done, not only for the safety of the violator, but for the safety of that officer,” he began.
“One of those things is proving that that officer was with that car, so when officers approach a vehicle, they touch the rear of it.”
Montiero continued: “The first reason is to make sure that the trunk is closed.
“It may sound a little crazy, but you want to make sure that no one is about to jump out of the trunk and that it’s properly secured.
“Touching the rear of the vehicle puts the officer’s fingerprints on that car, showing that he or she was there with it.
“In case the driver decided to flee the scene, or if something happened to that officer, it ties both the vehicle and the officer together.”
He further explained: “This is just one of the many things that take place during traffic stops to ensure everyone’s safety.”
It’s primarily for the officer’s safety. (YouTube/Dirceu Valadares)
Below the viral YouTube video, users shared their thoughts on the officers’ actions with why they think they do it.
One user suggested: “Most officers have said it is to make sure the trunk is secure. Im sure different agencies train differently so some may do it for one reason or another. Some don’t do it at all.”
While another said: “They touch the trunk to make sure it’s secure and they don’t get ambushed from behind”
A third added: “It’s also to feel if the car is running, but yes, their fingerprint is evidence they made contact with that vehicle/driver.”
Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Dirceu Valadares
