Absolutely right it was a smartass answer. I said it with a cheerful smirk as a joke he just did not take it as a joke. At that point it was by the book and worked out fine.
I used to work for a neighboring agency and I am generally well known in my area. I am that guy that built a shipping container home, a school bus home, a house boat and a former bacon that has a shooting range in the back yard. So, I am not a stranger to the boys and girls in blue and what I did was challenged him with my smart answer. He was a younger guy probably his first or second set of uniforms based on how fresh this hardware was. That is when the LEO law enforcement ego took over, he was looking for anything to write me up on. After he struck out and everything calmed he understood that we ended up in a cat and mouse game.
Now all you guys that dislike law enforcement, trust me I understand. Vast experience working with some excellent people and vast experience working with people that deserved to be introduced to the underside of a buick. There is not an intelligence test for cops or a common decency requirement. A lot of cops have no idea the mess they can create for people and if they do some abuse it. I am polite when dealing with police but, I dont let them push me or anyone else around. I have helped people invoke their rights as I walked down the sidewalk. I dont deal with cheap policing, if they are upright and fair they get it back from me. If they are not, then my lips shut my eyes face forward and communication stops. It might keep me on the side of the road for an extra ten minutes but, they always end up doing the walk of shame back to their cruisers.
Providing as little information as possible is key. Where are you going? That way. Where are you coming from? The other way. Do you know why I stopped you? No, I do not as I dont believe I violated any traffic laws. What is with the attitude? There is no attitude, I am not providing any information that may be used to place me at a crime or give you reasonable suspicion as to where I am going. We can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way. Hard way please, I request your supervisor and badge number. If, you have nothing to hide you would let me look in your car? I do not give consent to any search of my person or personal property.
Let me say it like this, if we ask then we dont have cause to do it.
If they ask to search your car, you can say no without getting in trouble.
You dont have to answer anything during a traffic stop. Provide your ID, Vehicle Info, Insurance. You might get a ticket but, they wont snoop and treat you like an easy victim.
Do you mind if I come in? - I do mind, you can stand out there as we talk.
Trust me, if it is legal for us to push our way into your home or pull you out of your vehicle we dont ask.
You get the simple, turn the car off, step out, turn around, keep your hands on the roof.
Same with a residence, without a document from the court they need your consent to enter, look, talk, eat, take a nap, anything. And that consent can be revoked at any time.
Anyway, it worked out I didnt get a ticket the cop learned and I actually made an appointment with his department to register my HMMWV as a parade vehicle just so the guys can come out and take a look. A good excuse to make contact and give them a tour rather than them seeing an unrestrained children in the back seat when I am the only person in the vehicle...
Like said above, we can find any reason to stop anyone. Suspended object, leaving the lane of travel (crossing a solid white to make a turn), possibly tinted windows that are factory tinted.