{"id":1171,"date":"2026-07-18T20:30:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T20:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thejoeroganpod.com\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2026-07-18T20:30:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T20:30:54","slug":"shocking-reason-why-the-cops-touch-your-tail-light-when-they-pull-you-over","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thejoeroganpod.com\/?p=1171","title":{"rendered":"Shocking Reason Why The Cops Touch Your Tail Light When They Pull You Over"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The disturbing reason why cops touch your tail light when they pull you over has gone\u00a0viral\u00a0\u2013 and it\u2019s not what you would expect.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The police pulling you over is a scary enough experience for anyone, but it turns out it might actually be just as scary for them.<\/p>\n

If an officer pulls you over, before they come around to the driver\u2019s side, you will notice they go to the back of the car and touch it.<\/p>\n

Although it might seem strange at first glance, the real reason is strategic and smart.<\/p>\n

Theories on why the police touch your car when they pull you over have been going viral, and social media users have theorized on why it might be.<\/p>\n

Traffic officers and lawyers have now confirmed why it is, and it might shock you.<\/p>\n

Why might you get pulled over?<\/h2>\n

In the\u00a0US, cops pull you over if they have reasonable suspicion that a driving law has been broken.<\/p>\n

Police will most commonly pull you over for a traffic violation such as speeding, running a red light, or not using turn signals.<\/p>\n

They can also pull you over for broken lights, missing license plates, or erratic driving behavior.<\/p>\n

\"Cop
There\u2019s a shocking reason why cops touch your tail light when they pull you over. Credit: Dirceu Valadares via YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What happens when you get pulled over?<\/h2>\n

After getting pulled over, you must pull over safely and stay in the car.<\/p>\n

The officer will then come over and explain why they stopped you.<\/p>\n

You will need to show your documents, and then they will give you a warning or ticket, and then you leave.<\/p>\n

However, many people have noticed in viral videos that in this process, police will touch the back of your car when they stop you.<\/p>\n

The reason why they do this is being debated in the comments \u2013 but experts have now revealed the actual reason why.<\/p>\n

What do the experts say?<\/h2>\n

Experts have spoken out on the real reasons why the cops touch the back of your car when they pull you over.<\/p>\n

It might not be what you expect.<\/p>\n

Steven Montiero, known as \u2018Trooper Steve,\u2019 shared the reasons why the police will touch the back of your car when they pull you over.<\/p>\n

Montiero is a former Florida Highway Patrol trooper and now provides expert safety advice on\u00a0News 6.<\/p>\n

On Ask Trooper Steve, Justin Warmoth asked him about the action which happens during traffic stops.<\/p>\n

\"Cop
Experts have explained why cops touch your tail light \u2013 and there\u2019s an important reason why. Credit: Dirceu Valadares via YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Trooper Steve said: \u201cWhen you look carefully during traffic stop, this happens all the time.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery law enforcement officer out there is going, \u2018I know this one.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, any time a traffic stop is conducted and a law enforcement officer gets off their motorcycle, or whatever they\u2019re opperating.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs they approach that car you\u2019re going to see something.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to look in that rear view mirror next time- hopefully you don\u2019t get pulled over.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you\u2019re going to see that officer touch the back of your car.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow there are two reasons for this.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all for the sake of the law enforcement officer- first, they want to make sure the trunk\u2019s closed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to make sure no one is hanging out, ready to pop out on somebody.<\/p>\n

The disturbing reason, which no one knows<\/h2>\n

\u201cAnd the really crazy kind of part of it, they\u2019re leaving their fingerprints behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that is so they can prove they were on that traffic stop, God forbid if something happened.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it kind of paints, unfortunately, a crime scene right then and there because if that car decided to leave, that fingerprint would be on the back of the car.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf if other circumstances presented themselves, it ties the car and the officer together, and at the end of the day, we know who was involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

The presenter was even shocked by this revelation and said: \u201cI\u2019ve never noticed it!\u201d<\/p>\n

Similarly, Michael Rosenbloum, an Atlanta lawyer, shared what he knows about why the police touch your car.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cThey do this to put their DNA and fingerprints on the back of your car.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis helps to identify the car in case the officer is injured, or the driver speeds off.\u201d<\/p>\n

What do people say after finding this out?<\/h2>\n

Understandably, people can\u2019t wrap their heads around this discovery.<\/p>\n

After finding out why the cops do this, people have a lot to say.<\/p>\n

One person said: \u201cGet a car wash after fleeing. Noted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another person added: \u201cSo GTA was right all along.\u201d<\/p>\n

People who had worked in the force had shared that this was something they were taught.<\/p>\n

Sharing their experience, one person said: \u201cI was taught this in the NYPD Police academy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was taught for several reasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep in mind this was way before dash cameras were a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, some people think this is now pointless, with one commenter saying: \u201cSounds bogus\u2026 What about the dash cam?<\/p>\n

\u201cIs this 1940?\u201d<\/p>\n