Driving can be stressful enough without the added worry of catching a cop’s eye for the wrong reasons. To help you stay out of unnecessary trouble, we’ve compiled a list of 17 things that might make your car look suspicious to law enforcement.
Tinted Windows
Dark window tints can make it tricky for cops to see you or your passengers, making them suspicious. There are also restrictions on the level of tinting, and Rocket Lawyer says, “State window tinting laws regulate the darkness, location, color, and reflectance of after-market window tinting, or tinting that is applied after the vehicle has been sold.”
Expired Registration or Inspection Stickers
If you have outdated inspection stickers on your vehicle, it shows that you aren’t following the legal requirements for your car, and you may be stopped. Expired registrations also suggest that you might be trying to avoid identification, potentially because of other criminal activities.
Excessive or Missing Modifications
Modifications such as loud exhaust systems or other performance changes can draw attention to you as you drive around. Missing bumpers, lights, or mirrors also suggest to police officers that you are neglecting the law or attempting to avoid being identified by them.
Erratic Driving Behavior
According to Forbes, “Speeding, red-light running, drowsy driving, and driving impaired on cannabis or alcohol are among the dangerous actions behind the wheel that rose from 2020 to 2021.” Police are often trained to spot these behaviors and may stop you to make sure you’re not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Overloaded Vehicles
If your vehicle is loaded with large items or too much luggage, it raises safety concerns as you may not be able to see out of windows or mirrors as well as you should. It might also impact your control over the vehicle or, if not securely loaded, put other drivers in danger.
Overly Nervous Behavior
Avoiding eye contact or showing other nervous habits when talking to a police officer can suggest to them that you are hiding something. Sweating, shaking, or being generally agitated can mean you’re more likely to be investigated more thoroughly, as they’re concerned that you’re committing a crime.
Driving a Known Drug Route
Police are very aware of common drug trafficking routes, and as a result, these roads are carefully monitored. If you are frequently driving through these areas, you’re more likely to be stopped, especially if your vehicle looks out of place for the area.
Littering or Throwing Items Out the Window
Throwing litter out of the window shows that you generally don’t care for laws and public safety, but it can also suggest to police officers that you’re trying to hide something you don’t want them to find on you. As a result, they may be more likely to stop you and question you about what you are doing.
Unusual or Covered License Plates
If your license plate has been covered, altered, or is even just dirty, it can suggest that you’re trying to avoid being identified by law enforcement. The AAMVA says that license plates should “remain visible and not obscured for the readability of license plate readers.”
Excessive or Flashy Decals
Stickers and decals that make jokes about illegal activities or are disrespectful to police officers can draw more attention to your car. They can suggest that you are more likely to be committing a crime, plus they’ll make your car more memorable if the officer sees you again.
Unusual Driving Times
Driving late at night or early in the morning is often associated with illegal activities, and this means police patrols are more vigilant during these off-peak hours. Unless you have a clear reason to be driving at this time, you might find cops more suspicious of you.
Frequent Short Trips or Stops
Taking a lot of short trips can suggest to police officers that you are involved in drug dealing or other illegal activities. This can be particularly suspicious if you are stopping in unusual locations or if you are following a pattern as you drive around.
Loud Music
Playing loud music while you drive is distracting for yourself and other drivers, and shows that you aren’t being considerate of laws and public peace. Violating noise laws can mean cops will stop you, and you’ll be more likely to be further investigated or searched.
Damaged Vehicles
A poorly maintained car can give the impression that it is being used for illicit purposes. Visible damage shows that the vehicle isn’t cared for, and it might have been involved in illegal activities, making police more likely to stop you.
Passenger Behavior
Having a car full of passengers who are acting nervously or unusually can raise red flags for cops. Police are trained to notice these subtle cues in people, and are more likely to stop you if they suspect you are acting illegally or in a gang.
Ignoring Traffic Signals
According to Herrman and Herrman, “Drivers are required to obey traffic signals unless a law enforcement officer is present and is directing traffic. Unfortunately, some drivers disregard traffic signals because they are impatient, in a hurry, inattentive, or simply reckless.” Violating these laws also gives the police a legal reason to stop and investigate you.
Unusual Vehicles in High-Crime Areas
Extremely expensive or luxurious cars can be suspicious if you drive them in high-crime or particularly poverty-stricken areas. Often, in these cases, police will assume the driver is there for illicit reasons, such as drug dealing, and is likely to stop or question you.
Up Next: 17 Things Most People Forget After Someone Dies
When a person dies, it’s easy for their partner or family members to overlook things while they process shock and grief. Despite the pain of losing a loved family member, it’s important to remember to organize these 17 things to prevent problems later on.
17 Things Most People Forget After Someone Dies
17 Phrases Confident People Use to Stand Up For Themselves
Confidence is a healthy and attractive trait that helps us stand firm in our values and set healthy boundaries. We can always become more confident, and learning the right ways to stand up for yourself is a great way to start. Here are 17 phrases you can use to do so.
17 Phrases Confident People Use to Stand Up For Themselves
20 Signs Someone Is Only Pretending to Care
Whether it’s to avoid hurting your feelings or if it’s part of a more elaborate plan to deceive you for benefits, people pretend for many reasons. The main theme with them, though, is that their actions never match the sugar-coated words that come out of their mouths. So that you don’t fall for someone like this, we’ve compiled 20 signs for you to look out for.