LE opening your car doors

[Butch627]

I was recently stopped by ISP while using a bypass through Gary due to I65 being closed. The officer approached the passenger side of the car and while I was fumbling around to get the button unlocked so I could lower the passenger side window he opened the passenger side door which I must have mistakenly unlocked while fumbling with the window controls. I was looking down to the left at the controls and having difficulty seeing them in the dark and was very startled when the door opened. Ive never had a officer try to open my car door before, is this a normal procedure and something they are allowed to do?

 

[chef larry]

Was his/her gun in a holster?

 

[Butch627]

His gun was holstered. Not that it mattered but I had the drivers window down and was looking to the left side so I didn't even see him come up on the passenger side so I was first startled when he tapped on the passenger window with his flashlight. He was shinning his light inside the car and saw me fumbling with the controls so he knew I was trying to open the window.

 

[femurphy77]

You're supposed to scream "I know my ryeeets" while refusing to cooperate with him.

And keep your hand on your wallet!

 

[chef larry]

The traffic stops I see are always on the passenger side to keep the officer out of the traffic and they can see where your hands are.

 

[Trigger Time]

I wouldnt be happy about it. He entered your car in my opinion but im sure the courts would look at it totally different. Not saying this is lawsuit worthy its not to me, im just saying if it had escalated.
If it was me, i would probably send an email to the state police asking why this was done and ask if it was standard procedure.not as a complaint but as a question

 

[DoggyDaddy]

The traffic stops I see are always on the passenger side to keep the officer out of the traffic and they can see where your hands are.

^^^This^^^ If I were a cop, I would be coming to your passenger window, especially on an interstate. Much safer.

 

[VUPDblue]

you'd be surprised at the number of cars that have windows that don't roll down. if you hit the unlock button and the window wasn't coming down yet, there's a very good chance he opened the door out of past experiences.

 

[JCSR]

I would have both front windows down, interior lights on and hands on the top of the wheel before the officer approached my car. But that's just me BTW I have never been shot by a cop.

 

[printcraft]

Keep them doors locked!!

[video=youtube;yeaztQK9If0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeaztQK9If0[/video]

 

[Denny347]

you'd be surprised at the number of cars that have windows that don't roll down. if you hit the unlock button and the window wasn't coming down yet, there's a very good chance he opened the door out of past experiences.

We were just doing traffic stops scenarios with the recruits and one of the cars we were using had a broken passenger window. Made for interesting passenger side approaches. Showed them to open the door.

 

[cobber]

You're supposed to scream "I know my ryeeets" while refusing to cooperate with him.

And keep your hand on your wallet!

And don't forget the classic: "Am I being detained?"

 

[AngryRooster]

Keep them doors locked!!

[video=youtube;yeaztQK9If0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeaztQK9If0[/video]

I've seen cougars open doors, but a lion is new.

 

[bwframe]

It's good to know that this is now a thing. I would not have been expecting that either.

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

I am seriously not in favor of him opening the door.

But approaching from the passenger side makes a lot of sense to me. Especially in high traffic. I wish it were S.O.P.

I regularly see Gomers standing out in traffic thinking a badge is going to protect them from a '96 Dodge with another Gomer behind the wheel.

 

[Usmccookie]

you'd be surprised at the number of cars that have windows that don't roll down. if you hit the unlock button and the window wasn't coming down yet, there's a very good chance he opened the door out of past experiences.

I see this train of thought and respect it. So, as the driver how would you approach this situation in a manner which the officer would understand you're not comfortable with him opening your door, that unlocking it was an accident. I know some or most officers would recognize the situation and reciprocate your treatment of them. I also know in areas like Gary, Chicago, or indy leos are going to be more cautious and assertive given where they are.

 

[dprimm]

Approaching on passenger side forces them to observe more inside the car.

 

[Expat]

And don't forget the classic: "Am I being detained?"

But first you have to get the cell phone camera rolling... The OP has really let us down.

 

[Fargo]

We were just doing traffic stops scenarios with the recruits and one of the cars we were using had a broken passenger window. Made for interesting passenger side approaches. Showed them to open the door.

As a matter of course, or only ones it is apparent the window can’t roll down?

 

[rob63]

I used to have a car that had windows that would not roll down. I was told by a mechanic that Chevrolet had a period where this was a common problem due to failures of the electric motors that worked the windows. It was a very expensive fix, and I was told that it would inevitably happen again because Chevy never did anything to actually fix the problem with the motors. Consequently, I decided to just live with it. I rarely eat fast food, and how often do you roll down the windows aside from drive-through windows?

A similar scenario happened to me. I was pulled over by an officer who approached on my passenger side, and I was unable to roll down the window. I was also unable to reach far enough to open the door with my seat belt on, so he finally did it while I struggled with removing my seat belt to help me reach farther. Ironically, he had pulled me over because he didn't think I was wearing my seat belt. He took my word for it that I hadn't just put it on for his benefit, and let me go. Frankly, I was more far more upset with him for wasting my time than for opening the door. That seemed like a reasonable thing for him to do in the situation.