This Is Why Cops Touch Your Car’s Tail Light During Traffic Stops
According to criminal defense attorney and DWI/DUI lawyer Joe Hoelscher, this routine maneuver serves as a sort of bread crumb left to prove that the police officer had approached that particular vehicle.
“Leaving a thumbprint on the brake light is an old-school way to tag a car with a fingerprint, so it can be identified conclusively as the vehicle involved in a stop should the officer become incapacitated,” explains Hoelscher.
Basically, if the officer’s safety were to be jeopardized by the driver, or if the car fled, investigators could track that fingerprint to the suspect in question. Who knew?! Plus, find out more explanations for little things you’ve always wondered about.
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