• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Cop Explains Why Police Officers Always Touch The Back Of Cars They Pull Over

Home> News

Published 14:49 28 Jul 2022 GMT+1

Cop Explains Why Police Officers Always Touch The Back Of Cars They Pull Over

A police officer has taken to TikTok to reveal why officials tap the back of any vehicle they pull over.

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

A police officer has taken to TikTok to answer questions about being a cop, such as why they always seem to tap the back of any vehicle they pull over.

If you've ever been unfortunate enough to have been pulled over by police while driving then you may have noticed that the officer pats the back of your car.

Or maybe you were too distracted and consumed with complete and utter terror, desperately trying to figure out what you could've done that made them pull you over.

Advert

Whichever one, Officer Tony Messer has since revealed all, posting a TikTok video to explain why cops perform the gesture.

Catch the clip here:

Messer said the question is 'probably one of the top three questions' he gets asked about as a policeman.

Advert

The officer explained that touching the back of a vehicle when approaching a 'traffic stop' is to 'leave fingerprints'.

"These fingerprints is just incase the worst of the worst happens when you approach the driver.

"If a driver was to flee after committing a crime, this would link the vehicle and your fingerprints together to give the detectives another piece of evidence," he said.

Part of the reason why police touch the back of a car if they pull it over is to leave fingerprints.
@mr.alexaa/TikTok

Advert

Officer Messer noted that police officials 'around the nation' may have 'different points' so invited other officers to take to the comments.

One said: "I do it for fingerprints and to be sure the trunk is closed to avoid a possible ambush."

"As a retired LEO, I touched the truck if it was a car to insure that it was not unlatched. The DC sniper case is a good example. Fingerprints were 2nd," another said.

A third commented: "I’ve been trained in military law enforcement we touch it to feel for kidnapped victims from them moving around in the trunk on top of what you said."

Advert

Police officers also touch the rear of the car to ascertain if there's anyone in the boot.
@mr.alexaa/TikTok

In an interview with News 6, traffic safety expert Trooper Steve Montiero echoed the explanations of Officer Messer and other cops in the TikTok video's comments.

He noted: "When law enforcement officers conduct a traffic stop, there are plenty of procedures that need to be done, not only for the safety of the violator, but for the safety of that officer."

Montiero then reiterated that the patting of the trunk is not only to make sure it's 'properly secured' but also to leave fingerprints and tie the vehicle and officer together.

Advert

The patting of the rear of the vehicle subsequently acts as a safety precaution for the officer should something happen to them.
@mr.alexaa/TikTok

Some users questioned why the practice is necessary if an officer has already called in the tag and description of the car or has dashcam footage.

"Plates could always be improper," Officer Messer replied.

One user added: "No matter the reason for the touch the nerve it takes to walk up not knowing is amazing. Much pride and respect."

Advert

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected] 

Featured Image Credit: @mr.alexaa/TikTok

Topics: Cars, TikTok, Viral, Police

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

11 mins ago
14 hours ago
15 hours ago
  • 11 mins ago

    Trump lashes out after top-secret intelligence report shows truth behind damage done to Iran nuclear sites

    It's safe to say that the president isn't happy about the allegations

    News
  • 14 hours ago

    Mother's heartbreaking plea before twins, 6, were killed in aggressive tornado

    Kayleigh Bisson lost two of her daughters after a storm swept through New York

    News
  • 14 hours ago

    NASA investigation into thousands of 'dark streaks' on Martian surface changes everything it thought about the phenomenon

    Scientists used AI machine learning to help make the incredible discovery

    Technology
  • 15 hours ago

    'Living Nostradamus' gives chilling WW3 warning after Trump claims ceasefire is in effect between Iran and Israel

    Athos Salomé, a Brazilian psychic dubbed the 'Living Nostradamus', believes another key player will enter the Middle Eastern conflict

    News
  • Cop explains why police officers always touch the back of cars they pull over
  • Lawyer explains why you shouldn’t answer the number one question cops will ask when pulling you over
  • Shocking footage shows cop flipping pregnant woman's car because she was pulling over too slowly
  • People call out major issues after seeing new 'barnacle' device police put on cars that are parked illegally