Have you ever noticed that police officers touch the back of a car before they talk to the driver? Perhaps you've seen this on cop shows on TV, or maybe you just get pulled over a lot. But, regardless of the officer and regardless of the jurisdiction, this is standard practice on virtually every traffic stop.
If you're curious as to why they do this, TikTok has you covered.
It's done quickly and casually. It almost looks like it's done for good luck (like a football team tapping a sign before a game). But, as it turns out, there's a very good reason for this practice.
I'm constantly touching things in my house and I think I do it most to the things I need to take care of. It's like if I don't touch them, I'll forget about them.
Alexander Kridlo, who goes by @mr.alexaa on TikTok, shared this video. In it, he showed a few examples of police officers touching cars, demonstrating that it's not a one-off but standard practice, then offered an explanation.
As it turns out, the whole thing comes down to that miracle of forensic science: fingerprints.
When a police officer touches a car, it's a fast, easy way for them to link themselves to it forensically.
While the vast majority of traffic stops are unremarkable events, things can go sideways. The driver could speed off. Shots could even be fired.
If anything along these lines happens, the traffic stop turns into a crime scene. This is where fingerprints are vital.
This isn't as important as getting the prints on the car, but it's another safeguard that police officers can deploy. They want to make sure no one's hiding in the trunk, about to jump out.
It's fascinating how such a simple act can be so vital.
Speaking to Orlando's News 6, Trooper Steve Montiero said that it's a routine procedure done "not only for the safety of the violator, but for the safety of that officer...This is just one of the many things that take place during traffic stops to ensure everyone’s safety."
As Montiero confirmed, "The first reason is to make sure that the trunk is closed. It may sound a little crazy, but you want to make sure that no one is about to jump out of the trunk and that it’s properly secured."
"Touching the rear of the vehicle puts the officer’s fingerprints on that car, showing that he or she was there with it. In case the driver decided to flee the scene, or if something happened to that officer, it ties both the vehicle and the officer together."
It offers a brief, succinct look at an interesting aspect of policing, one that we rarely think about.
Let us know your thoughts on the video (check it out below) in the comments section!
