I’m often surprised by the honesty of casual drug users. Too often they will confess their criminal indiscretions to the police. For example, many will consent to a police search of their car or volunteer that a joint is in a purse or glove box.
Why would anyone volunteer incriminating information? While not an exhaustive list, here are two reasons.
1. Fear/Guilt. When a cop pulls over a drug user the adrenaline of the situation leads many to confess to get the confrontation over with. They want the cop to quit their investigation. They hate the confrontation and uncertainty.
2. Cool Cop/De Minimis Arguments- A very misguided hope that their cop will be “cool” and let the suspect go. Related to the “I just had a joint in my car, I thought I would get a warning”, de minimis justification.
Most people expecting a cool cop have a story to tell about another cop who was cool, and let them or a friend go. A word to the public- your cop is not cool.
Most officers, especially traffic enforcement (DPS etc) live for drug searches. If DWI is the capital murder of traffic stops, then finding drugs is like solving a bank robbery. Cops love finding drugs. Watching their excitement on film leads me to believe some get high on busting drug users.
Don’t consent to a search or volunteer information about contraband. Consider, instead, asking for an attorney or refusing a consent search.
I know you are nervous. I know that you think the recreational use of drugs is not a reason to arrest someone. But cops don’t think like that. The love arresting you, and they aren’t cool.