Nobody likes getting pulled over by the police. 99% of the time it's not for a good thing. After all, when was the last time you heard of someone being pulled over for a "good" reason? You never know when it's going to happen to you. One minute you're cruising down the road, the next you see flashing lights behind you.

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It happens to all of us at some point or another. You pull over to the side of the roadway and before you know it, the cop is getting out of his patrol car and headed your way. Before he gets to your window, you notice him reaching out and briefly putting his hand on the trunk of your car. What's the deal here? Why do they do this?

Photo: Canva
Photo: Canva
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According to HotCars, there's some sound reasoning behind it. I'm sure there's plenty of data from police departments backing up the fact that many officers are seriously wounded or even killed during traffic stops. The main reason here is safety. Officers may touch the trunk of a vehicle to make sure it's properly closed. Who knows, there could be something illegal or someone stashed in the back. The situation could turn ugly quickly and being cautious is the name of the game.

Another reason is to leave behind their fingerprints. That's why you may notice some touching your taillight. This is done so there's evidence that the officer was there at the scene. Even with cameras on high-tech patrol cars nowadays, technology does fail. Plus, there's nothing like physical evidence. It may be an older method but it's still used today.

Photo: Canva
Photo: Canva
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So the next time you're pulled over and see the officer use this technique, just know that it is routine in most cases. The key in these interactions is to remain calm. Traffic stops can get tense on both sides. Help avoid them altogether by obeying the rules of the road. It's just the best thing to do.

Some laws in Texas are lesser known. You may not even be aware of some of these. Look below and make sure you're staying legal.

LESSER KNOWN TEXAS TRAFFIC LAWS

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