How NOT to get pulled over by LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) v0.4
By: audit
[email protected]
Last
Updated: 2-19-04
These are some ideas that might save you some hassle from people who don't understand. We want to get the CORRECT information out that and to keep yourself from getting pulled over and having to explain what you're doing to the LEOs. I encourage you to follow them and to inform others of them to help keep this hobby safe and legal.
1. At no time should you ever connect to any AP's that are not your own. Disable client managers and TCP/IP stacks to be sure. Simply associating can be interpreted as computer trespass by law enforcement.
2. Keep your laptop closed and in the back seat if at all possible; it's not really needed or safe to have it open while you're driving. The light off the screen will just attract attention at night anyhow. If you're unable to keep it in the back seat or in the back of your vehicle, at least try to keep a blanket handy that you can toss over it in case you are pulled over.
3. Turn your sounds off or turn them down. They may be nice to listen to as you're driving along and it gives you a good idea of what areas are hot, but if you do get pulled over and you're by an area that your software is picking up, the LEOs may not understand what you're doing. Using the audio feedback instead of the screen is safer, plus it can be turned off very easily (volume knob) if you're stopped.
4. Keep your GPS, IPAQ, and anything else you're using out of the line of view - it's too easy for a LEO to see it and assume the worst right off the bat. If you do need to keep your GPS on the dash, there's nothing better than a ball cap to put over it; it looks honest enough and you won't be suspected of anything out of the ordinary.
5. If you are pulled over, you don't want to be moving around as the officer is walking up to you. That's where the blanket comes in from #2. I've seen many people use boxes in the car/truck/van where they keep their laptops and all the stumbling equipment.
6. Even if you're with a partner, don't be typing away as you're driving down the road or even stopped at a light. Remember, you're just out listening for the beacon that the access point is sending back and that doesn't require any typing. If you're in the parking lot or even stopped somewhere, it could look suspicious to the security that patrols that area or the LEOs and that will get you pulled over.
7. Obey the traffic laws; they are there for everyone's safety including your own. Doing the speed limit through the local neighborhoods will not bring the unwanted attention.
8. Don't point your directionals at buildings and hold them there. Any building security personnel who may be looking out the window may take this as a serious threat and the next thing you know, you have quite a few LEOs surrounding you and possibly making the local news.
9. Driving suspiciously -- driving slow, and in circles -- may attract the authorities. As long as you're not doing anything illegal, you should be okay, and happy to talk to the nice officer. Afterall, no crimes are being committed.
10. Above all, do NOT lie to the LEOs about what you're doing; if they see a map of the local area, they may not ask. Each area has its own laws about having laptops open while you're driving so it's best that you check your local laws before you venture out.
If you ARE stopped, Thorn (a retired LEO), and kornkob (a former Army MP) has given these suggestions,
1. Do not exit the vehicle unless asked to do so by the officer. Produce any and all requested paperwork (license, registration, insurance card, etc.)
2. Drivers should keep their hands on the steering wheel and passengers should keep their hands in plain sight, at least during the initial contact. Don't try to hide anything. Don't reach for the ID unless asked.
3. Don't be stupid and drive with a suspended license, or expired registration, etc.
4. Don't be even stupider and actually be coming a criminal offense like attacking a network.
5. Don't be extremely stupid and be wardiving while consuming alcohol and/or illicit drugs.
6. When asked what you're doing, explain that you are conducting a radio survey using computers. Don't use jargon ("WarDriving", etc.) If the officer asks more detailed questions, don't be evasive, simply answer them. The officers may ask to see the equipment, or the software just as a confirmation of what you are doing.
7. Don't be stupid and make up something, because you think the cops won't understand what it is you are doing. They may or may not, but giving a stupid excuse that break down in 15 seconds will make the cops wonder what else you're lying about. This can quickly go downhill, ending with you on the wrong end of a body cavity search.
8. Just be polite. "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" and common courtesy will go a long way. No "donut shop" jokes, no questions about "why aren't you catching REAL criminals", etc., AND never start yelling "I pay your salary!"
9. When you see the police lights: pull over---
all the way over. Police officers have a dangerous enough job without
you stopping such that one has to stand in traffic to talk to you.
10. Turn on your hazard lights. Turn off your radio. DON'T turn on the
dome light. A dome light indicates a door opening. Police really don't
feel safe when people open the doors to their cars. ESPECIALLY
multi-occupant vehicles.
11. Do you smoke? Put it out. Odds are the cop stopping you either a)
doesn't smoke or b) hasn't had one in a while. Either way you're just
creating an uncomfortable atmosphere for someone who has the ability to
set the tone and tempo for the experience you are about to have. Don't
light another one till you are released. (Yes-- passengers too)
12. Roll down your window before the LEO gets there. All the way down.
Even if it's raining/snowing/sleeting. An open drivers window will give
the officer more visibility (ever tried to look into a dark car on a
well lit street).
13. Leave the window rolled down unless you specifically ask the officer
if it is okay to roll it up. Police are people too they know it's
cold/wet/nasty. After their initial contact with you a polite 'may I
roll my window up while you go back to your car?' goes a long way
towards telling the officer that you intend to be coopoerative. Just
make sure it's down again before they come back.
14. Putting your keys on the dashboard is a good thing. The officer then
feels that they have some warning if you're going to drive off. It also
reinforces the idea that you are going to cooperate.
15. The answer to 'Do you know why I stopped you?' is not a time to be
flippant, lie or to make guesses. The answer should either be factual
and honest or a simple 'I am unsure/don't know'.
16. If you are the type to use your hands when you talk, try and control
that impulse. The human hand is a dangerous thing and the cop you are
talking to is trying to keep track of them. Making that difficult will
not endear you to him or her.
17. Don't have anything that resembles a weapon, tool or graffiti
paraphernalia in your vehicle. Leave behind the spray paint, paintball
guns, rubber band shooters, slingshots, hunting knives and any unneeded
tools. If you MUST have tools in your car keep them in the trunk or
cargo space.
18. Before you start WarDriving do yorself a favor --- do a equipment
check. Walk around the car and make sure all the running lights work,
windsheild isn't cracked, the turn signals function, break lights
operate, license plate tags are current and any other equipment or
licensing is up to date and compliant with local state and federal
regulations.
19. While it is common for people to think of police officers as some
sort of force for evil and corruption in the world, largely because of
media attention and entertainment portrayals, the fact is a vast
majority of LEOs are nothing more than special purpose civil servants---
which is to say they are average Joes and Janes. Treat them with
respect, do nothing to make them feel unsafe and handle yourself in a
professional manner--- just as you would expect them to act if they came
to your place of work. It may be a public throughfare to you but to that
cop it's a place of business--- their office, if you will. No matter
what your granddad told you-- the customer is NOT always right (and
that's never been a truism) and nowhere is this more rigidly enforced
than in transactions between police officers and citizens.
This document is merely a set of suggestions for the Wardriving community, assembled with suggestions from the Wardriving community. This is a living document so it will be updated from time to time. Suggestions and comments should be sent to [email protected]. Feel free to copy, just make sure to leave the credits intact and a link back to the original if possible.