[Mastiff107]

After being a Federal Agent for 36+ years, here's my thoughts. I don't know of a cop in the world who wants to search anything. It's dangerous from a number of standpoints takes a lot of time away from donuts and coffee, and a mess. If I ask you if I can search it is because I have a very strong suspicion that there's something to find. If you say no, I get a dog and let him give me probable cause. Innocent people will always invoke their rights. If someone tells me they don't want to talk or won't let me search it tells me there's a 99% chance they aren't guilty of anything. A guilty person wants to convince you they are innocent so they always talk and let you search on the slim chance they can convince you they are innocent. They are afraid of looking more guilty by asking for a lawyer or refusing any request you make. I had 31 murder cases in my career and in every case they waived their right to counsel and later confessed. There are a number of court decisions that let the cop search anywhere in your car within your reach (front and rear seat area) for their protection. They can not search your trunk. A lot of times I would search anyting I wanted on the theory that if I don't find anything the person probably isn't going to complain to anyone other than me and if he does I don't care, and if I do find a gun or drugs I at least cost the guy some money and get it off the street. I may not be able to use it in court but at least I got the stuff off the streets.