Do you know how fast you came by, by chance? >> It's on my dash cam. >> How fast were you going? >> It's on my dash cam. >> You don't know how fast you were going? >> It's on my dash cam. >> The traffic stop began when an officer pulled the driver over, claiming he was following another vehicle too closely. >> Can you roll your window down a little bit more for me, so I mean I can hear you? >> Uh that should be good enough. >> Can you roll your window down just a little bit more, so I can hear you? >> I can hear you just fine. >> cuz of all the traffic. >> I can hear you just fine. I'll I'll speak up a little louder so you can hear me. >> for me, I'm Deputy Henney, Grayson County Sheriff's Office. >> The officer immediately requested that the driver lower his window further for communication. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 5, Texas law only requires a driver to exhibit their license, not fully lower the window or surrender documents physically. The driver used this law to keep the window low enough to speak, blocking the officer's attempt to gain control of the situation. >> License and your insurance with you? >> Yep. May I see your reason for the nature of the stop? >> I will after you give me your license and insurance, okay? Can you hand me your driver's license? >> It's on this side here. Should I fix the If you're If you're worried about the traffic you're on the same side as the traffic noise, okay? >> God, I can't hear you. Roll the window down just a little bit more for me, okay? >> If you're worried about the traffic noise, you're on the same side as the traffic over there. So I'm going to get the luxury of you to put my driver's license and my insurance on this side of the window here. Okay? >> Going to hand me your driver's license? >> No, they're right here. >> Why won't you hand me your driver's license? >> Cuz Texas law states I only have to exhibit them, I don't have to hand them over. >> Well, you don't want to hold it out so I can get your information? >> It's right here. Right up Right against this window here. >> So I can get your information. >> I don't have to reach over there. I'm not reaching to say I'm reaching for anything. I want to keep my hands where you can see them. Everything right here that you need is right against this window here. And I'm just going to remain silent for the rest of the traffic stop, okay? >> When the officer asked for the driver's license and insurance, the driver displayed them against the window without handing them over. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 521.025, exhibiting a license is sufficient and physical surrender is not required. The driver calmly refused to hand over the documents, frustrating the officer's efforts. This left the officer with no choice but to continue without any further push. >> How can I help you? >> Hey, Mr. Turner, still at the same address on your license? >> I'm going to remain silent. >> Say again? >> Going to remain silent. >> All right. Do you want to tell me why you got pulled over? Or do you want to remain Do you know what you came by by chance? >> It's on my dash cam. >> How fast were you going? >> It's on my dash cam. >> You don't know how fast you were going? >> It's on my dash cam. >> Thanks for that explanation. Sir, I can't hear you. >> I can hear you just fine, so I'm pretty sure I can hear you. >> of the traffic and you got this window rolled down like 3 in. >> Yeah, sure. You can tell me why you pulled me over. >> You do want to know what the reason is? >> I'm Yes, I'm still waiting. >> Okay. Hey, did you just happen to see me sitting on the side of the road back there a couple miles? >> No. I was just driving on the road. >> Hey, when you came by, you came by in the in the left-hand lane, but you were following the vehicle in front of you about probably a car length car length and a half back. Were you aware that you were going that close? >> I have a dash cam right here. >> I can't hear you. >> I underst- I know how far I was away from the vehicle. >> How far were you? >> What's that? >> How far were you from the vehicle in front of you when you came by? >> I know how far I was I I know how far away I was, and that's I'm going to say. >> were you going? >> I have it on my dash cam, that's all I'm saying. >> You what? >> I have it on my dash cam right here, which is recording. >> All right. >> And that's all I'm going to say. >> a car length and a half or so back from this person in front of you? >> I'm going to say it's on my dash cam. You know, it's on my dash cam. >> Okay. Hey, do you know how fast you were going when you came by by chance? >> It's on my dash cam. >> How fast were you going? >> It's on my dash cam. >> You don't know how fast you were going? >> my dash cam. >> Okay. All right. Hey, when's the last time you got a ticket? Mr. Turner, when's the last time you got a ticket? >> I'm remaining silent right now. >> Again? >> I'm going to remain silent. >> to remain silent? >> Mhm. >> Okay. All right. Hey, I'll be right back with you, okay? >> Okay. >> The officer then asked how fast the driver was going and how closely he was following the vehicle ahead. The driver exercised his right to remain silent. Under the US Constitution's Fifth Amendment, individuals have the right to remain silent to avoid self-incrimination. By repeatedly referring to his dash cam footage, the driver shut down any attempt by the officer to gather incriminating statements. >> What what ended up happening was he ran my plates and I had got a ticket here a long time ago. It was a it was like a while back. I would say about almost 4 years ago I got a ticket here. And he didn't pull me over immediately. He ran my tags first and then decided to pull me over. And then he wanted to ask me questions such as, do you know how close you were following? Which is on my dash cam, I don't have to answer that question. And he was asking me how fast do I think I was going? You don't have to answer that question either. It's on my dash cam. Whether or not if you don't have a dash cam, you don't have to answer those questions. >> Later, the officer requested that the window be lowered further to check the tint, attempting to gain more control over the situation. The driver, remaining calm and composed, cooperated just enough by slightly lowering the window for the officer to complete the >> Do you know when you came by, by chance? >> It's on my dashcam. >> How fast were you going? >> It's on my dashcam. >> You don't know how fast you were going? >> my dashcam. >> Can you hold the camera so we can get the reading? >> I see it, 29.7. >> 29.7? All right. So, you live up here now? Mr. Charter, you living up here now? >> I'm not answering any questions. >> Say again? >> I'm not answering any questions. >> Why don't you want to answer any questions? >> Because I'm exercising my fifth amendment right now. >> Okay. All right. You do this all time? >> I can give you a business card after we're finished. >> Say again? >> I said I can give you a business card after we're finished. >> Please. We're We're done. >> We're done? >> This is a warning for the traffic stop. >> What was the What was the warning for? >> What did I tell you you were you got originally got pulled over for following too closely? >> I'm not sure you're asking the questions, so I'm not sure if that was the reason why you pulled me over. So, you're asking me if I was following too close, you asked me how fast I was going. >> Yeah. >> But I still don't know why you pulled me over. >> Cuz you were following the vehicle in front of you too close. >> It's on there. >> Okay. That's why you got pulled over. If you have all that stuff on your dash camera, you'll you'll know it. Okay? >> Sure. >> So, you know, when you go back and look at it, you'll probably see my car parked on the side of the road. So. So, you living up in this area now? >> I'm not going to answer any questions. >> All right. >> Can I get your business card or anything like that? >> I don't have any with me. Do you have a business card? I don't have one of yours. >> Yeah, sure. >> The officer, left with no room to assert dominance, was forced to continue with the stop without gaining any advantage. Finally, when the officer issued a warning for following too closely, the driver insisted on receiving a clear explanation before leaving. The officer, unable to further delay, allowed the driver to leave, having been thoroughly outmaneuvered at every turn. >> All right. Can I get your name and badge number? >> It's Hanning, number 18. >> And your name and badge number? >> Barker, 12. Am I free to go or am I still being detained? >> Oh, you're free to go. So, where's this at? >> And that's how you handle being pulled over by the police. You don't answer questions. Because you answer questions, that's only for them to build evidence that they don't have against you. They think you're speeding, so they're going to ask you if you were speeding. If you say you were speeding, then you just have admitted to speeding and you're guilty. So, best thing to do is don't answer questions, remain silent, and let them do all the work. >> This encounter highlights the power of knowing your rights during a traffic stop, demonstrating that a calm and informed approach [music] can effectively counter police overreach. By standing firm and leveraging legal knowledge, the driver not only maintained control of the situation, but also left the officer unable to assert dominance, showcasing a win for the informed citizen.