An effective way to get voluntary consent to search a vehicle is to appear nonchalant, humorous or even apologetic. When the time comes to ask for consent, consider saying something like this in a slow, seemingly apathetic tone: “You know, my boss makes me ask these kinds of questions. He’s always on my back. You know how it is, so please bear with me, O.K.? I gotta ask, You’re not carrying a million dollars, a bazooka or a ton of drugs inside there are ‘ya?”
By using this kind of phrasing and ludicrous questioning, you’ve slyly positioned yourself not as a well-trained, highly motivated, drug-sniffing officer, rather a down-trodden subordinate who just wants to get through the obligatory questioning and hit the road. The suspect probably assumes that if he gives you permission to search his car--which you’re about to directly ask for--you’ll stick your head inside, give the interior a quick visual once-over and apologize for delaying his day even further.
Now’s the time to drop the big question..."I figured you didn’t. So you won’t mind if I take a quick look, will ‘ya? I’ll be quick.” Try it. It works! And be sure to enjoy the look that comes over a drug-runner’s face when he realizes that hey, this cop isn’t lazy.
