Philadelphia Lawyer, Mum At Traffic Stop, Wins $30K

When the lawyer, stopped for speeding by New Jersey state troopers, chose to remain silent in the face of the routine questions, the frustrated troopers threatened to and then did arrest her. Sued in federal court, the State of New Jersey (et al, including the state police and one named trooper)  have agreed to a $30,000 settlement, which still needs a judge’s okay. An article about the episode in a NJ.com includes the dashcam video and audio of the stop. A trooper rattles off the usual request for license and proof of insurance, then asks, “Do you know why you’re being pulled over tonight?” The tape is silent. The trooper says: “Hello?” There is still no reply, and it escalates from there. She does ask some questions herself after being threatened with arrest, noting that her father “was a former county prosecutor.” The segment ends with one of the troopers reading Miranda rights (including the right to remain silent). “Do you understand these rights?” he concludes. “After three bar exams I should,” she replies. “Fantastic” says the trooper, and the tape ends.