[Brainwalter]

[ QUOTE ]
Giving cops a hard time is -EV.

Here are the options:

1) Be nice to the guy, answer his questions, continue your walk in peace.

2) Be a nit, give the guy a hard time and hope he doesn't make life difficult for you just because he can.

Bottom line: The cop was wrong. He was being a dick, and should not have done so (assuming the OP is retelling the events accurately). Nonetheless, only bad things can come of being a nit to a cop.

I've gotten out of several well-deserved tickets just by being a nice guy (someones gonna FYP this one, I'm sure) and bantering pleasantly with the cop. They are so used to nits like you that they cut me some slack for being a nice guy.

[/ QUOTE ]

The difference here is they didn't do anything wrong, and didn't well-deserve a ticket or even to be stopped.

Of course if you have done something wrong and they have evidence you are at the mercy of the officer and should conduct yourself accordingly.