I kind of think that also may be a factor in false alerts, however I did have an experience that demonstrated just how good these dogs sense of smell is. I once gave a ride to a Young lady who was having heroin withdrawals. She threw up in my van and apologized like crazy. I really felt bad for her but we did get her off that crap. Anyway, over a year later I got pulled over in another state and the officer decided he needed to get a police dog in my van. Police dog found nothing as I expected until it got to that spot on the carpet and alerted by pawing the spot and then stood over it waiting. Cops pulled the carpet up and found nothing except a slight stain. Then I remembered that sick Young lady. Gee, that had to be a very faint trace.
Yeah dogs smell good. Also, I think the cops just unreasonably searched your shit
Oh yes they did and after this I started thinking. I was getting pulled over in every state on a frequent basis and usually for some bullshit non violation made up excuse. Every time I would be questioned about weapons and drugs with a request to do a search. I started to just deny any search request and make jokes. "Do you have any drugs with you?" Me: "Oh, not too much" Cop, obviously alarmed, "What, what do you mean, not too much?", Me: "Well, how much is too much?" cop growing annoyed, "Any is too much!". Me: "Well, OK, then I don't have too much." Weapons? "I have one of the most dangerous weapons in the world!". Cop gets all excited and wants details. "The human mind is the most dangerous weapon and I just so happen to have one."
The last time I consented to a search it was to a super polite officer who I at first refused. He explained my vehicle was suspicious but not why then modified his request and asked to look in my fuel tank. I saw no harm there but just looking around there put him in danger and he had said "in" so I handed him my keys. He went back and inspected the bolts holding the tank and saw no fresh signs of tool use and came back with my keys to send me on my way. I mentally gave him a gold star for being super polite and honest and not peppering me with bullshit excuses or intrusive questions. Didn't even ask for driver's license. But still, I hadn't figured out why I was getting pulled over so often.
One cop finally slipped up when he pulled me over for not using my seat belt. I knew this was bullshit because he had been riding next to me for a full minute eyeballing my direction but not looking directly at me until just before he pulled me over. He started with the seat belt bullshit but quickly pivoted to weapons and drugs. Usual refusal of search with back and forth bantering and some jokes when he claimed I put him in danger not wearing a seat belt and who would look after his wife and kids then?. I told him if his wife is good looking and kids well behaved I'd be happy to fill the role. He actually laughed but I still got a ticket.
That day I reviewed in my mind's eye carefully what that officer had focused on and realized he'd been looking at my vent window of my 1980 Dodge van. Curious I went out to see what drew his attention and right there in plain view was an NRA sticker left by the previous owner. I'd never given it a thought as a source of trouble but right then it dawned on me that it had to be the reason for all the frivolous stops by police and the curious way the always seemed to pivot their questions to weapons and drugs. I got s razor and had it scraped off within a couple minutes. The frequent stops ended like magic.
Lesson learned? There are a great many cops against gun ownership and if they can find drugs in the bargain they can lock you up, take your vehicle and all your cash. Having an NRA sticker on your window means you have weapons. That's enough to motivate them to look for drugs to tie it to the Guns and cash and get a hard win.
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