[photodawg]

Interesting story. The right of free speach includes the right not to speak, which has been upheld in courts before.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Interestingly, the right to free speech involves your legal freedom to speak without government reprisal or legal consequence. That does not include how your speech affects someone with legal authority to asses your behavior. If the officer is trying to make an assessment of whether you are competent to drive an automobile, what you say or don't, while legally protected speech, will determine his assessment of you.

[rit]

If the officer is trying to make an assessment of whether you are competent to drive an automobile, what you say or don't, while legally protected speech, will determine his assessment of you.

The officer had the opportunity to continue the conversation instead of being offended by the answer. He could have said, for example "OK. Can you please explain why?" The point is, the officer is there to make an assessment based on how well the driver can articulate a response. Continuing the conversation around a different path would have served the same purpose.