If you are in a car, you have to cooperate. If you are just walking around, you have a bit more leniency.
But think this way. Say you are a serial killer. You refuse to cooperate with the police, get released and we later find out you were the killer after all. What is the public going to say about the police?
“If you are in a car, you have to cooperate. If you are just walking around, you have a bit more leniency.”
Do you know what the logic is there? I find it fascinating.
A car is not public property.