I know its normal to get asked for license, registration, and proof of insurance. But why ask for the registration? When I register every year, the county sends me a sticker with the plate number and expiration date to stick on the lic plate. The cops van see the plate and date right? Plus I’m sure they run the plate when they pull you over anyway. Seems to me they already know the registration status.
So why do they still ask for the registration paper?
Traffic stops are often used by police as justification for further engagement, searches, etc. Any small violations, like not having license, registration, or proof of insurance readily available, gives the cops leverage to pressure people into answering questions without waiting for a lawyer, or allowing their car to be searched, etc., as the driver hopes that being cooperative will motivate the cop to overlook the ticketable offenses. This is why police orgs are so often against policies ideas like making traffic enforcement separate from criminal police work.