I got pulled over for driving a Volvo while being non-white. The officer said it was because I didn't come to a full stop at the stop sign. Yes, that was probably just barely technically true at this deserted 4-way stop intersection with great visibility.
He asked me what I did for a living. I should have refused to answer that as irrelevant and none-of-his-business, and I could easily have afforded the unjust consequences (unlike many people who are racially profiled), yet I still felt powerless and coerced to answer. I regret that. I was polite, cooperative, and with my wife. The officer was rude and menacing. The racial profiling and assumptions about how I could be driving a nice car were clear as day.
Or, make it very clear with your license plate and stickers that you know your rights better than most. You will NEVER get pulled over! Going with the "I'm a lawyer"? Make sure you don't say "I'm a defense lawyer", ha!
I've been pulled over a couple of times (in different states) and I have been asked what I do for a living both times. I'm not black. It honestly felt like a normal part of their questioning procedure.
I have always been polite and honest. Got away with verbal warnings both times (was above the speed limit).
Do you really think he asked you what you did for a living out of racial profiling?
I've been pulled over multiple times and have never been asked that question. All of our sample sizes are entirely too small.
That being said, instead of thinking about the question first and then asking if it points to racial profiling, start the other way: Do you think racial profiling exists? If yes, is it plausible that an officer would ask a non-white person this question after profiling?
He asked me what I did for a living. I should have refused to answer that as irrelevant and none-of-his-business, and I could easily have afforded the unjust consequences (unlike many people who are racially profiled), yet I still felt powerless and coerced to answer. I regret that. I was polite, cooperative, and with my wife. The officer was rude and menacing. The racial profiling and assumptions about how I could be driving a nice car were clear as day.