Can someone explain to me how "are you a cop?" works?
 

Can cops lie whether they are cops or not? Basically, if someone were to do something illegal (drug exchange, prostitution, etc) can both parties involved in the transaction be safe from the law simply by asking 'are you a cop?'

Excuse my ignorance

yes they can lie

Cops do not have to ever tell citizens The Truth, in fact, they are given power to LIE to "get the truth" out of you...

http://www.snopes.com/risque/hookers/cop.asp

Oh neat I didnt know that

Shame though.. :disgust

Think about it, a cops on a big under cover operation buying a ton of cocaine.
Can the seller ask, are you a cop?

sure he can ask
then the cop lies
buys the coke
does the bust

You watch too much TV

Cops and informants are given permission to break the law, so no. It doesn't work.

I read that before money is exchanged the hooker can ask the john to pull down his pants and show his goods to them. Cops are not allowed to do this so it gets around the lie.

Wrong again. Paid informants is another way they can get around that as well. Trust me, if they want to get you, they'll get you one way or another. It's that simple.

damn.. i always thought they had to admit ti

Cops can do whatever they want.

It's a complete fiction believed only by dumb criminals and gullible people that police officers cannot deny being law enforcement when asked. They can lie, make up stories and they do all the time when dealing with perps. Detectives questioning a person for a crime can even make promises like they won't be charged with a certain crime to get you to talk and then if the assistant D.A. wants to press charges later that is up to them.