Red and blue lights are flashing behind you. You’ve got drugs in the trunk of your car. Or maybe something worse. Don’t put your life at the mercy of a cop’s morality. It’s time to assert your rights. Bonus points for charming your way out of a traffic ticket – but NEVER at the cost of consenting to a life-ruining search.

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Getting Pulled Over

Put your hazards on, give the office a polite wave and slow down to pull over. If you’re on an interstate or extremely busy road it’s okay to drive ahead to a safe spot to pull over. If you’ve signaled to the cop that you acknowledge that he’s pulling you over, he’ll probably appreciate you looking for a spot that doesn’t put him in the middle of highway traffic. If your “safe spot” happens to be a gas station (with a good likelihood of having a camera), great. Once you’re pulled over (as long as you’re not hiding something – that stuff should be in your trunk anyways), turn the dome light on. Hands on the wheel and window down as he approaches – you want to convey: I’m a friendly non-criminal.

Polite but Uncooperative

You can be a jerk. You can raise your voice and be confrontational. Should you? Not unless you want to trigger the cop’s “Bully-Authority versus Perp” mentality. Being polite and being cooperative are two VERY different things.

Frisking: Just SAY No

A cop can frisk you if they have a reasonable basis for thinking you’re armed. Doesn’t mean you should EVER consent to a search. Be sure the cop hears you say “respectfully officer, I’m not resisting but I don’t consent to searches.” Do not physically resist, but clearly state your lack of consent. You don’t need to explain why or express any deep understanding of the law – the cop surely thinks they know more than you. This isn’t a battle of wits or wills, it’s just you firmly asserting your rights. Being right means you don’t need to explain yourself.

Am I Free to Go?

If the cop stalls or threatens to bring in a K-9 unit, ask “am I being detained or am I free to go?” If you don’t get a straight answer - ask again. There’s a way to do this politely without triggering any bullying behavior.

Getting Arrested

If you ARE being detained it’s time to ask for a lawyer. “Officer, I respectfully assert my right to silence and I’d like to talk to my lawyer.”

Tom Grieve: Criminal Defense Attorney, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Read more about what to do when getting arrested. Convicted in Waukesha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine county or the surrounding Wisconsin communities? Call Tom Grieve.

You Are Only Guilty If You Are Convicted ®