Know your Rights When Dealing With The Police

Police and the Government are powerless when you know your rights and use them

Police Officers don’t like to hear these words

“I Don’t Answer Questions”

“I Don’t Consent to a Search”

“Am I Free to Go?”

Know What Rights You Have During A Traffic Stop

1. Your Safety – When being pulled over by the police pull over to a safe place, turn off your ignition, stay in your vehicle and keep your hands on the steering wheel. Take a few breaths, relax and try to stay calm. Be polite and courteous. At night turn on the interior light. Don’t be searching for your insurance and license wait until the officer ask for them. Tell the officer where you will be reaching. Keep your license, registration and proof of insurance near you like in your “sun visor.” After you give the officer your papers put your hands back on the steering wheel. If you’re told to get out of your vehicle take your keys, license and insurance with you. Close and lock your car door when you get out.

2. Don’t Answer Any Questions – Other then saying yes sir or no ma’am to the officer don’t say another word or answer any questions. The police are not your friends. The Supreme Court says you should never talk to the police when being questioned when on the streets or at the police department. Don’t ever speak to the police, but there’s a catch. A new Supreme Court ruling says “you have to tell the police that you’re going to remain silent” and then don’t say another word.

The officer will usually ask questions like, ‘Do you know why I pulled you over?’ or ‘How fast do you think you were going?” Stay calm and be respectful, but don’t answer any question. No matter what the officer tells you, you are not required by law to speak or answer questions without a lawyer. Anything you say can and will be used against you at anytime by the police or the government. Bite your tongue! If you can keep your mouth shut you just might come out ahead more than you expected.

3. When asked just Say NO To Searches! – If a police officer didn’t need your permission to search, then he wouldn’t be asking you. Never give permission for a police officer to search you, your vehicle or your home. Even if you haven’t done anything wrong always say be polite and say loud enough “I don’t consent to a search.” If the officer believes he has probable cause and says he’s going to search you or your vehicle then just relax and let him search. Be polite and tell the officer “I don’t consent to a search.” Police are allowed to pat you down for weapons if you’re being “detained.” Police are not allowed to go inside your pockets and pull out your property unless you have been arrested. There’s NO law that requires you to remove anything from your pockets or take off your shoes and socks. Always politely refuse a search and say “I don’t consent to a search.”

4. Am I Free To Go? – As soon as the police officer ask you a question ask him, “AM I FREE TO GO?” You have to ask if you’re free to go, otherwise the courts have ruled that you’re voluntarily staying and talking to the police. If the officer says you’re being detained or arrested tell the police officer “I’m going to remain silent or say I don’t answer questions.”

During a traffic stop a good time to ask “AM I FREE TO GO?” is after the police officer has given you a “warning or a ticket” and you have signed it. Once you have signed the ticket the traffic stop is legally over says the U.S. Supreme Court. There’s no law that requires you to stay and talk to the police officer or answer any questions. After you have signed the ticket and have your license tell the officer to have a good day, roll your window up and leave. If you’re outside your vehicle ask the police officer, “AM I FREE TO GO?” If he says yes then get in your car and leave.

In What States Must You Produce I.D. When Demanded By A Police Officer?

The following states you must identify yourself: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri (Kansas City Only), Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Arizona’s law, only requires a person’s “true full name” to be given.

Nevada’s law, requires only that the person say his or her name.

Wisconsin’s law, allows law enforcement officers to demand ID. There is no statutory requirement to provide the police an ID nor is there a penalty for refusing to, hence Wisconsin is not a must ID state (Henes v. Morrissey).

Texas’s law, requires you to identify yourself only after you have been arrested for a crime and you’re at the police station. (A detained person or witness to a crime is not required to provide their name or show ID.)

Anything You Say Can And Will Be Used Against You!

You have every right NOT to talk to a police officer and you should NOT talk to a police officer unless you have first consulted with a lawyer and that lawyer has advised you differently. You can’t be arrested for not talking. Police officers depend on fear and intimidation to get what they want and this includes forcing you to give up your rights. The government made a law that allows police officers to lie to the American citizens. This is another reason not to trust the police.

Never voluntarily talk to the police, there’s no such thing as a “friendly chat.” Let the police do all the talking and you remain silent. The Supreme Court has ruled that you should NOT talk to a police officer even if you have NOT been arrested. You must say out loud these magic words, “I’m going to remain silent or say I don’t answer questions.” It can be very dangerous to talk to a police officer or a Federal Agent. Innocent people have talked to the police, ended up in jail and prison because they spoke to a police officer without an attorney.

The Supreme Court has ruled as long as the police officer doesn’t force you to do something, then you’re doing it “voluntarily.” This means if the police officer starts being a bully, intimidating you and you do what the police officer “ask” you to do because you’re “afraid,” the court have ruled you have done it voluntarily.

Be as nice as possible to the police officer, but stand your ground on your rights! Where do some of your rights come from? You should memorize your Fourth and Fifth Amendments.

Passengers traveling in your vehicle need to know they have rights as well. In many states the law doesn’t require you to identify yourself if you’re a passenger. Passengers have the same rights, NOT to talk to the police. Police sometimes will separate the passengers and ask questions to see if their stories match. All passengers should always give the same answer, “I Don’t Answer Questions” and ask “Am I Free to Go?”

Police Can Search Your Car Without a Warrant If

1) If you give permission for the police to search.

2) An officer can search your car if he see’s something illegal “in plain view.” If the officer walks up and can plainly see an open container of alcohol, bag of weed or the cop smells weed coming from inside the car.

3) Your car can be searched if an officer has probable cause to suspect a crime. For example, it’s not illegal to have blood on your front seats, to have a black eye, or to have a ripped-up purse in the car. But all those things in conjunction could be suspicious to an officer.

Never Open Your Door At Home When The Police Knock!

If the police knock on your door at home, there’s no law that requires you to open your door to the police. *Don’t open your door, ignore them, say anything and they’ll go away. “Don’t worry if the police do have a search warrant they won’t be knocking.” Don’t open your door, ignore them, don’t say anything and they’ll go away.

* In some emergency situations police are allowed to enter your home (for example when someone is screaming for help from inside your home, police are chasing someone into your house, police see a felony being committed or if someone has called 911 from inside your house.)

If ANY occupants inside your house gives the police permission to enter and search your home, then the police now have the right to enter your home and search. The Supreme Court has ruled that anyone in your residence can give permission for the police to search your home. This means for instance your children, spouse, visiting neighbor, friend or anyone that is inside your home can give the police permission to enter and search even if you say no.

Guest and roommates staying in your home/apartment/dorm need to be told of their rights and not to open your door to the police or invite the police in without your permission. Police officers are like Vampires, they need your permission to come into your home.

Police Officers Are Allowed To LIE To Make You Talk

The following are lie’s cops use when they’re trying to get you to talk: “You will have to stay here and answer my questions,” “you’re not leaving until I find out what I want to know.” “I have evidence against you, so tell me what you know or else.” “If you don’t answer my questions you’ll be charged with resisting arrest, obstruction or hindering an investigation.” (Cops can fabricate fake evidence to convince you to tell them what they want to know.)

Can We Trust Police Officers?

The Supreme Court has ruled that police officers can lie to the American people. Police officers are trained at lying, twisting words and being manipulative. Police officers and other law enforcement agents are very skilled at getting information from people. So don’t try to “out smart” the cop because you will lose! If you can keep your mouth shut, you just might come out ahead more than you expected.

Although police officers may seem nice and pretend to be on your side when really they want to learn about your habits, opinions, and affiliations of other people you know. Answering a police officers questions can be very dangerous! You can never tell how a seemingly harmless a bit of information that you give to a police officer might be used and misconstrued to hurt you, your family or a fiend.

If You’re Arrested

“I WILL NOT TALK UNTIL I HAVE A LAWYER!”

* Don’t answer any questions the police ask you, (except for your name, address and age once you’re at the “jail.”) Any other questions the police officer ask you, just say I want a lawyer.

* Never talk to other jail inmates about your case.

* Within a reasonable amount of time after you have been arrested and booked, the cops should allow you to make a phone call to a lawyer, bail bondsman, relative or any other person you choose. The cops can not listen to your phone call if you’re talking to your lawyer.

* The longest you can be held in jail, with out seeing a judge is 72 hours. If you get arrested on a Friday during a 3 day weekend, you won’t see the judge until Tuesday morning. Generally you will get out of jail within 4 to 24 hours if you can make bail.

* If you’re on probation or parole, only tell your P.O. that you’ve been arrested and don’t say anything else.

The information on this website does not constitute legal advice. The purpose of this information is to provide general information to the public, to raise awareness and as a public service. Do NOT read anything here and make a decision affecting your legal rights. Conduct your own research of your state and federal laws. Also read the The United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Updated: 06.15.2017