So many things when it comes to police stops. There is absolutely a problem with policing in America but there is a list of things you ARE required to do when stopped by the police, whether you agree with them or not, and refusing doesn’t help you and only helps them. Yes you are required to have your license on you when driving, and yes you must display and/or hand it over to police when asked. Yes they can ask you to step out of the car. Yes they can search your car if they tow it. Hell watch a few videos on YouTube of traffic stops and you’ll quickly figure out what you do and do not have to comply with. And you will never, ever win an argument with the police on the side of the road, save it for court.
One thing to note is that they are allowed to lie to you, so like you said, important to know your rights, but mostly they can find probable cause to do whatever.
POLITELY assert your rights on the streets. If an officer asks if they can search your trunk, tell them that you would rather they didn’t.
“Do I have to” and it’s variants are deferential without necessarily ceding your rights in a way that “oh, sure” does. They don’t need any cause at all if you give permission, and if you give permission it’s going to be hard or impossible to argue later that it was an unreasonable search.
The sad truth is that you need to assume that you’re on camera whenever you interact with a police officer, act as if whatever you say will be either edited and shown to the jury or described to them out of context to justify whatever bad actions the officer takes.
100% be polite and even friendly, but 0% on “just let the officer do whatever and think you can fight it in court later.”
Very simple, “I do not consent to any search,” but do not interfere with armed people. Once you have asserted your right, you should not try to impede them violating them. Too risky. Let the courts protect you. Or hope that they do, at least.
So many things when it comes to police stops. There is absolutely a problem with policing in America but there is a list of things you ARE required to do when stopped by the police, whether you agree with them or not, and refusing doesn’t help you and only helps them. Yes you are required to have your license on you when driving, and yes you must display and/or hand it over to police when asked. Yes they can ask you to step out of the car. Yes they can search your car if they tow it. Hell watch a few videos on YouTube of traffic stops and you’ll quickly figure out what you do and do not have to comply with. And you will never, ever win an argument with the police on the side of the road, save it for court.
One thing to note is that they are allowed to lie to you, so like you said, important to know your rights, but mostly they can find probable cause to do whatever.
Best advice I ever heard.
Always treat cops as if they just came from dealing with something really awful.
They might have just seen a child abuse case, or a really bad accident, of a fire.
Assert your rights in the court, not in the street.
POLITELY assert your rights on the streets. If an officer asks if they can search your trunk, tell them that you would rather they didn’t.
“Do I have to” and it’s variants are deferential without necessarily ceding your rights in a way that “oh, sure” does. They don’t need any cause at all if you give permission, and if you give permission it’s going to be hard or impossible to argue later that it was an unreasonable search.
The sad truth is that you need to assume that you’re on camera whenever you interact with a police officer, act as if whatever you say will be either edited and shown to the jury or described to them out of context to justify whatever bad actions the officer takes.
100% be polite and even friendly, but 0% on “just let the officer do whatever and think you can fight it in court later.”
Very simple, “I do not consent to any search,” but do not interfere with armed people. Once you have asserted your right, you should not try to impede them violating them. Too risky. Let the courts protect you. Or hope that they do, at least.
Fantastic response