Top 5 Do’s and Don’ts When You Are Stopped by The Police
5. Limit your answer to the questions that are asked. Be very careful about answering general questions that are unrelated to the stop. Even questions that are seemingly related to the stop may be beyond the scope of the police officer’s right to know. For example, if you are stopped for a minor moving violation, you do not have to answer questions about the contents of your vehicle.
4. Remain calm even if you feel nervous. Your movements and conduct may become the basis for the police officer to develop a reasonable suspicion of illegal activity which could, after further investigation, develop into probable cause that there is something improper. Probable cause is all the officer needs to arrest you and begin an extensive search of your vehicle.
3. If you are signaled to stop in a poorly lit or uninhabited area and feel uncomfortable about the location, slow down, call 911 and explain that you are being pulled over and feel uncomfortable in the location where you are being signaled to stop. Have the 911 operator check to ensure that the person puling you over is in fact a police officer. You may then ask the operator to communicate to the police officer behind you your apprehension and request to continue until you find a well lit area and possibly witnesses.
2. Be polite when answering questions, giving the police your license and registration and when addressing the police. Aggressive behavior or language will not help your situation, and could provide more reason for the police to detain you or conduct a search. A moving violation can be addressed with the courts and contesting the issue with police at the time of the violation is not the best way to achieve a positive outcome.
1. NEVER consent to a search. By asking you for permission to search, the police officer is telling you that he has no right to do it. Becareful about the trick where the police officer returns all your documents and driver’s license and very nicely thanks you for being cooperative; then, as he is returning to his vehicle, he says “do you mind if I take a quick look inside your car?” This trick is tried and tested and has been found to work almost everytime. Resist the urge to say yes. Say NO. And even if you do say yes. You can always change your mind and withdraw your consent.
Puckett & Faraj PC
Neal Puckett and Haytham Faraj are criminal defense and general litigation attorneys and partners in the The Law Firm of Puckett and Faraj. They have decades of experience in defending military members in courts-martial and administrative hearings. They are also premier trial attorneys who have represneted clients in a variety of cases.
Tags: administrative hearinsg, attorneys, consent, court-martial, court-martial attorney, Criminal Defense, haytham faraj, interrogation, neal puckett, police stop, Probable Cause, search, Search and Seizure, vehiclular stop
