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What are your rights during a police encounter

These are all common sense-laden explanations of general 'rights'.

And it is a good idea to pay heed when an officer tells one to 'move along' .... so many times, there are strong reasons why the action is being encouraged, usually related to potential criminal activity which the officer does not have time to explain at that point.

If one isn't doing anything wrong, one doesn't have anything really to be concerned about. Still, it's always a wise idea to be a bit guarded; there have been criminals who have donned rental (or stolen) uniforms to camouflage their true intent.
 
AirDancer said:
These are all common sense-laden explanations of general 'rights'.

And it is a good idea to pay heed when an officer tells one to 'move along' .... so many times, there are strong reasons why the action is being encouraged, usually related to potential criminal activity which the officer does not have time to explain at that point.

If one isn't doing anything wrong, one doesn't have anything really to be concerned about. Still, it's always a wise idea to be a bit guarded; there have been criminals who have donned rental (or stolen) uniforms to camouflage their true intent.
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Yes,I have read that before.
 
One thing you never ever want to do is get out of the car if you are pulled over.
 
Very true, Kathi. You only get out of your car if you're directed to do so.

Also, when initially pulled over, don't reach for proof of insurance or your drivers license. Instead, wait until you're directed to do so. Officers are naturally on edge when approaching any vehicle; they know that many other officers have been shot when they thought the driver was going for ID & instead went for a weapon.
 
My daughter and I were going down a highway.There was a police officer off on the side of the road who had pulled someone over.I moved over on the highway a bit.Well,a second later I see his lights in my rearview mirror.I am thinking what in the world?I was going the speed limit and doing nothing wrong.Well,he comes along the side of the car."Good day ma'am.I am thinking you do not have a clue why I am pulling your over".I said "You are right officer I am clueless".He laughs and says "Do you know about the law that you have to whenever possible move over to the left hand lane when an officer is outside his vehicle and pulling someone over?".I had never heard of it.He said that unfortunately many did not know about it.He said "I will not write you a ticket but please be aware of this in the future".He said if there is a car next to you and you can not pull over you are suppose to slow down and move over as far as possible.Believe me I do that now.
 
Yes, you pull into the other lane (provided there is one available & not already 'filled') when vehicles are pulled onto the shoulder, whether it's for law enforcement or for a disabled vehicle.

The main reason for doing so: To protect anyone who might already be or who might get out of the side-lined vehicle.
 

Have you any idea why we pulled you over?
 
"...whenever possible move over to the left hand lane when an officer is outside his vehicle and pulling someone over..."

I did that even before they passed the law. Its just common courtesy. Safety first.

"...Officers are naturally on edge when approaching any vehicle..."

The public too. Civilians don't go to training courses, where they can practice how to safely interact with the police. Civilians get nervous when armed people yell at them, and do unexpected things.

I really think that police work is far too dangerous to the public to be used for revenue collection, the way many cities do. Police should concentrate on protecting the public from violent and property crimes. Civilians should perceive the police as their protectors, not be terrified that they will be shot because they nervously reached for their driver's license.

Let the IRS collect revenue.
 
kiwidan said:
Im blacklisted.

Every time i get pulled over they search my car thoughout under some section act. Everytime i go overseas i get pulled up and pulled away and fully searched both sides.

It happens everytime.
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In the US they can't search your vehicle without a warrant or your permission. If you give your permission they are suppose to have you sign a form statementing such. That protects them from being accused of an illegal search.
I would NEVER let a cop search my vehicle without a warrant. If he thinks he has just cause he can impound the vehicle until he can obtain a warrant. It would be the same with my home.
 
So much of the time officers pull a car to the side of the road, there has been some law broken by the driver or the passengers. Doesn't matter if the roadway is a highway or a street. The laws were established to keep people and property safe.
 
kiwidan said:
It dont seem to work that way always. What about national and international security?.


Why is it that every time i go through customs i get pulled aside for a 'random search'?.

So out of the many times i have traveled in the past, and the many people who we all walking the same path, i seem to be the 'random person' who gets pulled aside and fully searched as a 'random', everytime!.

Every time i have gone through customs travelling i have been searched. Not a basic search. But that person who gets seperated.
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Don't feel alone, kiwidan ... when I fly, I am the one selected for the extra scan....and my suitcases are gone through as well.

What was kind of funny: I was flying back from Scotland. Not a direct flight. Glasgow to Heathrow to Toronto to Chicago. At each landing, one bag in particular was separated from the others; it was obvious that the bag had been gone through.

What was funny about it all: that particular bag held nothing more than clean clothes, the clothes that weren't warm enough to wear while I was in Scotland! Apparently, the Downey fabric softener was still detectable throughout the entire trip.
 
AirDancer said:
If one isn't doing anything wrong, one doesn't have anything really to be concerned about. Still, it's always a wise idea to be a bit guarded; there have been criminals who have donned rental (or stolen) uniforms to camouflage their true intent.
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I heard about a guy where I live who did that. Apparently he did it just because he could, though, rather than for any sinister purpose.
 
Never ever give the police permission to search your vehicle. They are not there to let you go and be your friend. They are there to find incriminating things to charge you with. Look at it this way, if they had probable cause, they wouldn't be asking for permission to search.

The right to free travel does not mean to be searched at every stop for a fishing expedition. Officer, do you have knowledge of a specific crime that has been committed, and you think that perhaps I am the perpetrator for some reason?

Don't ever give permission even if you have nothing to hide. It sets a bad precedent that they are allowed to do this...and they're not.
 
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Deborah13 said:
In the US they can't search your vehicle without a warrant or your permission. If you give your permission they are suppose to have you sign a form statementing such. That protects them from being accused of an illegal search.
I would NEVER let a cop search my vehicle without a warrant. If he thinks he has just cause he can impound the vehicle until he can obtain a warrant. It would be the same with my home.
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I would also add "probable cause" as a reason they can search without a warrant and without your permission. But they will have to prove what the probable cause was in court before anything they find can be used against you.

They don't always have you sign a form (maybe that's the case in some local areas, but not everywhere.) Be very aware of the friendly cop who just makes what sounds like small talk and when you have let your guard down he quickly and very nonchalantly throws in something like "Hey I know you don't have anything illegal in your trunk but how about popping it open for a second just so I can say I confirmed that?" Most people are very quick to say "Sure, go ahead" and then realize they shouldn't have done that after it's too late. Maybe there's nothing there but maybe there is. What about that load of teenagers you took to the beach for your kids birthday party that put a bunch of stuff in your trunk? What might have fallen out of there stuff and fell into a crevice that you wouldn't think to look in, but the cop is trained to know where to look. You just never know once you consent to a search.

And remember too that while he's standing outside your car, anything in view through your window is fair game too. And if he sees something that looks suspicious he can order you out of the car and go in to get it. Then while he's inside if he happens to see something else from his new vantage point that he hadn't seen before, that's fair game too. So even if you are innocent, if you have a lot of passengers ride with you, it's always a good idea to keep your car really clean. Hey, I'm about the furthest thing from a drug abuser that there is. Don't even like going to the doctor and getting prescriptions. But one day while cleaning my truck I found a crack pipe with crack residue in it hidden in my passenger seat!
 
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Obadiah said:
They don't always have you sign a form (maybe that's the case in some local areas, but not everywhere.) Be very aware of the friendly cop who just makes what sounds like small talk and when you have let your guard down he quickly and very nonchalantly throws in something like "Hey I know you don't have anything illegal in your trunk but how about popping it open for a second just so I can say I confirmed that?" Most people are very quick to say "Sure, go ahead" and then realize they shouldn't have done that after it's too late. Maybe there's nothing there but maybe there is. What about that load of teenagers you took to the beach for your kids birthday party that put a bunch of stuff in your trunk? What might have fallen out of there stuff and fell into a crevice that you wouldn't think to look in, but the cop is trained to know where to look. You just never know once you consent to a search.

And remember too that while he's standing outside your car, anything in view through your window is fair game too. And if he sees something that looks suspicious he can order you out of the car and go in to get it. Then while he's inside if he happens to see something else from his new vantage point that he hadn't seen before, that's fair game too. So even if you are innocent, if you have a lot of passengers ride with you, it's always a good idea to keep your car really clean. Hey, I'm about the furthest thing from a drug abuser that there is. Don't even like going to the doctor and getting prescriptions. But one day while cleaning my truck I found a crack pipe with crack residue in it hidden in my passenger seat!
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Who put it there and why?
 
A crack head prostitute put it there. Probably just fell out of her pocket or something.

From time to time I've participated in a ministry of witnessing to drug dealers, prostitutes, and street people. Sometimes you find yourself with rather questionable people in your car or truck!
 
kiwidan said:
There is no trust in the world. Give anyone a bit of authority and they will get on a power trip.
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It can be, but it's not always a power trip. Most times it's just doing the job that the government hired them and pays them to do. Of course there's always exceptions to the rule, and when you are a victim of one of those exceptions it's hard to see the good part.
 
Ohh, they really seem to hate people who speak up. When one starts talking law and permissions and so forth to them, my experience is that they generally (not always!) get belligerent and hostile. Like who are you to question me? type of thing. You have to keep a very even toned voice and remain absolutely calm until they finish venting. But they did let me go after denying them permission to search, and did not search my vehicle.But all my paperwork checked out ok too, thank God! I'm sure that helped.
 
Don't forget, a good cop is a great actor. That's why you find that many times professional actors and cops make good friends. They actually practice the same craft. Much of what you see as belligerent and hostile is an act that is put on in order to intimidate you into complying. Then they go home and turn into Al Bundy! :lol Not to say that their aren't exceptions. But those exceptions are usually the ones that also end up in a lot of trouble with their departments and also in their private lives because they take it too personally and can't let go of it.

Yes, you have to stay calm and level headed when dealing with them. But that's true of any conversation dealing with anyone with whom you are disagreeing with, isn't it?
 
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