When interacting with the police, perhaps during a traffic stop or after an arrest, you should be careful about your actions. You don’t want to make costly mistakes that can worsen the situation.
Below are four tips for dealing with the police:
Exercise your rights
You need to exercise your rights when interacting with the police. These include your right to be read your Miranda rights, your right to or not give consent to a search by a peace officer (consensual search), your right to calmly leave when not under arrest and so on.
Therefore, you need to know your rights. This can make it more manageable to interact with law enforcement and you can easily spot mistakes.
Stay calm
Dealing with the police can be overwhelming. You may be tempted to run away or get upset. But doing this may not be wise. Consider staying calm and cooperating without incriminating yourself.
For example, when exercising your right to remain silent, you don’t need to be disrespectful or avoid talking altogether. You can politely say, “I am exercising my right to remain silent,” or “I will not speak until my lawyer is present.”
Keep your hands where the police can see
When stopped or arrested by the police, always keep your hands visible at all times. Don’t reach for things in your pockets or glove compartment.
Don’t lie
Lying to the police or giving false documents can work to your disadvantage. This is because they can quickly tell you are lying by using different strategies, such as observing your speech patterns or even a minor inconsistency in your story. Besides, the police have the resources to verify documents.
If you are in a situation that requires interacting with the police, get legal guidance sooner to protect yourself.
