Pull over to a safe place as soon as possible. You don’t have to stop the car on a dangerous part of the road, but pull over as soon as you see a safe spot and turn off your car. Turn on your internal light. This will make the officer more comfortable to approach your car. Open the window a crack. Don’t open the door, since that looks like you’re getting out to confront the officer. But put down your window several inches. Put your hands on the steering wheel so that the officer can see them when she or he approaches your window. Tell the officer where your registration is located, and ask if you can get it: “That’s in my glove compartment box. Can I get it?”
To calm yourself, take a deep breath and hold it for a couple of seconds. Then slowly release the air. Take another deep breath.
Also don’t think that you can get out of an arrest by faking a panic attack or another medical emergency. This will only prolong the amount of time that you stay in police custody.
Instead, you should follow their directions. If the police tell you to turn around, then turn around. If the police are hurting you, then tell them: “That hurts” or “The handcuffs are too tight. ” However, you should avoid pulling your hands away or physically resisting, even if you feel some pain.
Don’t fight over space (“I was sitting there!”) or about who gets to use the phone first. Instead, try to remain as polite as possible. You also shouldn’t talk about the incident with them. Anything you say to anybody can later be used against you. Accordingly, whatever you say to other arrestees in jail or in the back of the police car could come out at trial.
If you consent, then the police don’t need any sort of suspicion or probable cause. For this reason, you should not consent to the search of your vehicle or belongings. [8] X Research source If the officer asks, “Can I look in your trunk?” then you need to politely say, “I don’t give you permission, officer. ”
You must tell the police you want to remain silent to invoke that right. Sometimes, police don’t like it when you know the law. Unfortunately, you may be escalating the situation by telling the police you want to be quiet. Nevertheless, silence is so important that you need to run the risk of the officer getting angry with you.
If the police say you do not need a lawyer or that hiring a lawyer would make you seem guilty, they’re lying to you. Police officers hate lawyers because they know all of the dirty tricks the police use while interrogating people that you will not notice. Remember, the police can legally lie to you but not the other way around. In addition to the above, even police officers tell their own friends and family to never talk to the police and to ask for a lawyer if they get arrested, the officer interviewing you would do the same so do not let them make you feel guilty for lawyering up. They are your enemies in court so they will do what they can to get you convicted. Do not sign anything the cops ask you to sign, it may be a trap. When the police ask you to sign something, say: “I refuse to sign this without my attorney present”. Do not sign that form unless your attorney says it’s safe to sign. If you did not commit any crime, do not talk to the police. You will not be able to convince them that they are wrong. They will deliberately make inconsistencies in your statements to make you seem guilty. If you did commit a crime, do not talk to the police. In order for you to be convicted, the prosecutor must prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that you’re guilty. Not talking to the police increases your chances of winning in court while talking to them, depending on how much information you gave them, will only make it very hard or impossible to win. The interrogator is trained to obtain confessions using the Reid Technique which is infamously known for getting innocent people wrongly convicted or even executed for a crime they did not commit. The officer may lie: The camera is turned off so it’s safe to make incriminating statements. Your friend told them everything and want to hear your side of the story. If you talk to them, the sooner you will go home. If you talk to them, your sentencing will go easier or they’ll drop the charges. Someone saw what you did and told them, they may make the person up. Using fake evidence that makes you seem guilty. You failed the lie detector test despite the results show you told the truth. They saw you on footage doing the crime. They are on your side or are your friend and trying to help you. That asking for a lawyer is an admission of guilt.
The prosecutor is a lawyer. They know how to direct or cross-examine witnesses, introduce evidence, make objections, and select a jury. It is highly unlikely that you possess any of these skills. The judge cannot help you. The judge may be generous to advise you on your constitutional rights, but anything beyond that is illegal. The law is very complicated. Going to court without representation is equivalent to performing your own surgery without the help of a medical doctor.
Were you told you had the right to remain silent before being questioned? Were you also told you had the right to an attorney? If not, then you can probably get anything you say thrown out of court. Did the officer show you a warrant when they came to your home to arrest you? If not, then the arrest may be unconstitutional. Did you consent to any search? Be honest with your lawyer. If you consented, then you have limited defenses. Were the police rough with you? For example, the police might have sent a dog to bite and hold you without giving you a warning. Or the police might have put you in a choke hold although you weren’t resisting. Remember these details and tell your lawyer about the force the police used against you. You might be able to file a written complaint later. [11] X Research source
However, you must always judge protecting your rights against how angry you might be making the police. Some officers could get aggressive if they don’t want to be video recorded. You have to balance preserving evidence against the need to defuse the situation. An alternative to filming is to ask bystanders to take down important information, like the squad car number and the names or descriptions of the officers. These bystanders could be important witnesses in the future.
The booking process varies at each jail. You don’t have the right to an immediate phone call, so don’t start throwing your weight around by yelling, “I have the right to a phone call!” In fact, if you are aggressive with the police, they might delay your ability to call an attorney. [13] X Research source Wait to be booked and then ask, “Can I make a phone call now?” Also be persistent. The police might process you then forget about you. You might have to ask the officer more than once. Always be polite: “I haven’t had a chance to make my phone call, officer. Can I call now?”
In some departments, the police might actually make the call for you. Give them the name and phone number of who you want to call. Police make the call for you so that you don’t contact someone and instruct them to destroy evidence or flee the police. If you can’t reach anyone on your first call, ask if you can make another. Police have discretion, and generally they will let you make as many calls as you need, provided you are not abusing the privilege. [14] X Research source Line up your attorney first. This is your top priority. You can ask to make other phone calls—e. g. , to your boss (to tell them you’ll miss work) or to arrange day care—but make sure to get a lawyer first.
You will probably have to complete an application to request a public defender. This application will request personal information, such as your monthly income and assets (bank accounts, life insurance, real estate).
