needs to be on time or at least contact you and let you know she may be running a little late so you are not sitting out in your car and looking like a suspicious character. Originally Posted by davidfree986Spot on in that you are sitting in a strange place and what do you tell a cop if he ask what your doing there?
Spot on in that you are sitting in a strange place and what do you tell a cop if he ask what your doing there?You didn't have to answer any of his questions. "Am I being detained or am I free to go" goes a long way. The only thing you're required to do is identify yourself. You have a right to remain silent. Use it.
I could say I'm waiting on friend but then one question leads to another and I would prefer not to be put in that situation.
I was stopped by a cop at a Super 8 after coming out from a visit and was asked if I was a guest in the Motel. My no was followed up with what room number and the name of the quest which I provided....when I said Diamond was the person I was visiting he knew what was up. He was looking for people who had been burglarizing cars in the adjoining parking lots and had no interest that I had just banged a hooker. Originally Posted by ahab11
You didn't have to answer any of his questions. "Am I being detained or am I free to go" goes a long way. The only thing you're required to do is identify yourself. You have a right to remain silent. Use it. Originally Posted by Roger.Smithwhile technically true, I think that would have been a wrong attitude to take.. I say attitude, because the Cop would likely be irritated with the answer, and if I were the cop I would think he was a suspect in the vehicle break-ins based on his answer.. a warrant check would follow, and IF I let him go, his image would seer in my memory.. when he pulled away from his parking space, I might radio one of my buddies to make a traffic stop.
while technically true, I think that would have been a wrong attitude to take.. I say attitude, because the Cop would likely be irritated with the answer, and if I were the cop I would think he was a suspect in the vehicle break-ins based on his answer.. a warrant check would follow, and IF I let him go, his image would seer in my memory.. when he pulled away from his parking space, I might radio one of my buddies to make a traffic stop.I've been in that position before when driving in areas known for forbidden topics on this board. People wind up in jail because they talk to the police. My business law professor in college gave us great advice about the police. He said "If they had enough to arrest you, they wouldn't be talking to you". That has proven to be true in my experience. I was pulled over in Fair Park a few years ago for no reason, but the officer said one of my tail lights was brighter than the other. I know it was really because I didn't look like I belong in Fair Park. The officer asked me what I was doing in "this part of town" at night. I responded "Driving". He got agitated telling me how it was a high crime area and someone like me would only be there if I was up to no good, which was true. I responded to that by asking if I was being detained, or if I was free to go. He went back to his car to run my license and check for warrants. I was clean, so he let me go and gave me some condescending spiel, but I was free to go. He was never going to write me a ticket for having one tail light brighter than the other.
why test the parameters of the law? Originally Posted by Chung Tran
You didn't have to answer any of his questions. "Am I being detained or am I free to go" goes a long way. The only thing you're required to do is identify yourself. You have a right to remain silent. Use it. Originally Posted by Roger.Smith
I've been in that position before when driving in areas known for forbidden topics on this board. People wind up in jail because they talk to the police. My business law professor in college gave us great advice about the police. He said "If they had enough to arrest you, they wouldn't be talking to you". That has proven to be true in my experience. I was pulled over in Fair Park a few years ago for no reason, but the officer said one of my tail lights was brighter than the other. I know it was really because I didn't look like I belong in Fair Park. The officer asked me what I was doing in "this part of town" at night. I responded "Driving". He got agitated telling me how it was a high crime area and someone like me would only be there if I was up to no good, which was true. I responded to that by asking if I was being detained, or if I was free to go. He went back to his car to run my license and check for warrants. I was clean, so he let me go and gave me some condescending spiel, but I was free to go. He was never going to write me a ticket for having one tail light brighter than the other.That cop did have a reason to pull you over and it was not your tail light, and he actually answered your reason for pulling you over, which was reasonable suspicion, he had it and he was right.
You should always remain calm and polite of course, but pissing a cop off isn't against the law. If an officer decides wants to violate my civil rights, then I'll file a civil rights complaint. Police count on people not knowing their rights. People go about it the wrong way by arguing with police, screaming that they know their rights like that woman who died in jail in south Texas. Don't tell the police you know your rights, show them. Originally Posted by Roger.Smith