NEVER, talk to the police.

[asterism]

I was on a jury one time for a criminal trial (DUI), a call was made 2 blocks away, different brand vehicle-and color. The man in the car was sleeping, the car was turned off and parked (legally) in a parking lot. The man claimed he was a diabetic, and needed to rest before going home. The cop in the video would frequently turn the audio on and off, and when another cop approached the scene (who refused to testify against the suspect), the main cop told him to mute his mic when when he told him to, to talk undetected-and they actually did this.

The state of Florida tried the guy with DUI, even though he had an alibi (he was at work like a half hour before that, and didn't drink there), did have diabetes (medical records proved), and as I said one cop at the scene refused to testify (at the trial it came out he was asked to).

Long story short-after a 2 day trial it was obvious the state of Florida was covering their own officer's ass against this man who did nothing wrong. It took us about 5 mins to reach our not-guilty verdict. It was an eye-opening experience to say the least.

edit: forgot to mention the guy passed all the tests the cop gave him to determine sobriety-and did so on video (which we saw).

This must be Jacksonville.

Another story in Jacksonville - a guy took his employees out for some drinks after a really hard week. He had a total of five beers in 3 hours. Instead of driving home he sat in his car in the parking lot of the store he owned next door and dozed off. A cop knocked on his window and told him he was illegally parked. When the guy told him that this was his property and he was just waiting a little while the cop said that if he didn't move the car he was going to jail and his car was going to get towed. The guy asked if he could ask someone else to move it or call a tow truck to take him home. The cop said, "No, just move your car over there." As soon as the guy put his keys in the ignition the cop ordered him to step out of the car and he administered a DUI test. He blew a .08 and got arrested for DUI. His lawyer told him to fight it but that it would be expensive so he plead nolo contendere not knowing that such a plea is viewed as "guilty" in the business world. His business practice license was suspended and he had to give away half of the company just to keep from laying off 50 people.

And all because he wanted to reward his folks and thought it was a good idea to wait an hour in his own parking lot before driving home. The easy answer is, "well why didn't he just open the bar tab and leave?" Well I've done that and as it turns out it's counterproductive because the impression it leaves is that I'm "too good to hang out with the workers." I learned a lesson from my friend though, NEVER drive home from a company party. I was taking some medication for ulcers a few years back and I couldn't have any alcohol with it. I still got a ride with a private car service just because I knew walking out of a bar from a company party meant I had a target on my back.

 

[Ernie S.]

I don't blame all police for the actions of a few, any more than you can call me racist for disliking barack obama.

Maybe 10 years back, I went out after 1 AM for a pint of Ben and Jerrys'. On my way home,. I came to a stop light clearly marked "No right turn on red". I had been sitting there for what seemed like 20 minutes without a single car passing the intersection when a car pulled up behind me. We both sat there another hour or so it felt. The other driver flashed his brights a couple times and I figured "What the hell?" and made my right after not seeing another car in either direction. The car behind me followed for maybe 100 yards and then turned on the light show. He was writing a ticket when he got a real call and let me slide.

 

[asterism]

Umm, you're all starting to sound sort of like the Jared Loughners of the world. His rantings about the police would fit right in with this thread.

Yup. That's where the accusations have some serious bite - the pro-big government types have created the narrative where anyone who mistrusts the government is a wackjob that's going to kill a Judge and accidentally hit a Member of Congress.

Actually, you said that, I did not.

Yes I did.

 

[asterism]

I don't blame all police for the actions of a few, any more than you can call me racist for disliking barack obama.

Maybe 10 years back, I went out after 1 AM for a pint of Ben and Jerrys'. On my way home,. I came to a stop light clearly marked "No right turn on red". I had been sitting there for what seemed like 20 minutes without a single car passing the intersection when a car pulled up behind me. We both sat there another hour or so it felt. The other driver flashed his brights a couple times and I figured "What the hell?" and made my right after not seeing another car in either direction. The car behind me followed for maybe 100 yards and then turned on the light show. He was writing a ticket when he got a real call and let me slide.

I don't blame all for the actions of a few either. I blame the system and society for assuming guilt just because I understand the system. I will never assume that anyone has anything to hide just because they take the 5th.

 

[William Joyce]

If you go into a interview room and remain completely 100% silent, what can they do to you?

I'm not a lawyer but I'm pretty sure there is not much they can do at all. And they have to let you go after X amount of hours (depending on what your brought in for in the first place, it's pretty much charge you or let you go).

Well, it's like one of my criminal law professors said:

The cops can throw you down the stairs. Or they can charge you with a crime.

They just can't do both!

 

[xotoxi]

If you go into a interview room and remain completely 100% silent, what can they do to you?

Keep you for awhile then let you go. Depends on the circumstances. Did they actually make an arrest or are you just being detained? These are important things to consider.

They detained me as a "person of interest" because I was covered in blood and was walking down the center of the street one block from where a woman had her head sawn off by a kitchen knife.

 

[whitehall]

The Founding Fathers created the most amazing document in the history of civilization about 220 years ago but somehow the federal judiciary decided during the 1960's that the 5th Amendment wasn't good enough. In a borderline oxy-moron ruling the feds determined that every Police officer in the greatest Country in the world would be required to advise a suspect upon arrest to keep his mouth shut before he was asked why he held a smoking gun in his hand. Miranda is flawed but it is so ingrained in the culture that it's here to stay.

 

[JamesInFlorida]

I don't blame all police for the actions of a few, any more than you can call me racist for disliking barack obama.

Maybe 10 years back, I went out after 1 AM for a pint of Ben and Jerrys'. On my way home,. I came to a stop light clearly marked "No right turn on red". I had been sitting there for what seemed like 20 minutes without a single car passing the intersection when a car pulled up behind me. We both sat there another hour or so it felt. The other driver flashed his brights a couple times and I figured "What the hell?" and made my right after not seeing another car in either direction. The car behind me followed for maybe 100 yards and then turned on the light show. He was writing a ticket when he got a real call and let me slide.

I certainly agree-I think the overwhelming majority of cops don't act irresponsible, but I also think citizens has to be careful-because you don't know which ones are going to, or not. So in other words I assume they will (even though they most likely wont-and I've gotten a few tickets before, and I absolutely deserved them all ).

 

[saltshaker]

I didn't watch the vid's this time but I've seen then both a few times. Hell, I've posted them both here at USMB at least once before.

In any case I think EVERYONE should watch these vid's at least once a year. (more if your one of the usual suspects, lol) If you don't have time at the moment, save them to your You Tube favorites and watch them when you can, you will be glad you did.


*(Just for the record, I did not know it was illegal to be in possession of a lobster)

It's only illegal to be in illegal possession of a lobster. Legal possession of a lobster is legal where it is legal in most states. Hypothetically speaking, so to speak.

 

[Lyte]

I didn't watch the vid's this time but I've seen then both a few times. Hell, I've posted them both here at USMB at least once before.

In any case I think EVERYONE should watch these vid's at least once a year. (more if your one of the usual suspects, lol) If you don't have time at the moment, save them to your You Tube favorites and watch them when you can, you will be glad you did.


*(Just for the record, I did not know it was illegal to be in possession of a lobster)

It's only illegal to be in illegal possession of a lobster. Legal possession of a lobster is legal where it is legal in most states. Hypothetically speaking, so to speak.

16 U.S.C. § 3370 "It is unlawful for any person....to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire or purchase any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States or in violation of any Indian tribal law or regulation of any State or any foreign law."

The fact that US law expects US citizens to know not just the US law, but the law of every other country out there just to be law abiding citizens - is ludicrous, as "not knowing the law" is not a defence in court.

 

[George Costanza]

Whether you are guilty or not does not matter. When questioned by police you should always invoke your rights under Miranda. Always.

They are not looking to be your pal, they are not looking to do anything other than, get YOU to do their job for them by incriminating yourself.

This isn't a knock on the profession, it's just reality. Interrogations are for one reason only: For you to give them something they don't have. Otherwise, they wouldn't even bother with it and just book you.

They fish. It's their job.

I was pulled over whilst driving, and the cop said "Do you know why I stopped you?"

I said "I will not answer without a lawyer."

It all went downhill from there.

It should be "once in custody". If you are pulled over..be polite. Always.

You think you are not "in custody" when you are pulled over? Try driving off as the cop saunters up to your car. I know, I know . . . the law says you are not "in custody" during a routine traffic stop. But, for all practical purposes, you are very much in custody.

Hell, you are "in custody" if a seemingly friendly cop strolls up to you on the sidewalk, smiles and says, "How ya doin' today?" Think not? Try giving the cop a blank look and keep on walking without recognizing his existence.

 

[George Costanza]

The Founding Fathers created the most amazing document in the history of civilization about 220 years ago but somehow the federal judiciary decided during the 1960's that the 5th Amendment wasn't good enough. In a borderline oxy-moron ruling the feds determined that every Police officer in the greatest Country in the world would be required to advise a suspect upon arrest to keep his mouth shut before he was asked why he held a smoking gun in his hand. Miranda is flawed but it is so ingrained in the culture that it's here to stay.

Next time you are being questioned by the police, go ahead and conduct yourself along these lines. I'll drop you a line in prison.

 

[whitehall]

You left out a part as in "never talk to the police IF YOU ARE GUILTY". Otherwise you should definitely talk to the police if you witness a crime or you are a victim of a crime.

 

[Wry Catcher]

Check the attitude, the more attitude the more curious the officer becomes. If detained, always invoke your rights; if detained the officer and his supervisor (who approves all detentions) have probable cause and believe you have violated a law.
Remember, you have one phone call so it's a good idea to have an attorney card in your wallet or purse, do your homework and find out what it costs for them to respond. Sticker shock can be more traumatic than the detention/arrest.

 

[del]

Whether you are guilty or not does not matter. When questioned by police you should always invoke your rights under Miranda. Always.

They are not looking to be your pal, they are not looking to do anything other than, get YOU to do their job for them by incriminating yourself.

This isn't a knock on the profession, it's just reality. Interrogations are for one reason only: For you to give them something they don't have. Otherwise, they wouldn't even bother with it and just book you.

They fish. It's their job.

I was pulled over whilst driving, and the cop said "Do you know why I stopped you?"

I said "I will not answer without a lawyer."

It all went downhill from there.

It should be "once in custody". If you are pulled over..be polite. Always.

i was pulled over last night. the cop said he pulled me over because i was speeding. i agreed that i was speeding because i was late to pick up my daughter. (45 in a 30). he told me to slow down, and i thanked him and was on my way. the funny thing was, i would have been on time if i hadn't been speeding and gotten pulled over; as it was, i was 2 minutes late.

 

[Douger]

I cannot stress this enough. While you can't legally lie to a cop, they can lie to you. Be very careful when it comes to them trying gain access to your vehicle. There are tricks. Never allow them to search your car, ever, even if they threaten you with the stupid drug dog. It's a feingned attempt to intimidate you.

The cop stated that "if I want to stop you, all I have to do is follow you. If I follow you long enough you're going to get nervous and make a mistake. Then I have a legal reason to stop you".

And that is 100% true. I got pulled over for using my turn signal too late and then got my car ripped apart because it "fit the description" of a car used in a local drug buy. Long story short, they didn't find shit and the actual car used in the deal was found at the same time by another crew. My stereo system got completely trashed and my glove box never stayed closed after that so I filed for compensation - mainly because I was detained for 6 hours. Never arrested, but told that I could either wait at the scene or get taken to the jail. I got denied because it was a "legal" stop. I inquired about the legality of it and was told I broke the law because I turned on the signal too early. Thousands of dollars and a forensic analysis of the tape later, I was wrong. I signaled 5 feet too late.

During this process, I was told by friends that I should just drop it. When that didn't work I noticed I always had a Police Escort whenever I left my neighborhood. The joke was on them though, I felt safe knowing that I could always be harassed at a moment's notice driving to the office and these days I miss not having the backup when I've got my kids in the car and I drive through a very bad section of town.

But yeah, I got a few tickets during that time. Did you know that driving too slow is creating an unsafe traffic condition and that's also against the law? We're not talking 40 in a 65, we're talking 25 in a 45 with a cop on your bumper and a red light 350 feet in front of you.

A better solution would have been to go home, grab the Mossberg, and meet them back at the station when they were changing shifts.
Someday people are going to wake up and start killing these Nazi pieces of shit.
I'm sure they all laughed back at the station after destroying your car and costing you money. They LOVE that shit.
One more reason that. I'm not fucking there !!!

The pieces of shit are corrupt here too but the occasional bottle of moonshine or some herb dropped off at the station and you're good to go.
They also know I'm pretty much insane due to doing some " law enforcement" that they wouldn't touch.

 

[Wry Catcher]

The cop stated that "if I want to stop you, all I have to do is follow you. If I follow you long enough you're going to get nervous and make a mistake. Then I have a legal reason to stop you".

And that is 100% true. I got pulled over for using my turn signal too late and then got my car ripped apart because it "fit the description" of a car used in a local drug buy. Long story short, they didn't find shit and the actual car used in the deal was found at the same time by another crew. My stereo system got completely trashed and my glove box never stayed closed after that so I filed for compensation - mainly because I was detained for 6 hours. Never arrested, but told that I could either wait at the scene or get taken to the jail. I got denied because it was a "legal" stop. I inquired about the legality of it and was told I broke the law because I turned on the signal too early. Thousands of dollars and a forensic analysis of the tape later, I was wrong. I signaled 5 feet too late.

During this process, I was told by friends that I should just drop it. When that didn't work I noticed I always had a Police Escort whenever I left my neighborhood. The joke was on them though, I felt safe knowing that I could always be harassed at a moment's notice driving to the office and these days I miss not having the backup when I've got my kids in the car and I drive through a very bad section of town.

But yeah, I got a few tickets during that time. Did you know that driving too slow is creating an unsafe traffic condition and that's also against the law? We're not talking 40 in a 65, we're talking 25 in a 45 with a cop on your bumper and a red light 350 feet in front of you.

A better solution would have been to go home, grab the Mossberg, and meet them back at the station when they were changing shifts.
Someday people are going to wake up and start killing these Nazi pieces of shit.
I'm sure they all laughed back at the station after destroying your car and costing you money. They LOVE that shit.
One more reason that. I'm not fucking there !!!

The pieces of shit are corrupt here too but the occasional bottle of moonshine or some herb dropped off at the station and you're good to go.
They also know I'm pretty much insane due to doing some " law enforcement" that they wouldn't touch.

As one who managed IA I'm pretty sure both of your guys are full of shit. However, you do have recourse. File a complaint with the police agency, they have a form. It is a law violation (in California) to make a false allegation. Make a copy of the form, attach a cover letter & send copies of everything to the Prosecutor's Office, the State Dept. of Justice or Attorney General, the local newspaper and the local TV news producer.

Let the police agency know in your cover letter who you copied.

The matter will be cause for the officers in question to be investigated. If you dropped off dope or booze as you suggest and no report was taken, and your allegation can be proved, shit will hit the fan. If, as I suspect, you're full of shit, better not do as I suggest. For if IA finds the complaint without merit and you lied, you will be subject to arrest and prosecution (at least by CA law).

 

[George Costanza]

You left out a part as in "never talk to the police IF YOU ARE GUILTY". Otherwise you should definitely talk to the police if you witness a crime or you are a victim of a crime.

You almost have it right. Never talk to the police if you are a suspect - guilty or not. The mistake most innocent people make is thinking if they just tell the police the truth, the police will let them go. These well meaning folks fail to understand that if you are truly being interrogated, the police have already formed the opinion that you are guilty. The "interview" is just their way of putting icing on their cake. Whatever you say will be twisted and turned against you. During the course of the "interview," they can, lie to you, threaten you (within certain limits), make promises of leniency (again, within certain limits), etc.

Here - try this one on. You come home and find your wife has been stabbed to death by an intruder. You try to revive her (getting her blood on your hands and arms) but it is no good. You call police. Fast forwerd to the "interview" room. Detective: "OK, I'm going to tell you what's going on here. You are in a very, very tough spot. We know you killed your wife. A neighbor heard you yelling at her and then heard her screaming. (A lie.)

"As things now stand, we will be seeking the death penalty. However, we also understand how these things happen. For example, if she had attacked you first, it might have been self defense. If you suddenly got explosively angry with her, it could be manslaughter. If it's manslaughter, you won't have to worry about the death penalty. So what's it gonna be? You want to tell us what happened?"

See what's going on here? Our truly innocent guy just might cop to a manslaughter he didn't commit in order to avoid the death penalty.

They do this. Trust me - they do.

 

[High_Gravity]

You left out a part as in "never talk to the police IF YOU ARE GUILTY". Otherwise you should definitely talk to the police if you witness a crime or you are a victim of a crime.

You almost have it right. Never talk to the police if you are a suspect - guilty or not. The mistake most innocent people make is thinking if they just tell the police the truth, the police will let them go. These well meaning folks fail to understand that if you are truly being interrogated, the police have already formed the opinion that you are guilty. The "interview" is just their way of putting icing on their cake. Whatever you say will be twisted and turned against you. During the course of the "interview," they can, lie to you, threaten you (within certain limits), make promises of leniency (again, within certain limits), etc.

Here - try this one on. You come home and find your wife has been stabbed to death by an intruder. You try to revive her (getting her blood on your hands and arms) but it is no good. You call police. Fast forwerd to the "interview" room. Detective: "OK, I'm going to tell you what's going on here. You are in a very, very tough spot. We know you killed your wife. A neighbor heard you yelling at her and then heard her screaming. (A lie.)

"As things now stand, we will be seeking the death penalty. However, we also understand how these things happen. For example, if she had attacked you first, it might have been self defense. If you suddenly got explosively angry with her, it could be manslaughter. If it's manslaughter, you won't have to worry about the death penalty. So what's it gonna be? You want to tell us what happened?"

See what's going on here? Our truly innocent guy just might cop to a manslaughter he didn't commit in order to avoid the death penalty.

They do this. Trust me - they do.

For alot of cops its not about just solving crimes its about closing cases and wiping the stats, alot of them have no problem getting an innocent person to admit to something they didn't do as long as it closes the case and the paperwork is finished.