street legal, "i want my lawyer"

[Darnell 8,478]

and don't forget about the media ! but first see if there's an actual, pointed response back from the director.

[MacUK 983]

To answer Mac first: because cops lie (don't you read the news?) and they use the pretext of "you cooperating" to conduct illegal searches. Or they can lie or twist what you say. Who are you going to believe a person standing in handcuffs or a person in a police uniform Read about field drug tests showing illegal drugs when used on candy, or grass (as in from the lawn) being called marijuana.

Simple answer: Am I free to go? Am I being detained? Most cops will simply refuse to answer either of these questions. So then the magical "I do not wish to say anything" comes into play. Then the cops say, oh you aren't under arrest I just want to talk to you, followed by you saying "am I free to go"....anyway you get the point. There is NO requirement to speak to the police at any time either when you are free or when you are being detained.

Yup, I do read the news.

And I fully believe that it's a minority of police officers who abuse their position of authority and that the vast majority of them are honest and truly serve their communities.

I would be more than happy to be inconvenienced for a little time to willingly answer some questions if that could help save a true victim of human trafficking.

My own experience with the police is that when you help them with their job then they will only bother you as long as needed.

Evasive answers or reluctance to cooperate only serves to arouse suspicions and make them think you have something to hide. You hinder them, they hinder you.

Again, just my opinion

Edited January 21, 2016 by MacUK

[belinda63 3,031]

In my experience Mac you are correct. But we do not live in a police state, I don't have to show my papers upon demand (unless driving or entering certain areas). I should be able to walk down the street without fear of being questioned. The police have become witch hunters, looking for ways to justify their job, their state and federal money, to steal money from people, etc. What about simple violations of the law that you aren't even aware of, such as in Kentucky you can be arrested for not updating the address on your driver's license. You get pulled over for failing to signal, give cop your license, he asked is this your current address, oh man no, I moved about 2 weeks ago and haven't had time to get it changed, guess what you could now go to jail, have your car towed, lose your job, etc.

Never talk to the police.

[Gary&Joy 18]

paramedics don't go looking for people to treat

fire fighters don't go looking for fires to extinguish

"hey cop. i'll call ya if i need ya"

Belinda, yep..

numbers on civil asset forfeiture are mind blowing

they look for opportunities to steal, all nice and legal like

Edited January 21, 2016 by Gary&Joy

[TBoneTX 45,088]

MacUK, the police are not our friends unless we talk to them first.

Heed what belinda63 has written.

As I posted earlier, see this:

BUSTED:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

And read this:

ACLU:

http://www.aclu.org/files/kyr/kyr_english.pdf

[Lee&Ana 88]

You never have to talk to the police. Be polite, but never trust them. They prey on people who don't know their rights. If you know your rights and are polite, they will usually back off.

[TBoneTX 45,088]

[Moderator hat on]

A comment in violation of the VJ Terms of Service has been edited out of a post, which is returned to the thread as follows:

Dear oh dear what a dismissive set of atitudes towards the Police

Yeah I agree there maybe bad eggs amongst them, but to tar all Police Officers with the same brush is so small minded

I'm betting you think all military are murderers

I'll bet the day you have a public order incident against you that you'll be whining to the Police demanding their help

[comment edited out by VJ Moderation]

[Moderator hat off]

Edited January 21, 2016 by TBoneTX

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

This is a good reminder that it's good to have a lawyer, who you know and have met before, on speed dial. It's no good saying "I want to speak to a lawyer", if you don't know any. They might call your bluff.

Reminder to self: Russ, you idiot, find a local lawyer.