"Silence is golden!" Be
careful what you say to a police. What you say CAN
and WILL be used against you.
You do not have to give your
consent to search of yourself, your home, or your
vehicle. If asked, indicate clearly that your
consent is NOT given. Do not assume that your
silence translates to non-consent. If the officer
indicates that s/he has a search warrant, ask to see it.
By law, they may then search only the areas indicated in
the warrant.
It is not illegal to refuse to
answer questions. You may not be arrested for
refusing to identify yourself on the street, yet you
must provide identification when stopped in a
car.
When stopped by an officer,
ask for identification. This may prove helpful
later on.
An officer may "pat-down"
your clothing if they suspect a concealed weapon.
Ask if you're under
arrest. If so, you have the right to know
why. If not, ask if you're free to leave. If
so, walk away. Never run from the
police.
Stay calm. Do not argue
with the police. Do not threaten the police.
Do not fight with the police. Do not give an
officer the opportunity to claim "self-defense" for
killing you. It's your life. You know that
the officers are armed and licensed to kill -- don't
give them just cause to make you their next
casualty.
Do not resist arrest -- even
if you're innocent. You can file a complaint
later.
You have the right
to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used
against you in a court of law.
