I’m a cop. If you don’t want to get hurt, don’t challenge me

  • Thread starter Thread starter didymus
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
didymus said:
Washington Post:
(I hope the mods will forgive posting an op-ed)

Seems to me his advice about going along quietly conflicts with asserting your rights not to submit to searches &c which will only earn a conviction for contempt of cop.
Click to expand...
It’s not hard to non-aggressively assert your rights to not submit to searches. When they ask you to consent to a search, simply say “No, I do not consent to a search.” in a calm and peaceful manner. It’s that simple.

There is no point in fighting the cops, there is not point in running from the cops. You can’t outrun the radio. Invoke your right to remain silent, ask for a lawyer, and fight your battle in court.
 
mary_bobo said:
Saying you have nothing to say is one thing. However, gun safety courses tell you to inform the officer that you have a gun and you also have a permit.
Click to expand...
That depends on the state. In my state, I do not have to inform the police that I have a gun unless they ask. There have been many times that I have been pulled over and have never told the cop I had a gun.

However, it is polite to inform the police you have a gun and they really do appreciate it.
 
Avdima said:
What does being a “thug” entail? being black in America?
Click to expand...
Stop it. His post didn’t even so much as imply anything about race. Seriously, what is it with people and wanting racism to still be this overreaching thing in this country? Funny thing is, for you to assume the word “thug” can only refer to blacks is itself racist.
 
freeRadical said:
That depends on the state. In my state, I do not have to inform the police that I have a gun unless they ask. There have been many times that I have been pulled over and have never told the cop I had a gun.

However, it is polite to inform the police you have a gun and they really do appreciate it.
Click to expand...
Speaking for myself, if you tell me you have a concealed handgun license and are carrying (and of course, once I verify the license), it is almost a guarantee you are not getting a ticket, unless you did something blatantly unsafe. Basically because you are obviously a law abiding citizen who is taking an active step to ensure your and your family’s safety, which I can certainly relate to, and that you’ve extended a courtesy for my safety.
 
didymus said:
Yes and no. If you are repeatedly stopped I’m sure you reach a frustration/anger level that makes it hard not to respond negatively, which probably leads to a feedback loop with cops who feel constantly disrespected and threatened.

Years ago I had to walk from my bus stop thru a residential neighborhood to my job (I work overnights). I was repeatedly stopped asked for ID and asked what I was doing in the neighborhood late at night. The cops ran my ID thru their computer (or whatever) to
I was polite but it got old pretty quick. One time a cop asked to search my backpack & I said no, he was already making me late for work and he let it go.
I’m white & in my 40s at the time.but I’m pretty sure my experience would have been different if I had been 20 and black.

As for not submitting to a search, cops are trained to deceive you into giving up your rights. Instead of directly answering, “Am I under arrest?” a standard reply is “Do you want to be?” or “You will be if you don’t cooperate.”
If you refuse a search of your vehicle they will tell you, “We’ll have to wait until we get a K-9 out here.”
Click to expand...
The police are very good at finding a pretext for a search.

I was riding with a colleague in a rental car when he was pulled over for a DWB. The cop was apparently convinced that we were trafficking drugs and so he requests to search the vehicle and our bags. We both refuse to talk to him and both refuse to allow him to search our bags or car. He disappears for a few minutes and then returns and places us both under arrest for operating a vehicle without insurance. He claims that the rental company had not renewed the auto insurance on the vehicle before renting it to us. We are brought to the station in handcuffs and about a dozen police proceed to thoroughly search our bags and vehicle. After about an hour, when it is apparent that we were only going to work, he returns and tells us that he’s decided to let us go with a warning but that we should be very, very upset with the rental company. (the rental company claimed the insurance was valid and had no idea what the police were talking about) I was proud of myself and my colleague because we said nothing and remained calm and polite. Had we decided to mouth off, who knows what would have happened.
 
It amazes me no end when I hear how many people there are who think they’re in no danger (because they’ve done nothing) when answering questions from police regarding there comings and goings, habits, clothing they wear, vehicles they drive etc. People who answer such questions are venturing into dangerous waters and may be voluntarily making themselves a crime suspect.
 
Seamus_L said:
It amazes me no end when I hear how many people there are who think they’re in no danger (because they’ve done nothing) when answering questions from police regarding there comings and goings, habits, clothing they wear, vehicles they drive etc. People who answer such questions are venturing into dangerous waters and may be voluntarily making themselves a crime suspect.
Click to expand...
👍

It was part of a civics course I had in school many years ago.
How to deal with the police.

You should be respectful, and polite. And you should not hinder their work.

But they are not investigating for your benefit. You should have a lawyer with you.
 
freeRadical said:
It’s not hard to non-aggressively assert your rights to not submit to searches. When they ask you to consent to a search, simply say “No, I do not consent to a search.” in a calm and peaceful manner. It’s that simple.

.
Click to expand...
Its not that simple, if someone denies their request for a search, this automatically makes police suspect they have something to hide, either drugs/ weapons, in the car, or something they dont want police to find, and then they just come up with a reason they can do the search without permission, or more likely find something to detain the person on.
 
mikekle said:
Its not that simple, if someone denies their request for a search, this automatically makes police suspect they have something to hide, either drugs/ weapons, in the car, or something they dont want police to find, and then they just come up with a reason they can do the search without permission, or more likely find something to detain the person on.
Click to expand...
I don’t care if it’s easy, I care if they find something.

I can’t guarantee that the previous person to rent or use the car didn’t leave me some drugs in the trunk. I also can’t guarantee that one of my passengers doesn’t have drugs on him. I also have no way of making sure that the police don’t plant something in the car in the event they fail to find anything. If you don’t consent to a search it makes it easier to challenge later. But, yes, I figure that the police are going to search no matter what I say.
 
Maybe you happen to be driving through a area and look completely out of place and look like you need help.

It comes down to probable cause and a good view is NYC. The tactic I think is blown out of proportion a good deal though. Especially in this article.

google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDUQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Farticle%2F2014%2F01%2F30%2Fus-usa-newyork-stopandfrisk-idUSBREA0T1JY20140130&ei=KRD6U_fcDLT-8AHbsoC4CA&usg=AFQjCNHSHXDrARD6uNwolwkSi5lWoOOtsA
 
Burt_Macklin said:
But, yes, I figure that the police are going to search no matter what I say.
Click to expand...
Then say no.

If the cop has a reason to search, they are not going to need permission.
Denial of consent means they are going to have to cough up the reason.

It is not making the job harder. It is making sure the job is done properly.

An officer that has problems with this likely should not be an officer.
 
Burt_Macklin said:
But, yes, I figure that the police are going to search no matter what I say.
Click to expand...
Absolutely, they already made up their mind at the formality of asking permission I have to assume. We are missing the statistical info on how many times a person said no and the police said; “Oh, OK” and left. 😃
 
GaryTaylor said:
Absolutely, they already made up their mind at the formality of asking permission I have to assume. We are missing the statistical info on how many times a person said no and the police said; “Oh, OK” and left. 😃
Click to expand...
Of course. That is why refusing to allow a search always has to be followed up with, “Officer, am I free to go now?” The officer may try to extend the encounter until he can get K-9 units or bully you into allowing a search. Just politely repeat, “Officer, am I free to go?” At that point they can arrest you or let you go. But of course they will never just respond to a refusal with something like, “Very well, law abiding citizen, you are free to go now.” 😃
 
GaryTaylor said:
Absolutely, they already made up their mind at the formality of asking permission I have to assume. We are missing the statistical info on how many times a person said no and the police said; “Oh, OK” and left. 😃
Click to expand...
True.
But it is a formality you want on record should there be court time involved.
 
vz71 said:
Then say no.

If the cop has a reason to search, they are not going to need permission.
Denial of consent means they are going to have to cough up the reason.

It is not making the job harder. It is making sure the job is done properly.

An officer that has problems with this likely should not be an officer.
Click to expand...
You have to waste your own time in other words. And you should be reimbursed for the complete inconvenience, let alone the fear they spread. Its abuse, physical and psychological. 🤷
 
Burt_Macklin said:
The officer may try to extend the encounter until he can get K-9 units or bully you into allowing a search. Just politely repeat, “Officer, am I free to go?” At that point they can arrest you or let you go. But of course they will never just respond to a refusal with something like, “Very well, law abiding citizen, you are free to go now.” 😃
Click to expand...
And you have to know, the K-9s and nice car interiors just won’t work well. 🙂
 
GaryTaylor said:
You have to waste your own time in other words. And you should be reimbursed for the complete inconvenience, let alone the fear they spread. Its abuse, physical and psychological. 🤷
Click to expand...
You have to trust that the officer would not be wasting time without a valid reason.
And you have to assert your rights in such a way as to make certain they do have that reason.

In some cases it is abuse.

It is unfortunate that there are many poor cops out there that bring the ire of the public down on all of them. But we cannot decide on the spot if the cop ‘wasting our time’ is good or bad. All we can do is to legally protect ourselves.

If it is a good cop, they will respect and understand.
If not, then we have at least protected ourselves.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top