How to Talk to a Policeman When You Are Stopped

Most people don’t have any idea what to say to a policeman when they are stopped for any reason. Normally fear and tension are high, but understanding what to say and what not to say will in the least save you a fortune over your lifetime and allow you to feel much more comfortable navigating the streets and highways of your town, state and the nation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Say as little as possible to the officer. Do not attempt to convince the officer of your innocence. Do not be familiar or friendly in an effort to appear relaxed, normal, personable or to appear less guilty. Avoid offering any information at all. Don't even think. Just be quiet.
2. Follow his instructions. Do not be scared, but understand no amount of courage, especially bravado, will be an advantage or be equal to the strength of the police. Especially never try to avoid or run from the police and never resist arrest.
3. Never touch the police officer or make any motion that might be construed as an intention to touch him. When dealing with the police, keep your hands in view and don't make sudden movements. Avoid passing behind him. Also, never touch his equipment including vehicles, flashlights, pens or clipboards.
4. Don't believe anything the policeman says to you. It is perfectly legal for the police to lie to get you to make an admission. The police frequently separate two friends and tell one the other one is saying something to his detriment. Interrogation is usually nothing more than a conversation. Whenever he asks you anything besides your name and address, it's legally safest to respectfully say nothing more than "I am going to remain silent. I want to see a lawyer." This invokes the rights that protect you from interrogation. When you say this, the police and all other law enforcement officials are legally required to stop asking you questions. They probably won't stop, so you may have to repeat the statement or remain silent until they stop.
5. Never consent to any kind of search. He does not have the right to search, and he must have your consent or a warrant. If you are asked, make sure you proclaim clearly for any witness to hear that you do not consent to a search. If they perform the search anyway, there is a chance the evidence will be thrown out of court later. Never think that you don’t have anything to hide and allowing her to search you or your car will be a benefit. You never know what she might find, if something was left by a friend, or if something was planted by the officer.
6. Be careful what you think about and where you allow your eyes to look. Police are trained to watch you and react to you. They know that you are nervous and that many people look to the areas that they don't want the police to search. Do not react to anything he says.
7. Be respectful and never rude to an officer regardless of what you are feeling or whether you are being mistreated or wrongfully accused.
8. Don’t try to make a case to a policeman or to defend yourself. Again, the less you say the better. A policeman cannot charge you; he can only arrest you and make recommendations about charges—only the prosecutor can charge you. Your case cannot be decided by him so wait to speak to your lawyer. The courts give enormous weight to confessions inadvertently offered during this stage. What you think is honest, benign, meaningless or a matter of course may be the confession that motivates him to arrest you.