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On 11/2/2003 at 11:06 PM GG wrote:
If you don't know your rights then you have no rights
Here's a quick guide of important things to remember when interacting
with law enforcement officials:
Always Be Calm And Polite
First and foremost remember that police are people too, and also
remember that law enforcement is a difficult and dangerous job. With
that in mind, you should always deal with the police in a calm, polite,
and professional manner. But being polite does not mean that you should
ever, under any circumstances, give up your rights.
Never Admit To Anything
You have no obligation to answer any question. If you are in your car,
you must provide license, registration, and insurance. Anywhere else,
you have no requirement to provide any information, and you cannot be
arrested for not talking to the police. However, never badmouth or
obstruct the police. If you are being arrested or detained, you have a
right to know why. If not, ask if you are free to go and if so leave
immediately. Everything you say to the police is important, and may be
recorded without your knowledge. Never offer any extra information. lf
you do answer questions, keep them very short and to the point, and most
important, Never confess - it does not help you.
Insist On Seeing A Lawyer
You have a legal right to speak with a lawyer. Never speak to the police
without at least consulting one. If you speak to the police without a
lawyer, you have given up one of your most important rights. Never agree
to go to the police station to answer questions or submit to
interrogation.Never confess - it does not help you.
Always protest A Search
Even if the search is by a court ordered warrant you should always make
it very clear that any entry onto your premises is fully against your
wishes, and that YOU DO NOT CONSENT IN ANY WAY TO THE SEARCH. Never
cooperate in a search - it does not help you.
Never Invite The Police Into Your Home, Office or Car
Any lack of protest can be considered an invitation. If they ask if they
may enter, and you do not immediately voice your strong protest, this
may be construed as an invitation on your part. This voids your right to
privacy, and you lose this right later in court. Never cooperate in a
search - it does not help you.
The Police Can and Do Lie
The supreme court has upheld that the police can lie to you for any
reason. The police cannot lie in court, or in official documents,
(although some do). If you ask a plain-clothes police officer if they
are the police, they can lie and say that they are not (this is one of
the most common misunderstandings by citizens if you ask an undercover
cop if they are the police, they can legally say no, and claim to be
something else). In fact an undercover police officer can take illegal
drugs with you to "prove" they aren't police. The police can lie about
evidence they have about you (they can fabricate ''fake'' evidence to
convince you to confess, for example). Fake evidence cannot be used in
court, but if it makes you confess, it no longer matters. Never
confess - it does not help you.
Be Aware Of Your Body Language and Eye Movements
Be conscious of your body language and eye movements. The police
(especially interrogators) are very well trained in reading your body
language and eye movements. These are involuntary movements that you
make, and reveal your state of mind, and even if you are lying or
telling the truth. Remain calm, do not react to questions, and never
offer any information or answer a question you do not want to. Never
confess or cooperate in a search - it does not help you and it will not
make the justice system more lenient on you - EVER.
Most important: Remember that the justice system is never more lienient
on you when you give up your rights. Confessing or cooperating will only
make things harder on you. When you give up your rights, you also give
up any hope of being treated fairly. Always be polite and courteous, but
never cave in and waive your rights. EVER.
http://civilliberty.about.com/cs/policeandyou/a/LE072503.htm
~ Andrew Somers
RELATED ARTICLES:
http://civilliberty.about.com/cs/policeandyou/a/LE110103.htm
http://civilliberty.about.com/library/content/blCivilRights.htm
http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=civilliberty&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.YouAn
dThePolice.com
http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/XJ&sdn=civilliberty&zu=http%3A%2F%2Farchive.a
clu.org%2Fissues%2Fcriminal%2Fbustcardtext.html
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"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they
should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of
independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would
include their own government." - George Washington
Lat/Long: 38-54-14.60N / 097-14-09.07W
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