[img]http://i.imgur.com/WV4onlh.gif[/img] Oh shit it's the po-po! [img]http://i.imgur.com/WV4onlh.gif[/img]
EDIT: UK Commonwealth countries see [URL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MTbs0kH6gMw"]HERE[/URL] as most of this applies to you as well!
You've been pulled over or stopped on the street by a cop, maybe you're blitzed, maybe you have stuff on your person or in your car, maybe you're not doing anything at all and this douche-nozzle thinks he's going to nab you for something. Because of the Bill of Rights, you have a LOT more power in these situations than you may think. Knowing your constitutional rights can get you out of potential trouble easily.
If you haven't heard about [url=http://www.FlexYourRights.org]Flex Your Rights[/url] it's about time you learn yourself some seriously useful skills in dealing with the fuckers in uniform.
[quote=Flex Your Rights' About page]Flex Your Rights (Flex) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit launched in 2002. Our mission is to eradicate constitutional illiteracy in the USA. To accomplish this, we create and distribute the most compelling, trustworthy, and practical know-your-rights media content in the universe.[/quote]
You can support Flex Your Rights by purchasing their DVDs and/or t-shirts [url=http://flexyourrights-org.myshopify.com/]HERE[/url]. And remember, they are non-profit and every dollar you give them goes to educating americans on the subject.
[B]You can subscribe to their YouTube channel [url=http://www.youtube.com/user/FlexYourRights]HERE[/url] where there are many, many more videos.[/B]
(If you don't have time to watch, you can read a paraphrased list of "10 Rules..." below the vids)
[B]BUSTED[/B] is their oldest film, it's nearly a decade old but it all still applies. It's also quite corny and poorly acted in places as it was cheaply made and designed to be shown in schools/colleges, but it is informative as fuck nonetheless.
[video=youtube;yqMjMPlXzdA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA[/video]
[b]10 Rules for dealing with the Police[/b] Is their more recent film, this one is kinda targeted at minorities but still applies to everyone. This one is more to-the-point and much better produced.
[video=youtube;s4nQ_mFJV4I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4nQ_mFJV4I[/video]
I [U]highly[/U] recommend you watch "10 Rules..." because it has MUCH more information and it's well worth your time. It's your personal well-being we're talking about here.
[B]The 10 Rules for Dealing with cops, text edition:[/B]
1: [U]Always be CALM and COOL![/U]
The worst place to vent your opinions/frustrations with the Police is in front of the police. As soon as you open your mouth, you've given the cop reason enough to restrain and manhandle you, this is no bueno.
Don't ever talk back, raise your voice or curse at him/her. [B]Hostility with police is a losing situation[/B] and will likely cause them to go even further with their bullshit than they would have, had you been calm and cool.
2: [u]You have the right to remain silent.[/u]
This is the Fifth amendment, use it liberally. When the cops say "Anything you say Can and Will be used against you in a court of law" they fucking mean it. Everything that comes out of your mouth is being recorded for their report. If you simply give them nothing, they have nothing to use against you because [B]silence is NOT evidence of guilt[/B]. If they ask you questions you do not wish to answer, you do not have to answer without a lawyer present. Do not make small talk with the cops. The less you say about anything, the better.
3: [u]You have the right to refuse searches.[/u]
The magic words are "I don't consent to searches". Maybe he's going to search you anyway (and by proxy your vehicle) for various reasons, a big one being weed stank. There's not much you can do here, but if you politely refuse searches beforehand he/she must include that in his/her report. If the situation goes to court, your lawyer will have a MUCH easier time fighting it if they searched you without consent, whether they had a right to or not. [B]Refusing a search is NOT evidence of guilt[/B] and does not give them the legal right to search OR detain you.
Repeat yourself if necessary. [B]If he/she has to ask, he/she NOT have the right to search you yet[/B], but is trying to get you to say something that would give him/her said right.
Police may legally pat down the outside of your clothes to check for weapons, and pull things out of your pockets if they suspect it could be a weapon. [B]If they ask you to empty your pockets and you do it, YOU ARE CONSENTING TO A SEARCH[/B]. Refer to the magic words and Rule #4.
4: [u]Don't get tricked![/u]
Police are trained liars and may do so LEGALLY to get any sort of information out of you that they can use against you. This is where 90% of people fuck up. The cop is going to threaten you with Dogs/additional officers/promises to help you if you cooperate etc. These are for the most part blatant lies, ESPECIALLY promises to help you because the Police are not there to help you in this situation, only to charge you with crimes. If he/she is asking a ton of questions that means they don't have enough evidence to charge you. This is where the Fifth amendment is your best friend. See the next rule for what to do here.
5: [u]Determine if you're free to go.[/u]
Unless you are detained/arrested you may terminate the encounter at any time. Never wait for him to dismiss you, Simply ask [B]"Officer, are you detaining me? Or am I free to go?"[/B]. Stating you want to leave means the encounter is NOT voluntary, which could help you in court because your lawyer can challenge evidence found during a search without consent. They may try to intimidate you further with more threats, but it may make them cautious about violating your rights. [B]If you are randomly stopped by a Cop "just to talk" or "just to ask some questions" these magic words should be ready to fire at will[/B]. If they don't let you go, you are being detained.
6: [u]Don't Expose Yourself![/u]
This includes doing shit in public or even bumper stickers, tattoos, loud music or ANYTHING that could draw attention to yourself from police. Feel free to express yourself but don't be ignorant, if you're walking around in a rasta drug rug smoking a rolled cigarette that looks like a J, that's enough reasonable suspicion for a cop to approach you. Basically don't be obvious or a nuisance.
7: [u]Don't run![/u]
This is mostly a no-brainer, running from cops is a FELONY. Therefore it's probable cause enough for them to arrest and haul you off. Unless you are an extremely good runner and know the area/terrain, they will most 99% of the time catch you. At the least, they will have a description of you and will begin searching if they lose you.
8: [u]NEVER touch a Cop![/u]
Just touching him can land you with felony assault, a beating and a tasing. It's as simple as that. Keep your hands to yourself and keep it verbal.
9: [u]Report Misconduct: Be a good witness[/u]
If the police violate your rights, it's your responsibility to make sure they are disciplined.
Pay attention, remember the order of events and record everything you can as soon as possible after the encounter. Details get blurry the longer you wait. Remember their names and badge numbers but [B]never ask for badge numbers because they will know you are going to file a report and they will NOT like you[/B]. If anyone is watching, go ask them what they heard or saw and record it somehow. Bring everything to a lawyer and he/she will help you file a misconduct report. [B]If you get injured, make sure you get a photo of you at your worst[/B], make copies of any relevant hospital records.
10: [u]You don't have to let them in.[/u]
The magic words are "I cannot let you in without a Warrant."
If police come knocking, [B]you do NOT under ANY circumstances have to let them in without a Search Warrant signed by a Judge even if they have probable cause![/B] This may seem like a no-brainer, but back to the legal-lying deal - they will bullshit up just about anything to trick you into consenting to let them in. Your best option is to simply not answer the door, because you do NOT have to. You may step outside and close the door behind you, lock it from the inside before exiting if you can and bring your keys. That way you can figure out what the hell they want and make them leave, but be polite and do not touch them.
The only situation that an officer may enter your home without a warrant is during a serious emergency.
I know i have only scratched the surface, i'll be more than happy to answer questions or add extra stuff to the OP.
Stay safe.
Just dont do things that attract undue attention. It's pretty simple.
The easiest thing to do if you are pulled over is be pleasant and respectful, you'll be on your way in no time.
It's odd how many people choose to run from cops. Or after I was areested people advised me that I should have ran. [B]WTF![/B] (95% of the time you won't make it and it's a shit load more charges dropped on your head.
There's a couple things you said in there that are wrong:
Police do not charge you with crimes, nor do they charge you with anything. They provide a report and DA chooses which charges are applicable. Ultimately, they have little to no control over your sentence whatsoever.
Also, it is not a felony to run from a police officer unless you are being detained. If you are not being detained, you are as free to run as the dude jogging with his headphones in. I took two years of criminal justice in college, and one of the scenarios I had to analyze was a case in which a passenger in a vehicle during a regular traffic stop stated he was late, exited the vehicle and began to run. The office chased the individual and tackled him to the ground. Not only did this cost him a two-week suspension, but he was forced to take additional classes about use of excessive force after he caused injuries to the citizen during the tackle.
At any rate, these are just semantics, but I figured I'd clarify.
One thing I must say is that you should never lie to a cop. If you can't answer a question of his honestly without giving yourself up, you're better off telling him NOTHING. But they will put a negative spin on the police report.
When I was arrested, I did not say anything, while my friend was essentially pleading for his life. On the police report they wrote "Brianosaur had refused to speak about anything regarding the incident." That was the only sentence that mentioned me in the report. It really gives you a lot of leeway to make up a defense story in court.
But I ended up taking the charges because the stuff was really mine and i wasn't about to have my best friend who i grew up with go to jail (because he was already on court supervision for the same thing we got caught with).
fuck the police
disregard the constabulary
[QUOTE=Mac2468;40681206]fuck the police[/QUOTE]ftp man ftp
~~thug lief~~
basically when dealing with the police you need to be a vocally stern ragdoll lol.
but still know your rights.
Honestly most cops I've encountered are average people who give you a fair go.
You should also know what kind of cops you're dealing with, like i dont want to say to get to know the cops in your area, but have an idea of their attitude on shit in your area. I know cops where i live are stuck up, righteous assholes who treat pot smokers like losers/deadbeats and think they are better than them since they drink instead of smoke.
[QUOTE=Brandy92;40686833]Honestly most cops I've encountered are average people who give you a fair go.[/QUOTE]
because you don't live in the united states
[editline]18th May 2013[/editline]
Here (based on my experience) local cops are total dicks that will harass the shit out of you unless you know your rights, but highway patrol and state troopers tend to be more chill and won't bother you unless you're actually breaking the law.
[QUOTE=Mac2468;40690531]because you don't live in the united states
[editline]18th May 2013[/editline]
Here (based on my experience) local cops are total dicks that will harass the shit out of you unless you know your rights, but highway patrol and state troopers tend to be more chill and won't bother you unless you're actually breaking the law.[/QUOTE]
Some where I live do, some don't, and it also depends on what they're trying to accuse you of.
[QUOTE=Mac2468;40690531]because you don't live in the united states
[editline]18th May 2013[/editline]
Here (based on my experience) local cops are total dicks that will harass the shit out of you unless you know your rights, but highway patrol and state troopers tend to be more chill and won't bother you unless you're actually breaking the law.[/QUOTE]
The Smaller the town, the worse the police are. They have so little to do on a daily basis that they will do everything they can (and sometimes can't) to charge you with something.
[QUOTE=AugustBurnsRed;40694262]The Smaller the town, the worse the police are. They have so little to do on a daily basis that they will do everything they can (and sometimes can't) to charge you with something.[/QUOTE]
Gotta get that pay.
[QUOTE=Mac2468;40690531]because you don't live in the united states
[editline]18th May 2013[/editline]
Here (based on my experience) local cops are total dicks that will harass the shit out of you unless you know your rights, but highway patrol and state troopers tend to be more chill and won't bother you unless you're actually breaking the law.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, the State police tend to actually recruit qualified and sane candidates.
[QUOTE=Mac2468;40690531]because you don't live in the united states
[editline]18th May 2013[/editline]
Here (based on my experience) local cops are total dicks that will harass the shit out of you unless you know your rights, but highway patrol and state troopers tend to be more chill and won't bother you unless you're actually breaking the law.[/QUOTE]
My friend was walking around with a group of like ten+ people who were all over 18 after curfew one night. A cop pulled up and was like "Hey, you guys, stop where you are." They all stopped and waited for him to get out of his car. He gets out and walks up to check id's, but he doesn't check all of the id's. He checks the id of the kid who wasn't over 18, and the id of this other kid who he determined looked like a stoner. All of the people in the group smoke pot, but he decided he didn't like the look of this one kid in particular. He gave my friend who wasn't 18 a ticket, and he tried to take him and the one other guy who he looked at down to the station for drug testing. The entire group told him to fuck off, and he did, but only after a long time of them badgering him to leave.
That's how it is will all of the cops around here. They get you for tiny infractions and try to stick you with bigger ones by profiling and acting superior to you.
oh my god the police in areas where like nothing goes down... all they do is drive around hotspots where kids hang out.
Man I love cops. I really feel welcome in this country waking up to the sound of police helicopters circling around us because we were camping out somewhere having a good time
"Am I being detained or am I free to go?"
Keep this in mind, if a cop pulls over to ask you questions, first hit em with that if you don't want to answer.
[QUOTE=Dougz;40700549]"Am I being detained or am I free to go?"
Keep this in mind, if a cop pulls over to ask you questions, first hit em with that if you don't want to answer.[/QUOTE]
Flex yo rights
[QUOTE=Dougz;40700549]"Am I being detained or am I free to go?"
Keep this in mind, if a cop pulls over to ask you questions, first hit em with that if you don't want to answer.[/QUOTE]
I've actually heard cops pulling some kind of shit that gets them around this shit.
none of this is surefire, nor is it actual legal advice. you could play all your cards right, police can always pull the defacto card out of their ass and abuse their power subversively.
also i wouldn't hit the cop with that first sentence. it's probably best to be as innocuous as possible. if they ask to search make it seem more like you'd rather not have a bunch of strangers going through your stuff, or you have someplace to be. if they stop you, humor them but don't drop your guard.
fuck new tags just forget it
I'm assuming most of these rules apply in Canada. Do they?
[QUOTE=thecat100;40718374]I'm assuming most of these rules apply in Canada. Do they?[/QUOTE]
[video=youtube;MTbs0kH6gMw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTbs0kH6gMw[/video]
For the most part, yes!
they pretty cool in my area
but some of the cops in nearby towns are paranoid and they think they are smart
I had a scary-ass dream the other night where the police picked me up for marijuana charges. Then they came home to tell my mom about it, and her response was so flustered and awkward it was so realistic.
The whole time I thought of this video and I was like "ACLU Save me"
Now, I don't live in the US, but the proper way of dealing with the police here is simply being polite. I've been stopped multiple times w/ the car just stanking and because my friends and I were co-operative and kind (and they found nothing) they let us off with a warning every time.
I got my ass beat by the cops for nothing. Sometimes even with all your rights you end up with a shithead bitch cop with a small dick in a secluded area. I had to pay $1500 for getting my ass kicked.
[QUOTE=frozensoda;41149220]I got my ass beat by the cops for nothing. Sometimes even with all your rights you end up with a shithead bitch cop with a small dick in a secluded area. I had to pay $1500 for getting my ass kicked.[/QUOTE]
have you filed anything against the offending precinct/officer for using too much force? or, did you put your hands on him first?
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