What to do if you are stopped by the police

[bezdomni]

I got this from a local anarchist bookstore:

1. You do not have to answer a police officer's questions. What you say to the police is important. It can be used against you and it can give the police an excuse to arrest you. If you are stopped while driving a car, you must show your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance. In other situations, you cannot be legally arrested for refusing to identify yourself.

2. You do not have to give your consent to any search of your person, your car, or your place of residence. If you do consent to a search, it can affect your rights later in court. If the police claim they have a warrant, ask to see it. In certain cases, your car can be searched without a warrant as long as police have probable cause. To protect yourself later, you should make it clear that you do not consent to a search. It is not lawful for police to arrest you simply for refusing to consent to a search.

3. You have a right to remain silent. You do not have to answer any questions, give your name, age, address, or show any ID unless you are operating a car or are in a place where liquor is served. However, it is advisable to provide basic information such as name, age and address.

4. Do not interfere or obstruct the police in a search. Even if you are sure the search is illegal, you will be arrested for it. File a complaint afterwards if you feel your rights have been violated.

5. Ask if you are under arrest. If so, ask why. If not, you should be free to leave. Insist on that right.

6. If you are arrested, do not answer the officer's questions. Tell the police nothing except your name, age and address. Don't give explanations or stories or try to excuse your conduct. You can make your defense in court.

7. Don't physically resist. The police may frisk you for weapons by patting the outside of your clothing, but nothing more. Make it clear that you do not agree to any search. If you are searched, do not resist. File a complaint afterwards. Don't bad-mouth the police officer or run away, even if you believe what is happening to you isn't right. It could lead to your arrest.

8. If the police take anything from you during a search or arrest, they must give you a receipt for every item seized, including your wallet and its contents, clothes, and any packages you were carrying when arrested.

9. Ask to talk to a lawyer at once. If you are arrested for a jailable offense and you can't afford a lawyer, you have the right to a public defender. DO NOT TALK TO THE POLICE UNTIL A LAWYER IS PRESENT.

10. You have the right to make a local phone call within a reasonable time after your arrest or booking. The police may not listen to a call to a lawyer.

11. If you are not released following the booking, you have the right to see a judge the next court day after your arrest. Demand this right. When you appear before the judge, ask for an attorney.

12. Never make any decisions about your case until you have spoken with a lawyer.

This really isn't a complete list, and it obviously only applies in the United States. If anybody else has advice for the US or any other countries, post it in this thread.

The main part I disagree with on this is the "don't physically resist" bit. In a riot or revolutionary situation, then physical resistance is encouraged. However, if you're getting busted alone or with drugs...then you really shouldn't physically resist.

[Rollo]

That helps, usually when I see a cop coming I head for the hills... Gotten me out of 100% situation where I would have been arrested and possibly prosecuted.

[Martin Blank]

What do I do if I'm stopped by the police?

Well, first, I finish my beer.

Then, I scoot my automatic pistol under the seat.

Finally, if I have time, I put my seat belt on.

Any other questions?

Miles

[EusebioScrib]

In other situations, you cannot be legally arrested for refusing to identify yourself.

Now you can be, with the Patriot act. A comrade here in Philly got arrested for not presenting ID and was beaten by a pig too for resisting arrest.

[An archist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2006, 05:37 AM

Now you can be, with the Patriot act. A comrade here in Philly got arrested for not presenting ID and was beaten by a pig too for resisting arrest.
That sucks.
Anyone got information on Belgium? If not I'll have to search for it myself.

[sp468732]

Originally posted by [email protected] 17 2006, 05:37 AM

In other situations, you cannot be legally arrested for refusing to identify yourself.

Now you can be, with the Patriot act. A comrade here in Philly got arrested for not presenting ID and was beaten by a pig too for resisting arrest.
That situation is similar to the time I was arrested. Some friends and I were posting political stickers all over town. An undercover cop saw us, waited for us to go into the bus stop and then came in and confronted us. He called for backup and had the bus stop surrounded with ~4 cops. The undercover cop asked for ID, we told him our names but said we didn't have any. He then said he was going to have to take us in, so we quickly remembered that we did have ID. We showed him, he took all our info and said if we took down every sticker, we would be let off with just a warning. Obviously, we complied with his request and took down every sticker. Before we could finish, he came back and arrested us while we were removing the stickers.

The charge was "Criminal Mischeif", but it was dropped after writing a letter of apology and speaking with a lawyer.

In retrospect it really dosn't matter, but was it legal for him to demand ID like that?

[EusebioScrib]

In retrospect it really dosn't matter, but was it legal for him to demand ID like that?

Depends. Pre-2001, no. But now with the Patriot Act, yes. They have so many ways around the Bill of Rights. Just read about all the Supreme Court cases around the 1st, 4th etc amends. They wrote the law so they know how to manipulate it.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Ha you guys are bad asses! The only time I've ever been in trouble with the police is for 'cutting school' but I wasn't

[chimx]

i usually act friendly and try to not be a dickhead and they leave me alone.

[kaaos_af]

Does anyone have anything like this for Australia??

[apathy maybe]

http://www.activistrights.org.au/ has some stuff for Australia. More Victoria then other states. Also contact your local activist crew, enviro, Greenpeace or anarchist groups. Forget about the socialists, they do not have much (if anything).

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2006, 02:40 PM
Does anyone have anything like this for Australia??
there was a good forum about it in sydney last week, i think there's going to be one in newcastle or woollongong soon.. i don't know where you live though lol

but AM's link is a goodun

[ahab]

yea i've been stopped before for wearing a bandana around my neck, or smoking and shit like that and if i cooperate the cops usually let me go.

[Dyst]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2006, 10:44 PM
Ha you guys are bad asses! The only time I've ever been in trouble with the police is for 'cutting school' but I wasn't
You got into trouble with the police for 'cutting school'?

That seems weird. Unless cutting school means lighting it on fire.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

Originally posted by Dyst+Jun 19 2006, 03:09 PM--> (Dyst @ Jun 19 2006, 03:09 PM)
[email protected] 18 2006, 10:44 PM
Ha you guys are bad asses! The only time I've ever been in trouble with the police is for 'cutting school' but I wasn't
[/b]

You got into trouble with the police for 'cutting school'?

That seems weird. Unless cutting school means lighting it on fire.

Yeah I was with a couple of friends during some gay half day and we just skipped. We went to Game Stop and some police were right there and they motioned to us so we came and they showed us their badge and told us to get in the van. There were some other kids and they took us to the police station where one of my friends called his mom. She was really cool about it and said that it was only a half day so they let us go.

[Mujer Libre]

Originally posted by LeftyHenry
Yeah I was with a couple of friends during some gay half day and we just skipped. We went to Game Stop and some police were right there and they motioned to us so we came and they showed us their badge and told us to get in the van. There were some other kids and they took us to the police station where one of my friends called his mom. She was really cool about it and said that it was only a half day so they let us go.
Was it Pride Day by any chance? :rolleyes:

So unnecessary.

[rioters bloc]

Originally posted by Mujer [email protected] 21 2006, 09:35 AM
Was it Pride Day by any chance? :rolleyes:

So unnecessary.
corrrrrect!

we don't tolerate homophobic language here at revleft :)

[which doctor]

I've only been stopped by the pigs once, when I was pretty young. They were interrogating me and shit. I was fucking walking my dog through town. They thought I was skipping school, it took me a while to convince the guy that I was in town visiting my family and I didn't even go to the local school. I guess that started my hatred of the cops.

I always get dirty looks from them though.

[Rollo]

Oh man where to start.

I was once pretty drunk because I was at a friends party and as I was walking home the cops pulled me up and all I remember waking up in the cop station in the overnight watch.

Once was having a small fire on the beach before new years eve and the cops chased us until we hid in a generically placed hiding bush.

Got taken home by the cops for lighting off fireworks ( good work, I was lighting them off in my front yard )

Got chased by police dogs one night at a massive party. ( There was 2 dogs and adleast 50 other people there and both dogs came after me )

Got arrested for stealing about $100AU worth of merchandise from a newsagent.

Once asked a cop for the time during school hours on a school day and he told me the time and I walked off. What a great guy.

[ahab]

Originally posted by rioters bloc+Jun 21 2006, 02:54 AM--> (rioters bloc @ Jun 21 2006, 02:54 AM)
Mujer [email protected] 21 2006, 09:35 AM
Was it Pride Day by any chance? :rolleyes:

So unnecessary.
corrrrrect!

we don't tolerate homophobic language here at revleft :) [/b]
o lay off i'm sure he didnt mean anything by it, unless he did then thats just fucked up but i dont think he did.


Yea I've seen that happen where kids get picked up for skipping, the cops usually dont do anything except bring you home or back to school. Damn truency officers dont they have anything better to do?

[Rollo]

Truency officers are the cops who just couldn't make it.

[AK47]

I'm not sure if you have to be at least 18 for this, but NORML sends out cards to all its contributing members that is to be given to a Police officer if one stops you. It pretty much says the same thing at the same time citing the constitutional and legal prescience for it.

[AK47]

I'm not sure if you have to be at least 18 for this, but NORML sends out cards to all its contributing members that is to be given to a Police officer if one stops you. It pretty much says the same thing at the same time citing the constitutional and legal prescience for it.

[AK47]

I'm not sure if you have to be at least 18 for this, but NORML sends out cards to all its contributing members that is to be given to a Police officer if one stops you. It pretty much says the same thing at the same time citing the constitutional and legal prescience for it.

[MolotovLuv]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2006, 07:37 PM
I'm not sure if you have to be at least 18 for this, but NORML sends out cards to all its contributing members that is to be given to a Police officer if one stops you. It pretty much says the same thing at the same time citing the constitutional and legal prescience for it.
If you go on NORML's website there are a couple of cards you can print out and put in your wallet that tells the cops everything they need to know. It's a good idea for those of us who get nervous around the pigs, especially the uptight, hostile ones.

[MolotovLuv]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2006, 07:37 PM
I'm not sure if you have to be at least 18 for this, but NORML sends out cards to all its contributing members that is to be given to a Police officer if one stops you. It pretty much says the same thing at the same time citing the constitutional and legal prescience for it.
If you go on NORML's website there are a couple of cards you can print out and put in your wallet that tells the cops everything they need to know. It's a good idea for those of us who get nervous around the pigs, especially the uptight, hostile ones.

[MolotovLuv]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2006, 07:37 PM
I'm not sure if you have to be at least 18 for this, but NORML sends out cards to all its contributing members that is to be given to a Police officer if one stops you. It pretty much says the same thing at the same time citing the constitutional and legal prescience for it.
If you go on NORML's website there are a couple of cards you can print out and put in your wallet that tells the cops everything they need to know. It's a good idea for those of us who get nervous around the pigs, especially the uptight, hostile ones.

[Ander]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2006, 08:14 PM
Yeah I was with a couple of friends during some gay half day and we just skipped.
Oh wow, I wasn't aware that a day could have a sexual orientation...but I guess I was wrong!!

Anyway, if a cop tries to bust you, go GTA style and punch him in the nose. Or beat him with a golf club. Or a baseball bat.

[Ander]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2006, 08:14 PM
Yeah I was with a couple of friends during some gay half day and we just skipped.
Oh wow, I wasn't aware that a day could have a sexual orientation...but I guess I was wrong!!

Anyway, if a cop tries to bust you, go GTA style and punch him in the nose. Or beat him with a golf club. Or a baseball bat.

[Ander]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2006, 08:14 PM
Yeah I was with a couple of friends during some gay half day and we just skipped.
Oh wow, I wasn't aware that a day could have a sexual orientation...but I guess I was wrong!!

Anyway, if a cop tries to bust you, go GTA style and punch him in the nose. Or beat him with a golf club. Or a baseball bat.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2006, 09:49 PM
Anyway, if a cop tries to bust you, go GTA style and punch him in the nose. Or beat him with a golf club. Or a baseball bat.
ya, then he pulls out his gun and puts a cap in ur ass

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2006, 09:49 PM
Anyway, if a cop tries to bust you, go GTA style and punch him in the nose. Or beat him with a golf club. Or a baseball bat.
ya, then he pulls out his gun and puts a cap in ur ass

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 22 2006, 09:49 PM
Anyway, if a cop tries to bust you, go GTA style and punch him in the nose. Or beat him with a golf club. Or a baseball bat.
ya, then he pulls out his gun and puts a cap in ur ass

[Ander]

How is he going to bust anything anywhere if he's on the ground bleeding with wounds caused by a heavy, blunt object?

Then you just gotta get the fuck outta there before the other cops come and beat your ass.

Sorry, been playing GTA a lot lately :D

[Ander]

How is he going to bust anything anywhere if he's on the ground bleeding with wounds caused by a heavy, blunt object?

Then you just gotta get the fuck outta there before the other cops come and beat your ass.

Sorry, been playing GTA a lot lately :D

[Ander]

How is he going to bust anything anywhere if he's on the ground bleeding with wounds caused by a heavy, blunt object?

Then you just gotta get the fuck outta there before the other cops come and beat your ass.

Sorry, been playing GTA a lot lately :D

[leftist resistance]

If a pig is talking to you w/o any intention to arrest,you have the right to not answer and go freely.
If you are detained,a pat search may be conducted on you.the officer must have a clear reason for your detention.you are not free to leave.
If you are arrested,an officer may or may not read out the Mirinda(you have the right to remain silent.anything you say or do may be used against you in court,etc.).you have the right to a lawyer before and during the interrogation.if you don't have any,then one will be appointed free of charge.they must bring you to a judge within 48 hours of your arrest.

check out law books for your info,different countries may differ but this is the rough procedure of most countries i guess.also check out respective constitutions.

[leftist resistance]

If a pig is talking to you w/o any intention to arrest,you have the right to not answer and go freely.
If you are detained,a pat search may be conducted on you.the officer must have a clear reason for your detention.you are not free to leave.
If you are arrested,an officer may or may not read out the Mirinda(you have the right to remain silent.anything you say or do may be used against you in court,etc.).you have the right to a lawyer before and during the interrogation.if you don't have any,then one will be appointed free of charge.they must bring you to a judge within 48 hours of your arrest.

check out law books for your info,different countries may differ but this is the rough procedure of most countries i guess.also check out respective constitutions.

[leftist resistance]

If a pig is talking to you w/o any intention to arrest,you have the right to not answer and go freely.
If you are detained,a pat search may be conducted on you.the officer must have a clear reason for your detention.you are not free to leave.
If you are arrested,an officer may or may not read out the Mirinda(you have the right to remain silent.anything you say or do may be used against you in court,etc.).you have the right to a lawyer before and during the interrogation.if you don't have any,then one will be appointed free of charge.they must bring you to a judge within 48 hours of your arrest.

check out law books for your info,different countries may differ but this is the rough procedure of most countries i guess.also check out respective constitutions.

[Rollo]

Anybody actually been shot?

[Black Dagger]

Originally posted by fysh117
o lay off i'm sure he didnt mean anything by it, unless he did then thats just fucked up but i dont think he did.

Why does it matter if he 'meant anything' by it? He is perpetuating homophobic shit - you really think most 13 year olds mean 'gay' when they say 'that's soooooo gay'? Why does it matter? It's backwards homophobic crap and shouldnt be tolerated on a board for fucking communists, 'laying off' on mindless prejudice like that is not going to happen.

[Fidel Follower]

Originally posted by [email protected] 1 2006, 08:15 AM
Anybody actually been shot?
Nah, lucky for me pigs in the UK dont carry guns (unless they are antiterror police/armed police division) i have been maced though. But i had a gasmask on :ph34r:

[Rollo]

Coppers over here carry pistols that they aren't afraid to hit you with. But I look heaps young for my age so I doubt I'de ever get shot unless they caught me murdering babies. Mace eh? Mace is bullcrap. We call it pepperspray over here and I've only encountered it once and I cried like a *****.