10 Rules to Follow When Confronted by Police

by Jared Stenzel, Jan 9, 2008

These are necessary to keep in mind whenever you are confronted by a police.

Police are the enforcers of the law. They know what they can and cannot do with this power. They are good people, however if they have reason to arrest you they may not seem like that. They have many ways of tricking those of you not fully aware of your rights that they will manipulate into getting what they want or need. If you follow these 10 tips when confronted by a police officer you will be much better off.

Do not talk to the arresting officer unless spoken too.
This is very important because the officer will not release you right there. You are going to be taken into custody. The officer however can add to your list of crimes, help prosecute you, and even change a misdemeanor into a felony. By talking to them, especially in a negative way, you're not helping yourself at all. Keep quiet.
Do not run!
This adds a charge right there. They will not be very subtle when they catch you and have reason to use an outstanding amount of force including drawing a weapon. Chances are you will not outrun the whole police department that comes after you, and even if you outrun the original officer and hide, the police dogs will get your trail.
Do not give chase in car.
You can guarantee you will be charged for every traffic violation possible if you give a high speed car chase. It can even escalate into attempted murder for simply hitting and/or ramming a police car trying to hit you. Although it may be a valid charge, it's not worth it. Even if you're found innocent of the reason you ran, you still have all the new charges caught on video cameras in the police cars. Your car cannot outrun that of five or six police officers.
Do not resist arrest.
Resisting will only change what may have been a minor misdemeanor into a felony for the assault on the officer. Resisting will lead you to be beaten to the ground if necessary to keep you under control. Again, it will not get you any help when the prosecutor uses the police officer in your court case.
Do not look at places you may be hiding something.
Police are trained to follow eye movements and only increases your chances of them discovering it. Look straight at the officer or down at the ground.
Do not allow them to search anything.
The fact that they are asking you means they do not have a probable cause to be searching your property therefore they cannot. Simply tell them “No you do not have consent to search my property”, and if they don't listen any evidence gathered is thrown out in court. If you ever watch cops there are numerous times you will hear them ask and somebody will say yes and end up getting arrested because of it. If you are suspected of something they will pull you over for any little reason. They may not be pulling you over for drugs, rather a tail light. They may have suspected drugs from a house you were parked by and are fishing for you to let them in your car because they cannot go in there otherwise.
If they come to your house do not let them inside.
If they ask to come inside say, “No, you may not come in, I am fine talking here.” This like the car situation means they cannot come in, and if they do they will not be able to use evidence gathered. If they need to come in they will have to go get a warrant, as they wouldn't be waiting to come in if they had one.
Do not accept offer to go back inside.
If you're arrested and they offer to get you a jacket, or let you explain things to your wife say no. Once they escort you inside they have free reign and can search their hearts desire. Your car will be fine locked, and you can tough out the cold if it means a shorter jail term, or not enough evidence to convict you.
Do not talk to the police about anything once arrested until you have a lawyer.
You cannot convince them of your innocence, and may be led into a confession which is deadly in court. What you convince them of has no significance now.
Do not believe them in confessions.
They may separate you and tell you that your friend confessed and gave you up too, but in reality they are fishing. They can lie to get you to admit a crime, and it will have no significance upon the validity of the admission. You're best off waiting for a lawyer as stated earlier.

Hopefully these tips can help you or a buddy out in the future. The police have rules just like us, and if you know their rules it is much easier to get away with things than it would be without this knowledge. For official rules you may want to check the local and state laws; however these for the most part apply to anybody.

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Comments (42)

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#1 by Anne Lyken-Garner, Jan 9, 2008

Nicely put together Jared, but maybe we should all simply be good citizens. I'm not saying that there isn't a possibility for the innocent to be a suspect, but the margin of this happening is smaller than if you do not abide by the laws.

#2 by Mindless, Jan 9, 2008

Well with stupid drug laws on the books its kinda hard.
Most of us are not doing anything to harm anyone . Just use weed to relax instead of the state sponsored prozac crusade.

Anywho . Nice post , Keep your heads up

#3 by Daniel , Jan 9, 2008

I'm an editor, not just a critic. This is a good article, informative and useful. It was interesting enough to have me reading it all the way through, which is fairly rare these days. There is just one problem of definition: To "give chase" means to chase someone, not to be chased.

#4 by louie jerome, Jan 9, 2008

I agree with Anne. That way nobody needs to know how to 'get away' with things. I trust this is based on US law Jared as it's a little different in UK.

#5 by Nelson Doyle, Jan 9, 2008

You know #8 makes a lot of sense. I haven\'t ever thought about #8 that way before. Of course, I have a lot of family members who are in law enforcement and they probably shouldnt know that I did not know about number #8. Good thing that I decided to be a writer instead of a criminal, because I would have allowed the police to grab my jacket back inside the house. Thanks for the excellent tips.

#6 by b. radley, Jan 9, 2008

Interesting article. #8 is one i've never heard of before..that's cool. Thanks.

#7 by Alexa Gates, Jan 9, 2008

This stuff is good to know ;)

#8 by Darlene McFarlane, Jan 9, 2008

Very nice Jared. Not only have you told us what not to do but you explained it very well.

Great job!

#9 by Bill, Jan 9, 2008

Not breaking the law no longer means the cops will leave you alone, at least in the US. People who break no laws are being targeted by police more and more often. The above rules are very accurate in my experience. Even if you have done nothing, if you say or do the wrong thing, you will end up in jail or dancing on the end of taser wires regardless.

#10 by Jared Stenzel, Jan 9, 2008

Thanks for the support on the article. Daniel, I realize the mistake now, thanks for pointing that out.

#11 by Judy Sheldon-Walker, Jan 9, 2008

Jared, very well put together article, but I believe your rights are entirely different in your car, as driving is a privilege, not a right. When I studied law for corrections, they advised us that officers have the right to search vehicles w/o a warrant. Correct me, if I am wrong. That was back in 1988, so it may have changed.
Still, Jared, this was well written, and I particularly liked #8. Common sense goes a long ways.

#12 by R.B. Parsley, Jan 9, 2008

I agree with Bill. More times than not, the innocent get the book thrown at them and the guilty get sent on they\\\'re merry way. It seems the law protects the criminal and not his victim. It should be the other way around. I worked with a man several years ago that did ten years in prison for attempting to get revenge on his sister\\\'s rapist. The rapist walked away from it and the victim\\\'s brother got ten years for wanting justice for his sister.Things like this happen all the time, and its no wonder it does. Its an abomination when the law doesn\\\'t do they\\\'re job. This is a good article. You told me a few things I didn\\\'t know. Especially no#8. Keep up the good work Jared.

#13 by LE brown, Jan 9, 2008

Unfortunately in some areas, like the one I live in, the Constitution isn't really on the list of required reading for judges. A police officer once told me "I don't know nothing about a constitution but I know your neighbor said you have drugs" while illegally searching my house for pot - which I didn't have - Actually it was several cops that came in like a Special Forces assault squad, terrorizing my family. It all started when I beat hell out of my neighbor for trying to steal my lawnmower to trade for crack - God Bless America. God have mercy on the American citizens. We are as much if not more of a police state than Russia at the height of the Soviet Empire.

#14 by Josh G, Jan 9, 2008

Nice article. I like #8 as well.
I can\'t tell if you were joking LE Brown but a very funny post either way.

#15 by Connie 0, Jan 9, 2008

harassing uncorraborated anonymous tips are alive and well. although false, still intimidating and impossible to do something about ... makes one very very disrespectful of the law and disappointed in the lack of law enforcement regulations. nice to explain to the neighbors why three police arrive at your door for no reason. stop and talk ... just say no, regardless if you are innocent, how embarrassing :(

#16 by LE Brown, Jan 9, 2008

unfortunately I'm not joking - in Lake City, SC 4 police officers were busted by their own dashboard cameras selling crack. They were suspended pending an investigation, and one "officer" was back on the street writing tickets within days. Some received jail time, but...SUSPENDED PENDING AN INVESTIGATION!!!!!! WTF.

#17 by Agata Campos, Jan 9, 2008

I found your article very informative and interesting. I've never been arrested, but in case this happen to me, I hope to remember the rules.

#18 by Julius, Jan 10, 2008

I like this, Jared. Sounds like you may have a little experience ha ha.

-Julius

#19 by NickTheGreek, Jan 10, 2008

Sound pretty good, but all these simply derive from the Moveis or countries like USA (and they don't always work).
In other countries you simply get beaten enough to tell them everything :)

#20 by Dani, Jan 10, 2008

Lol, nice LE Brown.
What kind of Dumbass's get caught by their own cameras? Especially cops! Hahaha.

~~~Nice article. Especially #8, If a cop asked me if he could get me my jacket, i would've let him. Great tips! Keep up the good work!

#21 by Francie, Jan 10, 2008

Long story short, I do not trust, it's a roll of the dice whether they will do some of the stories you hear about at the slightest provocation.

*Good job on this one

#22 by Josey, Jan 10, 2008

Good advice. Hopefully, I'll never have to use it!
Best Wishes,
Josey

#23 by spostareduro, Jan 10, 2008

Ok...I wanna know how you know this?
What interests you the most here?
LOL

#24 by Lucy Lockett, Jan 10, 2008

Is this the voice of experience or what? Nice article, our police do not carry guns and I think I would be utterly intimidated by yours.

#25 by IcyCucky, Jan 11, 2008

Great article, Jared!

#26 by Kelly, Jan 12, 2008

This should be read by everyone. If an officer doesn't even like you for maybe something you said, or if you looked at him in a way that doesn't suit him, he or she can arrest you for anything they want. They think they are above the law. I've met many cops before (not for anything bad, just when I needed them), and goodness, what egos! and their manners! I've met two nice officers in my entire life...I wish they all were like that.

#27 by MariaElle, Jan 12, 2008

I shall remember this for my next arrest (they happen so frequently now they consualt me for ideas on the decor)
No, only joking, but this is a very informative and well-written article.

#28 by noshoesnoshirt, Jan 13, 2008

Always refuse permission to search, but remember that they will bring a four-legged warrant....err, dog. My brother was pulled over, refused right to search, had a drug dog called. The dog was lead around his car repeatedly, did not bark or indicate. After the dog was done the officer told my brother the dog did not indicate drugs but gave an "irregular indication". They searched his car. No judge in the US will throw out a dog-issued search.
I had a drug dog go crazy on a can of coffee I had in the back of my truck with my camping kitchen gear. They searched me - I had no choice. The freaking dog wasn't even close to the weed. Dang it.

#29 by Craig, Jan 14, 2008

As a 20 year veteran officer, I\'ll try to explain a few things:
1) Not necessarily. Sure, don\'t admit to any crime, but if you come off as too uncooperative, you could actually be charged with more. Lots of times, people get themselves into more trouble than the officer was originally going to dish out, either by being disrespectful or uncooperative. And when I say uncooperative, I don\'t mean \"He didn\'t admit to the crime, so he was uncooperative\".
2) Correct.
3) Kinda Correct. True, you sholud never flee from the police. Chances are you will be caught, and fleeing in a vehicle usually ends in a crash, injuring yourself, or more importantly, an innocent person. But you don\'t get charged for every traffic violation. It all falls under \'Fleeing and Eluding\', unless you hit other cars and flee, try to hit police cars, etc.
4) True
5) No special training, just common sense.
6) Kinda true. If you do have illegal items, and the police ask for consent, it would probably be in your best interest to say no. But just because they ask, doesn\'t mean they don\'t have the right anyway. There have been hundreds of times where I had the right to search someone or their vehicle, and I ask anyway, just to see what they say, or their behavior. Lots of times, when they are cooperative, and they just have a tiny bit of weed, or an open container of alcohol, I cut them a break. If they have a bag of cocaine, obviously, they go to jail regardless.
7) Kinda true. Again, goes to cooperation. If you have kilos of cocaine sitting on your couch, then don\'t let them in. But if you do let them in, whether in this case or the case of \"to get a coat\", the officers can\'t just search just because you let them in. If they see something in plain view (sitting on the couch), they can use that against you. But they can\'t just start searching.
8) see above.
9) Generally, true.
10) Generally, true. 9 and 10 are pretty much the same. Problem is, you never know what the cop knows. And sometimes, if you commit a crime with other people, it is best to be the first one to talk, because someone ALWAYS talks. If I were going to be a criminal, I would do things by myself. Any time there are 2 or more people involved, someone ALWAYS, ALWAYS, talks, and the first one usually comes off better than the others.
And to the person who said the police can search cars without a warrant, that is kinda true, but they still need \'probable cause\' to believe a crime is being committed. We can\'t just search cars because we feel like it.

#30 by W.J.H., Jan 14, 2008

# 29 Craig :
Ur wrong on # 3. I was a young guy fresh back from Vietnam had to to do my last few months at Ft.Rilly ,Ks. The little Town of Junction City wrote me up with 14 citations most a lie. After I failed to stop for a simple trafic violation . I did out distance
them till my car over heated & stalled . I have a feeling ur wrong on more of them also . But you were the cop ,right?

BTW. I run because I was just a 20 yr old scared kid . Had never dealt with the law before. OH great post Jared. I say ur right on.

#31 by Craig, Jan 14, 2008

WJH, ever occur to you that things may have changed in the last 35 frickin years???? I really don't think we should put a lot of weight into what happened in Junction City 35 years ago. When I started 20 years ago, we would write tickets like that as well. Then again, we would also chase people for simple traffic infractions back then. Now we can only pursue for violent felonies.

#32 by Susan, Jan 14, 2008

Good info. Thanks :)

#33 by Jared Stenzel, Jan 14, 2008

Craig thank you for your original comment. It was very interesting to know about how the laws have changed in the last few decades. Don't let W.J.H. get you down. Most of the people that read that comment would read it like me, an addition to the current information provided. Thanks.

#34 by Charlie, Jan 16, 2008

"Maybe we should all be good citizens" That's funny. You're obviously white, among other things, or you would understand why innocent citizens need to know their rights. Maybe the cops should all stop arresting the wrong people. Maybe we should all "just say no"...

#35 by K9srCool, Jan 16, 2008

#34 Charlie,
On Christmas eve. a cop pulled my 16 yo son out of my parked car, where he was waiting for my wife and I to finish our 10 minute dog walk. It was an unbelievable experience - 3 cars , 6 cops. It is a long story but we were doing absolutely nothing wrong, he was thrown to the ground, cuffed behind his back, the cop put his hands in his pants, yanked him up by the cuffs, then shoved down on a curb. My wife and I were intercepted by 3 cops who attempted to delay us on our way to the car which probably was a good thing - had I reached my car 5 min. earlier I have no doubt that I would have nailed that cop. My son and I later went to the police station to file a complaint and we were threatened with arrest for trespassing - which we were not - he even wanted to know where my wife was because he was going to send a car over and arrest her. So, it happens to \"white\" people too. I do not doubt however that the harassment and abuse suffered by people who are other than white is more frequent and more brutal.

#36 by Joe Poniatowski, Jan 17, 2008

Great tips, which I hope never to have to use.

#37 by Samuel Z Jones, Jan 17, 2008

I've been a police officer and a military police reservist, so I have the view from both sides; the only piece of advice in this article I would disagree with is point #1; all the rest are spot on, but you can talk your way out if you know the right questions to ask. Telling the police anything will only give them more information to base an arrest, but maintaining a meek silence is not helping any; tell them nothing and ask lots of polite and pertinent questions. The name of their commanding officer, for example, or which station they are from, what their basis is for suspecting you. Ask for a piece of paper and a pen to write down whatever they say to you; if they mention a law, ask them to quote it exactly, with references, but be extremely polite at all times. The trick is act pleased to see them, and surprised when they treat you with suspicion; looking innocent is no good, but being pleasantly curious can baffle a cop and throw him off, especially if he hasn't really got anything to pin you with. The other nine points were some of the best advice I've seen for avoiding arrest; nice work.

#38 by Koyin, Jan 18, 2008

Good Article, I don't know that I would ever need anything like this, and people who do are the last people should read this. Good for entertainment, but should you really be informing criminals how to get less jail time? Just a thought.

Koyin

#39 by M.C. Johnson, Jan 19, 2008

I agree with Anne, Louie, R.B., and Bill. lol. They said it all.

#40 by Tyler Sutherland, Jan 26, 2008

Not bad. When the law attempts to turn good citizens into criminals to fund a corrupt prison system and further systematic poverty...we need all the help we can get. A \"good citizen\" is an ignorant citizen who pays bogus tickets and gladly hands over their liberties.

#41 by John, Jan 29, 2008

Never trust a cops. They will take a good citizen on a alleged misdemeanor and turn it to a felony. Like mentioned above, they will try to trick you. For example: they will ask you questions that they already asked you earlier like what is your name and address and you might tell them that you would like an attorney present. Then the officer may say that if you don\'t answer the question you will be resisting arrest and charged. How can you be resisting arrest when you are already handcuffed, sitting quietly in the back of the squad car waiting on the officer to drive you to jail? They can ruin your life. You can loose your job and family. All people that are locked up are not guilty. Look at all those people that had been locked up for 25 years and DNA testing proved their innocence. In our system, you are guily until proven innocent. Some will question this comment. However, if you are arrested. You are locked up. You might be able to bond out maybe not, depending on the crime. If you can bond out, you have to pay. Then you have to pay an attorney. Hope you have money. That money will not be returned. If you don\'t have money, you will be locked up for awhile. You cannot go to work. You know that you are a good person but to the world you are a criminal. You know that you are not in the same class as the real criminals. That will really piss you off. By the time you get out of lockup, you are really pissed.

I know that \"never trust a cop\" are very harsh words. However, everyone opinion of cops is based on their personal experience. If you knew you were innocent and the cops threaten you or continue to add charges to you or your loved ones your opinion will probably change.

I grew up trusting cops but because of what I have seen I am affraid that I cannot any more. I would be affraid to call them if I witness a serious crime. I fear they may take me into custody for doing a good dead.

#42 by John Harkins, Mar 21, 2008

I was falsely arrested back in 1991. Some jerk got mad at me because ... and I wish I was making this up ... looked at him funny while I got out of my car on a steaming hot summer day.

He filed a report that I represented myself as a cop, and did a snatch-n-run with his wallet. I was at church when the police came by the house, so getting a call I went down to the station. It was amazing how desperate the law officer was - and how upset he was when I simply and politely asked to speak to legal counsel.

Of course not being in trouble before, I had took a name off the list of attorneys provided by the State - whose first words were - innocent or not, don't say a word.

I figured, the lawyer was the expert, so I politely informed the officer that I was advised not to "give my side of the story" as had been requested by said officer.

Due to a lack of evidence (though hilariously the cash in my wallet was photocopied as 'proof') - and having no prior criminal record, I was released on personal recognizance. This bought me time to find a very good attorney, one familiar with this city's particular penchant for such mistakes.

Case got thrown out ASAP (it was bogus after all). In fact, the city went through break-neck speed to expunge my record. Said law officer never did follow-up on his promise to go after the guy who filed the false report - then again, said officer didn't even show up in the court room that morning.

Bottom line, seek legal counsel, seek legal counsel, seek legal counsel, seek legal counsel, seek legal counsel.

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10 Rules to Follow When Confronted by Police

These are necessary to keep in mind whenever you are confronted by a police.

Do not talk to the arresting officer unless spoken too.

Do not run!

Do not give chase in car.

Do not resist arrest.

Do not look at places you may be hiding something.

Do not allow them to search anything.

If they come to your house do not let them inside.

Do not accept offer to go back inside.

Do not talk to the police about anything once arrested until you have a lawyer.

Do not believe them in confessions.