What to say when cops question you?

1. Identify Yourself: If asked, provide your name, address, and date of birth. ...
2. Invoke Your Right to Remain Silent: Clearly state that you are invoking your right to remain silent. ...
3. Request an Attorney: If you are being questioned about a crime, request an attorney immediately.

Can you tell police I don't answer questions?

Say “I want to remain silent.” You cannot be arrested or detained for refusing to answer questions. But it can look suspicious to the police if you answer questions and then suddenly stop. Make it your practice to always remain silent.

Can police ask where you are going?

You have the right to remain silent. For example, you do not have to answer any questions about where you are going, where you are traveling from, what you are doing, or where you live. If you wish to exercise your right to remain silent, say so out loud.

Why do cops ask "Do you know why I stopped you?"?

"It's kind of that power dynamic that I think scares some people," said Omeed Berenjian. He's a criminal defense attorney and partner with BK Law Group. "I think the most common reason is the officer wants you to admit guilt to some extent."

Should you ever answer police questions?

No. You have the constitutional right to remain silent. In general, you do not have to talk to law enforcement officers (or anyone else), even if you do not feel free to walk away from the officer, you are arrested, or you are in jail. You cannot be punished for refusing to answer a question.

Why do cops follow you but not pull?

Instead, the general rule is that police are allowed to follow you for a reasonable distance to observe your driving and determine if a traffic stop needs to be conducted. As you might imagine, a reasonable distance is interpretative and will vary based on the specifics of the situation.

Can you just walk out of an interrogation?

You can say, “I do not want to talk to you” and walk away calmly. Or, if you do not feel comfortable doing that, you can ask if you are free to go. If the answer is yes, you can consider just walking away.

What do the police not want you to know?

Right to Remain Silent

This right is probably the most known of all. You have the right to remain silent when being questioned by the police. Anything you say or do can be used against you. You have the right to have legal representation at the time of any police interrogation.

How do you respond to being questioned?

When someone asks you a question, you should be sure you understand exactly what they want to know. Consider rewording their question and asking it back to them by saying something like: "What you're asking is..." "From my understanding, you want to know..."

What is it called when police question you?

Interrogation (also called questioning) is interviewing as commonly employed by law enforcement officers, military personnel, intelligence agencies, organized crime syndicates, and terrorist organizations with the goal of eliciting useful information, particularly information related to suspected crime.

How do you resist police interrogation?

In other words, remember your Miranda rights. Even if you remain calm and keep your answers brief, you could still face arrest. If officers continue interrogations under custody, remember you have the right to remain silent, speak with an attorney before questioning, and have an attorney present during questioning.

Do cops have to answer "Are you a cop?"?

No federal or state law requires cops in California to identify themselves as police officers to the public, even if someone asks them directly. This is also true of police officers who work undercover.

Why should you never talk to the police without a lawyer?

The Risks of Speaking to the Police Without a Defense Attorney. Talking to the police without an attorney present will almost always backfire, even if you're innocent. If the police have enough evidence to charge you, nothing you say will change their mind, and you're just further implicating yourself.

Can a cop give you a ticket without seeing what happened?

Many drivers are unaware that, by law, an officer must witness an infraction to issue a ticket for it directly. Nonetheless, it is not uncommon for officers to issue tickets after arriving at the scene of an accident.

How to answer cop questions?

DO exercise your right to remain silent. Say “I want to remain silent.” You cannot be arrested or detained for refusing to answer questions. But it can look suspicious to the police if you answer questions and then suddenly stop. Make it your practice to always remain silent.

Do you know why I pulled you over legally?

Police officers in California can no longer ask, “Do you know why I pulled you over?” That's because of a new state law that came into effect on Jan. 1.

Can cops ask where you're coming from?

When a police officer asks where you are coming from, they are looking for evidence to support the possibility that you have or are committing a crime or whether or not you are a threat to public safety. This creates a baseline that they will later write down in a police report.

Do you have to get out of the car if a cop tells you to?

The law allows police officers to order drivers and passengers out of a vehicle during a traffic stop to ensure officer safety. While this may feel intrusive, the courts have ruled that this action is a reasonable and minimal intrusion compared to the potential dangers officers face during these interactions.

Can police watch your house?

Law enforcement can use a warrant to access home security devices. Warrants are a way to seize even local storage on home security devices. Another option police have to seize cam footage is via a warrant or similar court order.

Are cops not allowed to ask why they pulled you over?

Before asking you any questions, officers are usually required to tell you the reason for stopping you. This applies whether you are stopped in a car or while walking. An officer can no longer ask you to tell them why they stopped you or pulled you over.