How to Avoid Getting Arrested by Cops

[giza]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8520847761350501823

Educational video. I especially recommend this video for the younger folks.

Comments

[elfasi.livejournal.com]

Hmm, gives me mixed emotions, as a European.. In the first example the people in the car come across as decent honest folks who admitted to their mistake and had to face punishment for it. In the second one the guy comes across as s smartass unpleasant fellow who avoids the law despite being guilty. How they behave in the 2nd example doesn't feel morally right to me, but they do avoid a pretty bad situation. It's tempting to say I'd rather just avoid having anything to hide, but then that's the classic stupid argument about all kinds of privacy rights.

[furahi.livejournal.com]

Whenever I see this kinds of videos I think "What if I really have nothing to hide?".
Should I still refuse to be searched if I know everything is right, just because I can?

The kid in the first and last video knew they had drugs... but I don't do drugs, and I try not to hang with people who do; so should I refuse just because I can?

Very interesting though, especially good to see just as I'm getting ready to move to your country in a few months =P

[giza.livejournal.com]

> Should I still refuse to be searched if I know everything is right, just
> because I can?

In my country, it is our legal right to refuse a search. (I don't know how that applies to non-residents who are visiting)

Now the way I was raised, I find the prospect of a search rather invasive. I'd like to avoid that myself.

[furahi.livejournal.com]

I don't even know how the law in my country is in regard to searching your car o.o

I know it's your right and in 2 - 7 years I will be a permanent resident (assuming all goes well of course); so it'll be my right too. I think it will even be my right before that; however I won't have the right to refuse to show ID. Of course if legal residents have the right to refuse how can they tell a resident with a funny accent from a visitor (or illegal alien) with or without one? =P
I don't plan on finding out, since I don't have that right, whenever I'm asked to show ID I will, period =P

But what I mean is just because you have the right to refuse, why should you if you have nothing to hide?
Your house, sure.. I don't like the invasion of privacy either.. but why refuse to let them search your car?
If it were Mexico City or a place with a crooked police I'd fear they'd plant evidence... but I'm guessing that's not true of most police departments in the US =P

[giza.livejournal.com]

Because I might have a stack of Playboys and a blowup Barbara Bush doll in the trunk.

Or maybe the remains of a goat from a pagan sacrifce.

Or maybe some fetish gear.

Or maybe a thousand other things that, while perfectly legal, would be embarassing to have somebody else find.

[furahi.livejournal.com]

In your car? o.ô

Okay ^^

Of course if it were you you can always say you were going to work from home ^^

[giza.livejournal.com]

That excuse won't work. We do not sell Barbara Bush blowup dolls.

Yet.

[furahi.livejournal.com]

That's a market oportunity if I ever saw one!

[zeeth_kyrah]

It may be a legal right to refuse a search; but under Indiana law, you are presumed guilty of something if you do so, and generally arrested on the spot. Meaning that refusal is no longer a right.

[giza.livejournal.com]

How can they arrest you without a charge? o.O

[zeeth_kyrah]

After double-checking...
That rule concerns refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test: your driver's license is immediately confiscated and can be suspended for up to a year.

Sorry about the confusion.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Ohhh. Yeah, I think that's the same here too.

Oddly enough, I don't have any major issues with a breathalizer. Yeah, it's probably hippocritcal on my part. :-/

[skippyfox.livejournal.com]

Goddamn those actors were terrible! Especially the police. "Smells fresh." Guffaw.

I know an even better way to avoid getting arrested by cops: By not breaking the law. DUH.

[skippyfox.livejournal.com]

Another good reason not to consent--someone else might have accidentally left something illegal in some obscure pocket in your car, like under the mat or inside the sleeve of the passenger-side visor. Or hell, maybe someone intentionally planted it there, I dunno. It would suck if you found out the hard way that it was there though, by letting a police officer find it.

Nobody probably plans on having friends in their car who are stupid enough to carry illegal drugs with them but I have had that encounter. My own cousin told me he had weed in his pocket when we were halfway to our destination in my car. Sure as hell pissed me off.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Not breaking the law won't stop you from getting detailed on mere suspicion.

I know this from first hand experience.

[snow-kitty.livejournal.com]

This video would have helped me alot a few years ago when I got stopped by the Philly police on my way to school. My registration was expired (my fault) but they suspected marijuana smoke (which was a crock of shit) in my car and proceeded to search and harass me.

Well...at least I know now. And knowing is half the battle. ;)

[skippyfox.livejournal.com]

I was pulled over in January and the cop wanted to search me and my car. I had nothing illegal, but even if I didn't consent to it, I couldn't be arrested on suspicion of being high. I mean I've heard of people being arrested on suspicion of arson, murder, battery, etc. But this is different. Right?

[skippyfox.livejournal.com]

Could you have sued the police for harassment?

[giza.livejournal.com]

Well, in murders and arsons, there's evidence that a crime has been committed (someone goes missing/found dead, burned out building, etc.), which means that an arrest can be made.

In your case, if there's no evidence that you are high, I think it would be much harder for them to arrest you. Or, if they did, you'd have a much stronger case for bringing suit against the police.

[snow-kitty.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure but I was so shaken up from the incident that I really didn't want to bother.

[tgeller.livejournal.com]

Your faith in our system of law enforcement is touching.