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cops to respect your rig em, But if you dont assert th not lawyers and judges may her. be able to help you eit cond Here are some split-se sily situations you could ea to. screw upand how not
THE COPS ARE POUNDING ON YOUR DOOR

home, they are If the police come to your t door and wait fron allowed to knock on your to them. If you talk to nt briefly to see if you wa st leave the mu y the r, we ans decline or do not arranted unw property. You are protected from ment. end Am rth Fou search and seizure by the rrant, wa rch sea or st arre If the police have an t to bes usually you must open the door. It is to you ind beh r step outside and close the doo can y the in, ice pol talk with them. If you let the ke sure there are do a protective sweep to ma could present a no other people inside who allowed to arrest danger to them. They are also in view. Once pla in you for anything they see ume theyll go ass e, hom r the police are in you on a fishing expedition.

have nothing to Remember these five words: I ut any crime abo ice say. Never talk to the pol Whether you . ted lica imp in which you may be y misrepresent are guilty or innocent, they ma ir report and the any statements you make in inating yourrim inc try to manipulate you into ts you from tec pro nt me self. The Fifth Amend against yourself. being forced to bear witness look out for your But dont expect the police to use any tactic to is l best interests. Their goa incriminating e duc pro to at their disposal you. Four more information used to convict yer. essential words: I want a law

THE COPS WANT TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS

BY ALLISON B. MARGOLIN AND J. RAZA LAWRENCE

ice while on foot If you are approached by pol t want to talk, don or and and you have contrab to leave? If the immediately ask, Am I free away. This is the officer says yes, simply walk yourself from t tec only way you can pro cops ask for the If n. ntio unwanted police atte

YOU ARE BEING HARASSED BY COPS IN PUBLIC

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HUSTLER DECEMBER 2013

identification, be aware that there is no law requiring you to carry ID. But if they arrest you for probable cause, you will have to identify yourself. On the road, if the police pull you over and do not seem to be in the process of investigating a traffic violation or issuing a citationor have obviously completed their taskuse those five simple words: Am I free to leave?

YOU HAVE BEEN ARRESTED

If you are arrested, get a lawyer right away or demand that one be provided for you. Once you do, your Sixth Amendment rights guarantee that you cannot be interrogated (although that does get violated). If youre arrested as part of a group, remember the lesson of the prisoners dilemma: If no one talks, everyone benefits. Make sure you have a pact to record one anothers interactions with the police. And post bail if you can! That way you can assist in your defense and wont have to worry about calls or visits being recorded. While out on bail, try to do productive things like maintaining gainful employment or going to school. This will make it less likely that you will be incarcerated if you are convicted and may help your lawyer secure a better deal to settle the case.

YOU HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER AND YOUVE BEEN DRINKING

Dont admit to drinking anything. In this country, driving is a privilege, not a right. That means, when you drive, you are implying consent to be stopped and tested for DUI. Since implied-consent laws vary widely, you should know what they are in your state. If a cop wants to test your alcohol level and you refuse, your refusal can be used against you. But if you are super fucked-up, it may still be your best bet to refuse both the chemical exam and the field sobriety test.

YOURE IN DEEP SHIT AND NEED TO TALK

Tell your lawyer only details that you could testify to truthfully. If you tell your lawyer details that show your guilt, that lawyer cannot present any other witnesses or documents contradicting the incriminating information. So if you plan to go to trial with that same lawyer, have a conversation with him or her about whether you should go into unpleasant things. Do not talk to your mom, dad, girlfriend, boyfriend or anyone other than your spouse. They can be subpoenaed as witnesses. Conversations with your lawyer, spouse, doctor, therapist or clergy member may be privileged, but local laws differ. Do not post information online, send text messages or emails or discuss anything over the phone that could be used to incriminate you. We now know that the government routinely monitors everyones communications through secret surveillance programs. Old-fashioned, in-person conversations remain the best way to preserve your privacy when dealing with sensitive information. Many people now behind bars would be free if they had thought twice before sending that email.

THE COPS WANT TO SEARCH YOU

If the police ask you for permission to search your vehicle or home, you cannot be punished for saying no. To search your home without your consent, the police must have a search warrant. To search your vehicle, they need probable cause that it may contain evidence of a crime. To frisk you, they need reasonable suspicion that you may be a threat; for a more invasive search, they need to arrest you based on probable cause. Probable cause is notoriously loose; it could be as vague as seeming drunk or behaving in a way that the officer finds threatening. Evidence obtained from illegal searches cannot be used against you in court, but you will need a lawyer to ensure that your right is protected.

THE COPS SEE YOU FILMING THEM

One of our most powerful tools to expose police abuses is posting footage on the Internet. Laws vary state by state, but the prevailing principle is that it is legal to film in public. If the police ask you what youre doing, calmly explain that you are acting within your First Amendment right to film in public. Never point or handle your phone or camera as if its a weapon. Thats a surefire way to get legally shot. Do not act in any way that would be considered interference in police activities. Your best bet is to film from a distance and post your footage as quickly as possible.

YOU ARE BEING ACCUSED OF ENDANGERING NATIONAL SECURITY

Do not flee the country unless you are committed to a lifetime on the run or have assurances that another country will grant you asylum. If you do plan to flee, dont tell your lawyers, as this could make them accomplices and prevent them from helping you. If you flee and are caught, you will likely face much stiffer penalties if convicted. If there is a weaponized drone in the sky above you, run for cover! Our government has a targeted killing program and has said that it will use drones to kill its own citizens, without any due process, if it views them as a threat. Our rights are under attack more than ever. Arm yourself with knowledge. L.A. attorneys Allison B. Margolin and J. Raza Lawrence have built their careers on fighting judicial overreach and advocating for its victims. DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only, are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of HUSTLER Magazine, LFP Publishing Group, LLC, or any of its affiliates and assigns.

YOU ARE BEING BEATEN BY COPS

If you are experiencing police brutality, do not resist or fight back. If possible, obtain names of officers and badge numbers. If you are injured by the police, try to obtain witness info, take photographs of yourself as soon as possible and seek medical or psychiatric attention if necessary. The goal is to document the incident for future use. Make sure you research local statutes regarding procedures and deadlines for filing complaints against police officers.