“DO NOT LIE TO A POLICE OFFICER!”
This site gives a number of different ways in which you can protect yourself when questioned by Police Officers. However, we do not encourage you to ever lie to a police officer. Lying to the police can lead to various charges ranging from obstruction of justice to being charged with a misdemeanor or even being arrested depending on the severity of what you were hiding from the police officer. In addition, you must remember that the first priority of a police officer is to make sure they return every day after work to their families. If they find out that you were not honest with them instead of giving you the benefit of the doubt they may decide to take additional action like citing your for additional violations. Thus, lying to the police is a huge no-no. This is not to say you have to answer their questions. We strongly advise you not to do so if you believe it will incriminate you and we have posted numerous articles indicating how and when you should invoke your Fifth Amendment Right from self-incrimination. However, many officers if you are honest with them while not incriminating yourself in any way, may simply give you a warning or a ticket for a lighter offense. The difficulty in these situations is to determine which type of Officer you are dealing with. In some situations an Officer is simply asking a question and may even inform you that if you are honest with them it will be a simple stop and perhaps a warning or a minor ticket. Then there are officers who say the exact same thing and still will give you harsher charge or even arrest you. Hence, why we stress not answering officer questions that may incriminate yourself. This is not lying to the police. If you think your answer in any shape or form can be used against you in the future do not say anything. Again, this is not lying to the police. Remember police officers are not your friends. They are also not your enemies. They are simply doing their job, a job which enables them to lie to you in order to obtain evidence for the prosecutor to charge you with any crimes they can. It’s best to treat a police officer with the same respect you would treat a stranger on the street. You may be polite to the stranger, you may open the door for them. But you would not immediately tell the stranger everything you have been doing all day. What your family’s names are, or any illegal activities you have been up too. If the officer asks you any questions that even appear to seem like they can be used against you:
- “Do you have weed in the car man, just let me know now.
- “Where have you been today”
- “Where do you live, you from around here”
- “Do you mind if I search your car”
- “Have you ever been to jail before, are you on probation, do you have any warrants”
- “Tell me who they are, and I’ll let you go”
All such questions you don’t have to answer. If an officer smells “mary-jane” even if you don’t have any they will search your car. So you can say “No” if its true but they will likely still search. “Where have you been today”, no reason to answer that, that is your business. “Where do you live?”, they already know that, they’ve asked for your ID at this time and guess what? Your address is on your ID. “Do you mind if I search your car?”. Never let them go through your car period. Never Ever consent to a search of your car. “Have you been to jail before?” That’s a sucker question. They just looked you up after they ran your license they know the answer. Don’t answer that question. “Tell me who they are, and I’ll let you go” Just another sucker question. Sometimes an officer might actually let you go, but now you’re consenting to knowing who someone is and now you are potentially an accomplice. It’s best to keep your mouth shut. This is not lying to the police, this is exercising your fifth amendment right! If you don’t want to answer a question or do not know what the consequences of answering that question will be do not answer and do not lie. For your best protection we advise that your film the police in a reasonable manner. If you feel the police officer did not treat you appropriately you can always file a report as well. We have a complete guide to assist you if that is the case.
