Know your rights!

These are the most basic rights you have:

• As we have all heard from Law & Order, or any cop show/movie - You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud. Lets make something clear, you MUST express it out loud "I will choose to remain silent."
• You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home. This does not mean they cannot bring a search warrant, bring dog(in car situations) to give them probable cause to search your vehicle, house, or yourself.
• If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave. This is really important. Unless you are under arrest, do not feel like you are obligated to stay. Continuously ask if you are under arrest and ask if you may leave.
• You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Ask for one immediately. Feel free to contact the ACLU if you have any questions regarding protection, they will sometimes provide you a lawyer to represent you if civil liberties have truly been broken!

Please remember

• Do stay calm and be polite. Be the better person, the calmer you are the better you look, every stop does create an incident report, everything they write in there could matter later!
• Do not interfere with or obstruct the police. This one is pretty obvious! - Do not lie or give false documents.
• Do prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested.
• Do remember the details of the encounter. You are allowed to record police, everyone has a phone that can record the incident, feel free to do so even if the police say otherwise.
• File a written complaint

If you are stopped for questioning

• Stay calm. Don't run. Don't argue, resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or police are violating your rights. Keep your hands where police can see them.
• Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away. If you are under arrest, you have a right to know why.
• You have the right to remain silent and cannot be punished for refusing to answer questions. If you wish to remain silent, tell the officer out loud. In some states, you must give your name if asked to identify yourself.
• You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect a weapon. You should not physically resist, but you have the right to refuse consent for any further search. If you do consent, it can affect you later in court.

If you are stopped in your car

• Stop the car in a safe place as quickly as possible. Turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window part way and place your hands on the wheel. Upon request, show police your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance.
• Both drivers and passengers have the right to remain silent. If you are a passenger, you can ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, sit silently or calmly leave. Even if the officer says no, you have the right to remain silent.

If you are arrested

• Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair.
• Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. If you can't pay for a lawyer, you have the right to a free one. Don't say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer.
• You have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer.
• Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer.

If you feel your rights have been violated

• Remember: police misconduct cannot be challenged on the street. Don't physically resist officers or threaten to file a complaint.
• Write down everything you remember, including officers' badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses. If you are injured, take photographs of your injuries (but seek medical attention first).
• File a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board. In most cases, you can file a complaint anonymously if you wish.