Exactly. It falls in line with similar to "don't talk to the police". Just keep quiet. This applies to everything when dealing with any government agency. The government is not your friend.
People say stuff to police that's later used against them in court all the time, so I agree keeping quiet is generally good advice. You should still use your common sense though.
I have a friend who took this advice way too literally when we were 18.
I was in the car when he got pulled over for speeding once, and he refused to say a single word to the officer. He handed over his license, registration and proof of insurance, but wouldn't answer any questions.
The cop asked how him how fast he thought he was going, and my friend didn't even tell the cop that he wouldn't answer his questions. It was just the straight silent treatment. The cop was clearly getting agitated. I was begging my friend just to answer the questions, even if just say he didn't remember or something, but he refused.
Fortunately, his grandma is in the backseat and really saved the day by apologizing for her idiot grandson. My friend wound up only getting a warning thanks to his grandma, but no doubt we would have gotten a big ticket at the minimum if he kept the silent treatment up.
Another time, we both got busted for launching bottle rockets in a public park a couple weeks after the 4th of July. There were several witnesses including the people that called the cops, but once again my friend did the exact same silent treatment to the cops. I sang like a bird about my own actions while being careful not to say that my friend had also launched rockets.
Fortunately the questions were directed at both of us, and we weren't asked specifically who all was involved before my friend felt guilty that I was taking all the blame and started talking to the cops himself.
Good thing because in Ohio launching bottle rockets is an M-1 misdemeanor carrying up to a six month prison sentence. The cops could have been jerks, but instead they recommended that the prosecutor drop charges after we did some community service. Had my friend stuck with the silent treatment, I fully believe we would have been punished more severely.
Again I urge common sense. Every situation is different. Had it been someone else or somewhere else or a slightly different situation, being quiet could have been the right decision. This could be an example of white privilege, but so far in my life, I've never regretted just being honest with the cops.
You fully believe [..] and you urge common sensen.
You fully believe, but you don't know for sure what would've happened in your alternative reality. We miss a lot of details as well. For example, are you POC? What about your friend? White privilege is still real in 2019 (and I say that as someone who's whiter than white). I fully believe I got away with things in my youth someone who's POC would not have gone away with. Not just cops specific, but also community specific, neighbor specific, etc.
The point being, what might be common sense to you or me might not be common sense to any random person.
Here's a famous video [1] of a lawyer and former cop who suggest you never talk to the police. ACLU also has videos online with examples of how you may incriminate yourself even whilst you're fully innocent.
> in Ohio launching bottle rockets is an M-1 misdemeanor carrying up to a six month prison sentence
I wonder if we're thinking of the same kind of bottle rocket... like a plastic soda bottle propelled into the air by water and/or compressed air? Why is the penalty so severe?
I'm guessing you're American. It saddens me that so many of you over there seem to have this view of your own government and institutions.
Anecdote time. Having been stopped by police in the States four times (that I can recall offhand) over the years -- with a legitimate justification in each case -- my experience has been that courtesy and cooperation have served me well. On a couple of occasions when I could quite reasonably have been ticketed and fined, I have instead been sent on my way with a friendly warning to be more careful. I strongly suspect taking a strict "don't talk to the police" line would have cost me quite a bit more stress, time, and money.
As a general rule, if your sole interaction with the police is traffic enforcement (and it helps if you are white), then being courteous and honest is generally the most successful strategy. Anecdotally, aside from a few newsworthy examples, almost every traffic situation that escalates into a significant confrontation got that way because of unnecessary belligerence.
When "never talk to police" comes into play is when they are doing a criminal investigation. And even then, when to pull out the fifth amendment card depends on individual circumstances. It can definitely escalate an otherwise innocuous situation if you overuse it.
Also, try to remember that what makes the news is newsworthy for a reason.
halter73|6 years ago
I have a friend who took this advice way too literally when we were 18.
I was in the car when he got pulled over for speeding once, and he refused to say a single word to the officer. He handed over his license, registration and proof of insurance, but wouldn't answer any questions.
The cop asked how him how fast he thought he was going, and my friend didn't even tell the cop that he wouldn't answer his questions. It was just the straight silent treatment. The cop was clearly getting agitated. I was begging my friend just to answer the questions, even if just say he didn't remember or something, but he refused.
Fortunately, his grandma is in the backseat and really saved the day by apologizing for her idiot grandson. My friend wound up only getting a warning thanks to his grandma, but no doubt we would have gotten a big ticket at the minimum if he kept the silent treatment up.
Another time, we both got busted for launching bottle rockets in a public park a couple weeks after the 4th of July. There were several witnesses including the people that called the cops, but once again my friend did the exact same silent treatment to the cops. I sang like a bird about my own actions while being careful not to say that my friend had also launched rockets.
Fortunately the questions were directed at both of us, and we weren't asked specifically who all was involved before my friend felt guilty that I was taking all the blame and started talking to the cops himself.
Good thing because in Ohio launching bottle rockets is an M-1 misdemeanor carrying up to a six month prison sentence. The cops could have been jerks, but instead they recommended that the prosecutor drop charges after we did some community service. Had my friend stuck with the silent treatment, I fully believe we would have been punished more severely.
Again I urge common sense. Every situation is different. Had it been someone else or somewhere else or a slightly different situation, being quiet could have been the right decision. This could be an example of white privilege, but so far in my life, I've never regretted just being honest with the cops.
Fnoord|6 years ago
> [..] I urge common sense [..]
That's the problem with your post.
You fully believe [..] and you urge common sensen.
You fully believe, but you don't know for sure what would've happened in your alternative reality. We miss a lot of details as well. For example, are you POC? What about your friend? White privilege is still real in 2019 (and I say that as someone who's whiter than white). I fully believe I got away with things in my youth someone who's POC would not have gone away with. Not just cops specific, but also community specific, neighbor specific, etc.
The point being, what might be common sense to you or me might not be common sense to any random person.
Here's a famous video [1] of a lawyer and former cop who suggest you never talk to the police. ACLU also has videos online with examples of how you may incriminate yourself even whilst you're fully innocent.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE
bonestamp2|6 years ago
I wonder if we're thinking of the same kind of bottle rocket... like a plastic soda bottle propelled into the air by water and/or compressed air? Why is the penalty so severe?
jfk13|6 years ago
Anecdote time. Having been stopped by police in the States four times (that I can recall offhand) over the years -- with a legitimate justification in each case -- my experience has been that courtesy and cooperation have served me well. On a couple of occasions when I could quite reasonably have been ticketed and fined, I have instead been sent on my way with a friendly warning to be more careful. I strongly suspect taking a strict "don't talk to the police" line would have cost me quite a bit more stress, time, and money.
rootusrootus|6 years ago
When "never talk to police" comes into play is when they are doing a criminal investigation. And even then, when to pull out the fifth amendment card depends on individual circumstances. It can definitely escalate an otherwise innocuous situation if you overuse it.
Also, try to remember that what makes the news is newsworthy for a reason.
lonelappde|6 years ago
stevespang|6 years ago
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