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HOW TO DEAL WITH THE POLICE

First and foremost remember that police are people too, and also remember that law enforcement is a difficult and dangerous job. With that in mind, you should always deal with the police in a calm, polite, and professional manner. But being polite does not mean that you should ever, under any circumstances, give up your rights.

Never Admit To Anything

You have no obligation to answer any question. If you are in your car, you must provide license, registration, and insurance. Anywhere else, you have no requirement to provide any information, and you cannot be arrested for not talking to the police. However, never badmouth or obstruct the police. If you are being arrested or detained, you have a right to know why. If not, ask if you are free to go and if so leave immediately. Everything you say to the police is important, and may be recorded without your knowledge. Never offer any extra information. lf you do answer questions, keep them very short and to the point, and most important, Never confess - it does not help you.

Insist On Seeing A Lawyer You have a legal right to speak with a lawyer. Never speak to the police without at least consulting one. If you speak to the police without a lawyer, you have given up one of your most important rights. Never agree to go to the police station to answer questions or submit to interrogation.Never confess - it does not help you.

Always Protest A Search

Even if the search is by a court ordered warrant you should always make it very clear that any entry onto your premises is fully against your wishes, and that YOU DO NOT CONSENT IN ANY WAY TO THE SEARCH. Never cooperate in a search - it does not help you.

Never Invite The Police Into Your Home, Office or Car

Any lack of protest can be considered an invitation. If they ask if they may enter, and you do not immediately voice your strong protest, this may be construed as an invitation on your part. This voids your right to privacy, and you lose this right later in court. Never cooperate in a search - it does not help you.

The Police Can and Do Lie

The supreme court has upheld that the police can lie to you for any reason. The police cannot lie in court, or in official documents, (although some do). If you ask a plain-clothes police officer if they are the police, they can lie and say that they are not (this is one of the most common misunderstandings by citizens if you ask an undercover cop if they are the police, they can legally say no, and claim to be something else). In fact an undercover police officer can take illegal drugs with you to "prove" they aren't police. The police can lie about evidence they have about you (they can fabricate ''fake'' evidence to convince you to confess, for example). Fake evidence cannot be used in court, but if it makes you confess, it no longer matters. Never confess - it does not help you.

Be Aware Of Your Body Language and Eye Movements

Be conscious of your body language and eye movements. The police (especially interrogators) are very well trained in reading your body language and eye movements. These are involuntary movements that you make, and reveal your state of mind, and even if you are lying or telling the truth. Remain calm, do not react to questions, and never offer any information or answer a question you do not want to. Never confess or cooperate in a search - it does not help you and it will not make the justice system more lenient on you - EVER.

Most important: Remember that the justice system is never more lenient on you when you give up your rights. Confessing or cooperating will only make things harder on you. When you give up your rights, you also give up any hope of being treated fairly. Always be polite and courteous, but never cave in and waive your rights. EVER.

• What is an arrest?
• What rights do I have?
• Once I am told my rights, can I be questioned?
• When should I see a lawyer?
• Who can arrest me?
• Can someone other than a Police Officer arrest me?
• When is an arrest warrant issued?
• When can I be released?
• What is bail and how is it set?
• Who maintains arrest records and what do they include?
• What happens at an arraignment?
• What happens at a preliminary hearing?
• When can an officer conduct a search?
• When can an officer search you, your car, or your home without a warrant?

When you are arrested for drunk driving, you are taken into custody. This means that you are not free to leave the scene. Without being arrested, you can be detained, however, or held for questioning for a short time if a police officer or other person believes you may have been involved in a crime. For example, an officer may detain you if you are carrying a large box near a burglary. You also can be detained by storekeepers if they suspect you have stolen something. Whether you are arrested or detained, you do not have to answer any questions except to give your name and address, and to show some identification if requested.

What rights do I have?

Whether you are an adult citizen or a non-citizen, you have certain rights if you are arrested.

Before the law enforcement officer questions you for drunk driving, he or she must tell you that:

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you. You have the right to have a lawyer present while you are questioned. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you. These are your "Miranda" rights, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. If you are not given these warnings, your lawyer can ask that any statements you made to the police not be used against you in court. But this does not necessarily mean that your case will be dismissed. This does not apply if you volunteer information without being questioned by the police.

Once I am told my rights, can I be questioned? You can be questioned, without a lawyer present, only if you voluntarily give up your rights and if you understand what you are giving up. If you agree to the questioning, then change your mind, questioning must stop as soon as you say that you want a lawyer. If the questioning continues after you request a lawyer and you continue to talk, your answers can be used against you if you testify to something different.

You may be required to give certain physical evidence. For example, if you are suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol, you may be requested to take a test to measure the amount of alcohol in your system. If you refuse to take a test, your driver's license may be suspended and the refusal will be used against you in court.

Once you are booked for drunk driving, meaning your arrest is written into official police records and you are fingerprinted and photographed, you have the right to make and complete telephone calls that are free within the local dialing area.

When should I see a Maryland Drunk Driving Lawyer? If you are arrested for drunk driving, you should contact a Maryland Drunk Driving Lawyer as soon as possible. He or she has a better sense of what you should and should not say to the law enforcement officers to avoid being misinterpreted or misunderstood. The lawyer also can advise you or your family and friends of the bail process.

How can I find a Maryland Drunk Driving Lawyer? A friend, a co-worker or your employer, as well as doctors, ministers, or teachers may be able to recommend a Maryland Drunk Driving Lawyer.

Ask for a Maryland Drunk Driving Lawyer who is qualified for drunk driving. If you decide to hire a Maryland Drunk Driving Lawyer, make sure that you understand what you will be paying for, how much it will cost, and when you are expected to pay your bill.