Do I have to acknowledge a cop when I'm walking down my street??

[CdwJava]

Does exercising my rights make me suspect? If I don't let a cop search my vehicle, is that reason enough to get permission from his supervisor to open it up?!

Legally, nope. But, if he has other probable cause, then he can.

Seems like everybody else helps out cops in their neighborhoods because they're doing their job. There's nothng for cops to do here but harass young guys like myself.

Let's see ... police presence .. no or little crime ... hmmm ... think there might be a correlation there? It's probably because they DO attempt to contact suspicious folks.

- Carl

 

[Indiana Filer]

They DO hurt ... and I DO speak from experience (In my agency - and many others - we get hit with a Taser when we get trained on them).

- Carl

I told them I'd take the ride if I could carry a taser, but no go. I am allowed to carry a pistol, just not a taser. (No, they didn't make me get shot before they let me carry my pistol.)

 

[Antigone*]

Yes, I am speaking from experience my agency requires that I be TASED in order to carry one.

Yikes my respect to both you and CDW. No tolerance for pain here

take care, ana

 

[CdwJava]

I told them I'd take the ride if I could carry a taser, but no go. I am allowed to carry a pistol, just not a taser. (No, they didn't make me get shot before they let me carry my pistol.)

Our county probation department got the Tasers first, then the pistols ... though, only the officers that deal with high risk offenders get to carry the pistol.

- Carl

 

[grndslm]

You have the right to remain silent to avoid incriminating yourself. So, what do you have to hide?

That would mean all people who are silent are criminals. That's not the case.

Most people don't see the police as the enemy. Typically, only criminals see the police as the enemy. The law abiding folks see the law as their protectors and allies.

I only see *my* local police as the enemy. If you lived here... you'd feel the same way. I have quite a few stories of our local cops acting unfairly, and like I said... I'd rather exercise my right to not speak and then GO HOME if there hasn't been any real crime than I can't help them solve. I'd love to help them solve some real crimes, but that's not what these municipal cops are about.

Just being a jerk to a cop kinda puts you in the "them" category.

My point... if I don't talk, I'm guilty to everybody on this forum [... for starters].

What's with this hatred of cops, anyway? How many times have you been arrested?

I hate them because they go *too* far above and beyond their job. I've been arrested one time too many, and it was because I talked to them. Had I just ignored him, I wouldn't have incriminated myself by saying I had 2 beers to drink (read previous threads for history). This night I was walking home I had more than a couple drinks, so I didn't want to open my mouth and get thrown in jail for smelling of alcohol.

 

[outonbail]

That would mean all people who are silent are criminals. That's not the case.

I only see *my* local police as the enemy. If you lived here... you'd feel the same way. I have quite a few stories of our local cops acting unfairly, and like I said... I'd rather exercise my right to not speak and then GO HOME if there hasn't been any real crime than I can't help them solve. I'd love to help them solve some real crimes, but that's not what these municipal cops are about.

According to what you posted, there isn't a lot of real crimes that need to be solved

My point... if I don't talk, I'm guilty to everybody on this forum [... for starters].

I don't think your guilty of anything but being young and stupid. I don't mean this as an insult, I was young and stupid once myself. Most of us probably were at one time or another. You'll understand when you see gray hairs in the mirror.

I hate them because they go *too* far above and beyond their job. I've been arrested one time too many, and it was because I talked to them. Had I just ignored him, I wouldn't have incriminated myself by saying I had 2 beers to drink (read previous threads for history).

According to your previous thread, you ran your car into a ditch.

This night I was walking home I had more than a couple drinks, so I didn't want to open my mouth and get thrown in jail for smelling of alcohol.

Stop drinking or learn sign language.
BTW, the last time I was walking home at 3:00 am, I had also been drinking. It was back when I was Y & S (Young & Stupid)

 

[grndslm]

According to what you posted, there isn't a lot of real crimes that need to be solved

Exactly. That's why our police force could be cut in half, and the crime rate wouldn't change.

According to your previous thread, you ran your car into a ditch.

That's the "extremely condensed" version. The "super condensed" version is that I ran my car into a ditch because of some cheap tires I had *just* purchased for my vehicle a couple weeks prior to said ditch. The "ultra condensed" version is that I ran my car into a ditch because of some cheap, Chinese tires that all blew out within a month or so after this accident. The "very condensed" version is that I ran my car into a ditch because of some crappy tires that all blew out shortly after the accident, and then a cop LIED UNDER OATH that he had seen all of this take place, he'd seen me throw a "box of beer" outta the window, and then he decided NOT to give me a breathalyzer.

*My* version is that the cops didn't care about anything I had said other than that I had two beers to drink.... Once he heard that, he thought he was righteous enough to put me in jail for intoxication, when I was far from it. The law states that he doesn't need to know what my BAC is, so he took *advantage* of that fact. The judge sided in my favor, because it was obvious the cop testifying before us was a straight up liar. The cops that pulled my friend and I over for driving thru the "black part of town" shouldn't have done what he did; the car was 100% legal, and there were no traffic violations committed.

Of course I will always get away, because I don't murder, steal, or carry drugs or illegal weapons... but is there nobody else that thinks these cops are being EXCESSIVE?!? I guess nobody here is going to help me learn the law, because then both cops and lawyers would be out of jobs. If everybody knew the law, we'd only need minimual security forces like our forefathers intended.

Stop drinking or learn sign language.
BTW, the last time I was walking home at 3:00 am, I had also been drinking. It was back when I was Y & S (Young & Stupid)

BTW, when you work at casinos and gas stations... you tend to stay up late. Even my mother who wakes up at 7:30 everyday somehow manages to stay up to 2 or 3 o'clock in the morn. My family is a buncha night-crawlers, and we associate with night-crawlers. So what? It snowed for a few minutes in Mississippi yesterday, but I wasn't awake to see it. So what?

I'll keep to the issue, tho. Cops should not be allowed to escalate a non-issue into an arrest. They shouldn't make a guy walking down the street at 3am an issue. They shouldn't pull people over because of the color of their skin, or because they assume there are drugs in the car. They shouldn't attempt to charge somebody with public drunk without SOME kind of sobriety test. Cops here have no morals. I stick with my story, and I will never talk to them unless I have some information that they need to know... or I see them at my local church on Sundays (AKA: pub).

 

[grndslm]

My biggest point is that these cops are always negative. It's their attitude toward us that pinpoints US as the enemy. They aren't like cops of the past, cops in other cities, cops on COPS, etc... they're a whole new, arrogant breed, ignorant of their true purpose.

If there were cameras on these people, they wouldn't act like they do. And even if there were cameras on them, maybe they would... and then you'd all be able to see where I'm coming from.

 

[Alex23]

You're a shady teenager who doesn't like to abide by the law. You do things that are illegal and are upset that the police can bust you for breaking the law.

Now I'm starting to wonder how you appear to these cops. Did they profile you because your pants were falling off? Crooked gimme cap?

The problem is that the police ARE allowed to do the things you mentioned. It's good that you joined this forum, because there are a lot of young and stupids here like you. You should read some of their threads and try to absorb some of the answers so that you can do a better job of not attracting police attention.

 

[Peligroso27]

This is a free advice web site. You asked a question, it was answered and you continue to argue that the opinions of those more educated on the subject are wrong. You argue that the tires on your car caused you to wreck, I would argue that you ran your car into a ditch because of a lack of common sense. Although your story is disturbing, I find it highly unbelievable. There is no positive outcome to the path you are heading down now.

The short answer and only correct response is that, "Yes you have to acknowledge the police when they approach you. Yes, you could possibly get tased if you ignore a police officer and continue walking." I hope your mom is prepared to bail you out of jail again the next time you are wandering around at 3 a.m.

 

[outonbail]

I stick with my story, and I will never talk to them unless I have some information that they need to know... or I see them at my local church on Sundays (AKA: pub).

The police like people who go to the "Pub" church.
Because when you leave, they get to pass around the collection plate,,,,, (AKA: Bail)

 

[grndslm]

You're a shady teenager who doesn't like to abide by the law. You do things that are illegal and are upset that the police can bust you for breaking the law.

I'm only shady because these cops are shady. You guys are sssllllooooooooooowwwww. Again, if I cannot help them solve a crime, I'd rather exercise my right to simply tell them my name and then go home. How is that so wrong when you haven't had the same excessive experiences I've had?

And what illegal things do I do?

Now I'm starting to wonder how you appear to these cops. Did they profile you because your pants were falling off? Crooked gimme cap?

It's been winter time after a night of fun, so I was dressed up. I'm as white as they come.

The police like people who go to the "Pub" church.
Because when you leave, they get to pass around the collection plate,,,,, (AKA: Bail)

Right... well, they'll have to arrest themselves because several cops go to "my" bar. It's turned into a cop bar now, but oh well... they don't act the same when not on duty -- not at all. They get drunk like everybody else.

 

[Peligroso27]

I'm only shady because these cops are shady. You guys are sssllllooooooooooowwwww. Again, if I cannot help them solve a crime, I'd rather exercise my right to simply tell them my name and then go home. How is that so wrong when you haven't had the same excessive experiences I've had?

And what illegal things do I do?

It's been winter time after a night of fun, so I was dressed up. I'm as white as they come.

Right... well, they'll have to arrest themselves because several cops go to "my" bar. It's turned into a cop bar now, but oh well... they don't act the same when not on duty -- not at all. They get drunk like everybody else.

No child, you are slow. You have the right as an American citizen to follow the lawful orders of any police officer that approaches you. Your actions are childish and your pretentious attitude will only attract more attention to yourself. I think this is probably what you are trying to accomplish. I can't wait to see your next post about how you got tased repeatedly by law enforcement while you were drunk and belligerent.

 

[OldandTired]

Ah. All the more that I no longer feel guilty for quitting the sheriff's office. I used to feel bad about it. It's stories like these that remind why I ever quit. There are too many officers that have this attitude that people MUST acknowledge them, and then they MUST listen to their every word. There are too many that have forgotten that there USED TO BE a Constitution that protected people from the likes of law enforcement officers like these.

The United States is no longer the "land of the free". The U.S. is nothing more than a place where you must have some form of government issued identification, and law enforcement can, at any time, stop you and bother you just because you, "look suspicious".

When things turn back around to where the people are protected from unlawful contact, i.e. stop without probable cause, I won't make statements like this anymore.

 

[CdwJava]

When things turn back around to where the people are protected from unlawful contact, i.e. stop without probable cause, I won't make statements like this anymore.

Probable cause has NEVER been the standard for contact. The standard is "reasonable suspicion", even "consent".

While you'll never see me arguing that this kid has to be polite or acknowledge a friendly question from the officer, the kid DOES have a legal obligation to stop when commanded to do so. Contacting a kid (and I use that term because I presume he is 20 something) wandering around at 3 AM is good police work when done properly. Sure, he can ask if he is free to go and he can refuse to give up anything more than his name and identifying information (not required in CA on a detention, but can be required in other states).

We pay cops to be suspicious ... these late night field interviews tend to solve a lot of crimes. They provide info on suspects and, yes, even witnesses. "While you were out at 3 AM did you happen to see anyone in the area of 123 Main St.?" Since many of the people wandering around at that hour tend to be on probation or parole, high on drugs, or seeking to buy, sell, or steal to afford drugs, making stops at that late hour is a very good thing.

If everyone is polite, the contact ends in a minute (longer if Dispatch is slow).

- Carl