Hi there, welcome back from The Kronzek Firm! We’ve been discussing how you can avoid unnecessary interactions with the police in Michigan, and what that means for you. As we mentioned in the previous article, police officers do a very stressful job, and there are always risks during any interaction with the police. So whatever you can do to reduce the number of times you have to talk to the cops for any reason, the better.
We’ve already covered part of the list of things you can do to reduce your chances of being pulled over, but what about when you’re not driving? What about all those other times, when you’re not in your car, and you’d prefer to stay safe and not have to talk to the cops? Well, we’ve got you covered there as well. So wherever you live in Michigan, whether it’s Lansing, Brighton, Alma, Tuscola or Howell, here’s a few more tips on how to avoid unnecessary chats with the police.
Here are some things you can do to reduce your chances of having to interact with Michigan police officers:
In your vehicle:
- Clean snow and ice off your windshield before driving in winter. This could be considered driving with an obstructed view to an officer.
- Don’t hang things from your rearview mirror. It might seem silly, but an officer looking for a reason to justify pulling you over could claim that your view was obstructed. (The law calls this a pretext stop.) Also, be sure there’s nothing obstructing the view of your license plate.
- Make sure you always have up-to-date driver’s license, registration, and insurance for your vehicle on hand and easy for you to reach- the cops WILL ask for them.
Out of your vehicle:
- Don’t loiter in dark alleys, around closed stores, or in neighborhoods where you don’t know anyone. While technically you have to right to walk and stand anywhere on public property, this could be considered suspicious behavior, and could draw unnecessary attention to you.
- Don’t carry illegal weapons with you, like brass knuckles, a taser, or a knife. Even some pepper sprays are illegal.
- Don’t carry a gun if you don’t have a license to own and carry one.
- Don’t get into fights, whether it’s on the street corner, or in a bar. If someone is provoking you, just walk away. Fighting of any kind is likely to get the cops called, and you’ll have to answer for your actions. Fly under the radar.
- Don’t break the law. It sounds simple because it is – if you know it’s illegal, then we recommend you don’t do it!
- Don’t have or use illegal drugs. (Especially around your kids!) While recreational marijuana is now legal for people over 21 in Michigan, most other drugs aren’t. So avoid illegal drugs, and make sure that even if you’re using legal drugs, you’re in a safe place and won’t do anything that could get you into trouble. Keep in mind that weed is still illegal under federal law. You are subject to arrest and prosecution under federal law for having or using marijuana.
If you have to talk to the cops, be polite and keep your mouth shut! Lawyer up.
Some interactions with officers are unavoidable. In those situations, we would like to remind you to always be polite and respectful, and never to lie to an officer. However, you do have the right to (respectfully and politely) refuse to answer questions. And that is exactly what you should do. If a cop is trying to question you, or wants answers about anything they think you’ve done, don’t answer. Instead, politely inform them that you won’t be speaking until your lawyer arrives, and then call us asap! You are required only to provide your name, address and date of birth before your attorney arrives. Do that and then shut up.
One of the things we’ve learned over the decades as very experienced criminal defense attorneys, is that nothing good usually comes from talking to the cops. Whether it’s an informal chat, or a full blown interrogation, anything you say can and will be used against you. So don’t say anything! Call us at 866 766 5245 (866 7No Jail) and one of our skilled and experienced criminal defense attorneys can be there in a hurry to help you. You do not want to walk this road alone. We’ve walked it many times over the years, and we can walk this out with you. We can help you get through this. Our phones answer 24/7.