Know Your Rights.

[Earth_First]

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech

http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/know-your-rights-photographers
http://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/naked-scans-or-groping-know-your-rights-airport
http://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/know-your-rights-when-traveling
http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/know-your-rights-demonstrations-and-protests

http://www.aclu.org/national-security

http://www.aclu.org/national-security/know-your-rights-when-encountering-law-enforcement

[pipoman]

1. There should be

a required class for all high school seniors teaching rights. Law enforcement often abuses it's authority due to ignorance of people they encounter. We have hammered basic rights into our kids. Things lake never allowing a voluntary search of your car at a traffic stop regardless what you have or don't have in your car..be very respectful and respectfully decline the search. If you are not a victim (sometimes even if you are), the police are not your friends, they are there to find a way to charge you with a crime. This isn't about defiance, it is about protecting yourself.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

3. I See This Stuff Every Day

I think it's the result of being raised to believe that, "the nice policeman is your friend." The vast majority of the people I encounter have made critical errors and given up important rights just because they were scared and not thinking straight, or because they honestly believed that if they just spilled their guts, it would be better for them.

I think that what's even more scary, though, is something I heard a lot back when Bush was trying to tap our phones: "I don't care if they listen to my phone calls; I have nothing to hide." People who think that rights only protect criminals and that honest, good folks have nothing to fear. This isn't even a little bit true. And if you don't believe me, someone who works in this field and sees this stuff every single day, there's an excellent video floating around out there featuring a law school professor who gives examples of how even seemingly innocuous statements can end up convicting you of a crime you never committed.

If you are having an encounter with a police officer (other than a friendly exchange on the street--I'm talking about when a police officer comes up to you for investigative purposes, as in a traffic stop), that officer is there for ONE purpose and one purpose ONLY: to gather enough evidence to charge you with, and eventually convict you of, a crime. As I tell people ad nauseum, don't give them the rope to hang you with. You stand on EVERY ONE of your rights. You don't answer ANY of their questions unless your attorney is there with you. You don't give them permission to do ANYTHING or submit to ANY of their tests. If you had the opportunity to read as many police reports as I do, you'd know that even things you do or say with the best intentions get twisted horribly in the officer's report. You are not required to do ANYTHING (except provide identification) unless you're under arrest, and you're not under arrest until you're cuffed and in the back of a police cruiser (and even then, all you're required to do is not resist).

Protect yourself. Know your rights. Exercise your rights. They exist for a reason. The nice policeman is NOT your friend. He's trying to put you in jail. Don't make his job any easier by putting YOURSELF there.

[pipoman]

5. Yep

I've seen it happen many times too. I know people who are/were innocent of what they were charged with and it was their own seemingly innocuous words which lit them there. I believe if a person is aware of what to do prior to anything, it will be helpful if the scenario arises.

[quinnox]

2. K&R

No matter what bullshit police tell you or what some authoritarian minded duers might say, we all have constitutional rights, and they should be respected and protected. That is real patriotism.

[nick of time]

4. All very good info.

[Solly Mack]

6. k/r

[el_bryanto]

7. I keep wanting to post this so I will

This is a public service announcement
With guitar
Know your rights all 3 of them
I say
Number 1: You have the right not to be killed
Murder is a CRIME!
Unless it was done by a
Policeman or aristocrat
Number 2: You have the right to food money
Providing of course you
Don't mind a little
Humiliation, investigation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation
Wang! Young offenders! Know your rights
Number 3: You have the right to freeeee
Speech as long as you're not
Dumb enough to actually try it.
Know your rights
These are your rights
All 3 of 'em
It has been suggested
In some quarters that this is not enough!
Well..............................
Get off the streets
Get off the streets
Run
You don't have a home to go to
Smush
Finally then I will readd you your rights
You have the right to remain silent
You are warned that anything you say
Can and will be taken down
And used as evidence against you
Listen to this
Run

The Clash - "Know your Rights"

[Mojorabbit]

8. kick nt