Sandy Bland Video and Subsequent Suicide

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
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[quote]Brother Chris wrote:

[quote]OldOgre wrote:
I don’t know what the answer to your problem is, maybe stopping this shit would be a step in the right direction: “I am on the phone with my lawyer and she says not to answer questions and to ask if I am being detained or if I am free to go?”[/quote]

Why? Should we also get rid of Miranda rights, as well?

I call two people when I get pulled over, 911 to check if it is an actual police and if the cop comes up before I call my lawyer (which is most of the time), I just ask him if I can call my lawyer and they always say yes.

So…why should I give up my freedom to be represented by an attorney? [/quote]

I have never been asked a question at a traffic stop that would require me to consult with an attorney or that made me feel that I was “giving up my rights”. If you’re being asked those sorts of questions, you must be doing something else wrong. What I suspect is that you are one of those people who make the cop feel like he is in an adversarial situation from the get go by making sure the cop knows that you know your rights, calling your lawyer, ect… when you are simply being pulled over for running a stop sign or speeding. I don’t think that “where are you headed” “why are you in a hurry” “can I see your license and insurance” are questions that require the advice of legal counsel or the strict adherence to the right to remain silent. You are either doing other illegal shit or you are just coming off like an asshole.

82

The way I see it, you have 2 or 3 general choices of attitude when you get pulled over for a traffic violation and your choice will likely impact how the encounter with the police goes:

1- I know that I was speeding. I need to accept the consequences for my actions. I probably deserve a ticket but if I am nice to the officer he may let me off with a warning.

2- I don’t think I was speeding. No way I deserve a ticket. I am going to fight it in court. I am still going to be nice to the officer because if I am he still might let me go without a ticket. If he is giving me a ticket anyway, there is nothing that I can do about it right now. All I can do by arguing with him is make things worse.

3- I don’t care what I was doing, that cop has no right to pull me over. I pay his salary. He works for me. He needs to be out arresting real criminals. I am going to call my lawyer right now and put this pig in his place. “Hey cop, I know my rights. I’m not answering any of your questions”. “I am filming you with my cell phone to make sure my rights aren’t violated”. Several minutes later… “Hey, I thought I was only speeding. What are all of these tickets for?”… “Why do you want to search my car?”