Getting pulled over or arrested can be a scary situation. Being around the police can be intimidating. What do you say? What do you do?
Some people get anxious and decide to say too much. This is something you want to avoid. In fact, you should probably not say much at all.
Police officers will try to ask you a lot of questions to get as much information out of you as possible. You may comply so that you do not get in trouble with the law.
However, you need to understand your legal rights. You may have seen situations in TV shows and movies where a person who is questioned by police refuses to answer their questions and says they want to call their lawyer. Can you say this in real life without consequences?
You can. You have the constitutional right to talk to a lawyer before answering any questions from the police. This is true whether the police read you your Miranda rights or otherwise tell you that you have the right to remain silent. Even if you do not have a lawyer, you can still tell the police officer that you want to speak to one before answering questions.
The lawyer’s job is to protect your legal rights. Once you retain your right to legal counsel, law enforcement officials should stop asking you questions. If they continue to ask you questions, you still have the right to remain silent.
If you speak to law enforcement officers, anyway, keep in mind that anything you say to them can be used against you. You should also know that lying to a government official is a crime. However, remaining silent until you consult with a lawyer is not. Even if you have already answered some questions, you can refuse to answer other questions until you have a lawyer present.
Having a lawyer on your side from the get-go is the best option. Police officers are trained to gather information. You may feel compelled to answer their questions, but even seemingly innocent answers can be used against you. By contacting a lawyer, you get strategy and guidance. A lawyer can advise you on how to answer questions and what information to disclose, helping you navigate the situation effectively.
If you have an attorney, you can call them. If you do not have one, you can call around and get one. You can also get a public defender assigned to you by the court.
Contact Us Today
Whenever you are stopped by any law enforcement officer, remember your legal rights. While you certainly can talk to police without a lawyer, it is not in your best interest to do so.
Arrested by police? You do not have to speak to them. Talk to the Atlanta criminal defense lawyers at Ghanayem & Rayasam first. We will guide you through the process. To schedule a consultation, call (404) 561-0202 or fill out the online form.