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Speak Up! - View Question #274 |
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Question: What are my rights if I am stopped by a police officer while walking at night when he has no suspicion of a crime?
Answer: Technically, before a police officer can stop you he/she needs to have probable cause that a crime has been committed. You do not have to answer questions. However, I would recommend complying with an officer if you are stopped. Meaning, if he asks you for identification or what you are up to, answer his questions directly and with respect. This does not mean that you should confess to any wrongdoing.
Should it turn out that due to the officer stopping you that he discovers you have committed a crime, your attorney can challenge the evidence based on the fact that the stop was made without 'probable cause'. Of course if you have done nothing wrong and the police officer stopped you, then no harm done, right?
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| Comments |
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On 07/06/02
T from MO said:
I've been stopped multipletimes by police officers, with them have no probable cause of me doing any wrong doing. Is walking down the streeta crime? No. Even if I was walking around late at night, my city has no curfew, what is their reasoning for stopping me? They have none!
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On 06/24/02
Jacob from WI said:
I disagree with the last sentence of this answer. There is harm -- what about the feeling of fear created by the officer's approaching you? Just because you're not guilty of anything doesn't mean it feels comfortable to be approached by someone who has power over your happiness. Being approached by a cop makes me feel guilty even if I know I'm not--because why else would he be approaching me unless I was doing something wrong?
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On 03/29/02
vicki from AZ said:
GOOD FOR THE OFFICER AND FOR YOU ////// CHECKING ON YOUR SAFETY~!
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On 03/25/02
jon from GA said:
A police officer stopped and harassed me for using a pay phone when I was at a gas station when it was closed. He said It looked like I was trying to rob the gas station. Eventually he let me go.
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| 6 thru 9 of 9 comments |
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