8 ms·

Every American should watch this video. There is no reason to talk to the police, it will pretty much never help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7

Every American should watch this video. There is no reason to talk to the police, it will pretty much never help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE Edit: The lawyer made a follow up video clarifying that in routine traffic stops police do have autonomy. So as long as you are reasonable and just showing the policeman you aren't a public menace is seems ok. For any other reason I'd have my lawyer on me no matter what. Also this video specifically pertains to the 5th US constitutional amendment. Also IANAL but the guy in the video is.

_fat_santa 5y ago
There's a movie I saw a while back where the main character was being interrogated by police, and in the scene the suspect just kept responding "Lawyer" to any question they asked.
- HumblyTossed 5y ago
  There's a bit of a stigma, in the U.S. at least, that if you ask for a lawyer, you must be guilty. Probably comes from too much propaganda type television. Asking for someone who understands law to come and help you is a very smart move.
- i80and 5y ago
  IANAL, so take this with the requisite grain of salt, but the justice system has the power to be real dicks about how the right to a lawyer has to be invoked[1]. I would go with a very explicit request for a lawyer. [1]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/11/02/the-suspect-told-police-give-me-a-lawyer-dog-the-court-says-he-wasnt-asking-for-a-lawyer/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/11/02...
  - selimthegrim 5y ago
    Ah, Louisiana, the state that pioneered the right to a jury trial for misdemeanors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_v._Louisiana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_v._Louisiana
  - aketchum 5y ago
    This is absolutely bonkers
- dlbucci 5y ago
  Not sure if it also happened in a movie, but that's definitely from a scene in Better Call Saul.
- jaywalk 5y ago
  If you explicitly tell the cops that you are invoking your right to remain silent and request that your attorney be present, they have to immediately stop questioning you until your attorney is present. But you don't get that by simply being silent, saying "lawyer" repeatedly, etc. You have to explicitly say it.
  - namelessoracle 5y ago
    Apparently "I want a laywer dawg" doesnt count.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
jfengel 5y ago
Unfortunately, that advice isn't great, either. The police have the authority to arrest you for pissing them off. They may not be able to charge you with anything, but they can make your day a lot worse before releasing you. And there is basically nothing you can do about it. If a police officer pulls you over and you start pulling the "I've been told never to talk to the police", you're escalating the encounter before it even starts. That's no excuse for police abusing their authority, but they've got the authority and you don't. Lawyers have told me to use your best judgment. Cooperate as long as the police are being cooperative, and the odds are you'll go about your day with only minor aggravation. Only escalate to the "I don't talk to police" when they start getting hostile with you. This is, I'm told, what the lawyers themselves do. This is for minor encounters, like traffic stops or ordinary questions. If you're actually taken in or you're a suspect, yeah, shut up and wait for your lawyer. And, uh, this is the advice they give to me as a white man. It may not apply if you're somebody more likely to be subject to abuse. None of this is good. It's very, very bad. This advice is not about fairness; it's about trying to make your life as least-worst as possible.
- rPlayer6554 5y ago
  The lawyer made a follow up video clarifying that in routine traffic stops police do have autonomy. So as long as you are reasonable and just showing the policeman you aren't a public menace. So I can agree that is reasonable. For any other reason I'd have my lawyer on me no matter what.
  - smnrchrds 5y ago
    Could you please link to that video?
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - rPlayer6554 5y ago
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIt-l2YmH8M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIt-l2YmH8M
staticman2 5y ago
That video is hardly the final word on the matter, nor are defense attorneys necessarily paragons of good citizenship, honesty and integrity. If a loved one of yours is kidnapped, I imagine you'll hope the witnessess will talk to the police.
- InvertedRhodium 5y ago
  Sure I would, but that doesn't mean it's in those people's best self interest to do so.
  - staticman2 5y ago
    I am not so cynical as to think it would be a bad idea or "against self interest", in most cases, to report a crime to the police. I am cynical enough to think that a defense attorney might act like a paperclip maximizer and optimize for "nobody goes to jail, ever, whatever the consequences to society" when giving advise on a Youtube video. One might also suspect the reason that video is so often cited is because it is so extreme, and people are biased to repost wacky "meme-like" catch phrases like "don't talk to the police" instead of more even-minded advise.
    - moate 5y ago
      To your first point: Cops have "meme-like" thoughts and sayings as well ("9 out of 10 times, the spouse did it", etc.) that would prove the attorney's point: by involving the cops, you're going to get investigated to some degree. The more serious the crime, the more likely this is. It's not cynical for a defense attorney to have the goal of "the people I represent never go to jail". It's literally his job. The fact that he then takes that advice out of his office and onto YouTube as part of his advertising his practice also seems reasonable. IDK if you murder-raped 100,000 people. Due process is due process. The worse the charge the higher the level of effort I'm expecting from the cops. If they can't get charges to stick, what are they even there for?
      - staticman2 5y ago
kyleblarson 5y ago
That video is great, but these guys sum it up a bit more succinctly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgWHrkDX35o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgWHrkDX35o
stronglikedan 5y ago
Even a simple traffic stop should make one cautious of what they say. E.g., when the cop says "What's your hurry?", and you say something trying to excuse your behavior, such as "I really have to go to the bathroom, sir!", you have just admitted guilt, and they will note that on the ticket and use it against you in court. I'm not saying to tell them "Sorry, I don't talk to cops", but rather don't admit to anything. Say something like, "I'm in no hurry, sir. How's your day going?". Then just take your ticket, and take your chances in court.
- MaxikCZ 5y ago
  After some time educating myself on this manner, I ran into police while (maybe) speeding. I hit brakes as soon as I spot them to get on speed limit, and as I passed them they started to follow, stopping me shortly after. The conversation went exactly like parent comment describes: "You must be in a hurry when you drive so fast". I, knowing they probably have no proof of my speeding, responded with "Well, I drive a car", intentionally evading anything incriminating. They tried again a few times with "You drive always this fast?" And "Well you must have driven fast, since we saw you breaking hard when you saw us", to both of which I replied with a smile and "I drive a car". After roughly three times I told them I drive a car, it seemed they got the hint they aint gonna get anything on me, so they gave me 10$ fine for my two weeks expired driving licence (I had no idea), for which I thanked them for letting me know. Funny thing is, they tested me for alcohol, but regarding drug test they told they wont test me as they think I am not a drug user. That surprised me, as my two stops before I was tested for drugs. I account that to my confidence (and good mood thanks to it) during this last encounter, as the two before happened before I educated myself and was nervous. Tldr: educate yourself to the point of being confident during traffic stop and it might go much smoother

_fat_santa 5y ago

There's a movie I saw a while back where the main character was being interrogated by police, and in the scene the suspect just kept responding "Lawyer" to any question they asked.

HumblyTossed 5y ago
There's a bit of a stigma, in the U.S. at least, that if you ask for a lawyer, you must be guilty. Probably comes from too much propaganda type television. Asking for someone who understands law to come and help you is a very smart move.
i80and 5y ago
IANAL, so take this with the requisite grain of salt, but the justice system has the power to be real dicks about how the right to a lawyer has to be invoked[1]. I would go with a very explicit request for a lawyer. [1]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/11/02/the-suspect-told-police-give-me-a-lawyer-dog-the-court-says-he-wasnt-asking-for-a-lawyer/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/11/02...
- selimthegrim 5y ago
  Ah, Louisiana, the state that pioneered the right to a jury trial for misdemeanors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_v._Louisiana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncan_v._Louisiana
- aketchum 5y ago
  This is absolutely bonkers
dlbucci 5y ago
Not sure if it also happened in a movie, but that's definitely from a scene in Better Call Saul.
jaywalk 5y ago
If you explicitly tell the cops that you are invoking your right to remain silent and request that your attorney be present, they have to immediately stop questioning you until your attorney is present. But you don't get that by simply being silent, saying "lawyer" repeatedly, etc. You have to explicitly say it.
- namelessoracle 5y ago
  Apparently "I want a laywer dawg" doesnt count.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

jfengel 5y ago

Unfortunately, that advice isn't great, either. The police have the authority to arrest you for pissing them off. They may not be able to charge you with anything, but they can make your day a lot worse before releasing you. And there is basically nothing you can do about it. If a police officer pulls you over and you start pulling the "I've been told never to talk to the police", you're escalating the encounter before it even starts. That's no excuse for police abusing their authority, but they've got the authority and you don't. Lawyers have told me to use your best judgment. Cooperate as long as the police are being cooperative, and the odds are you'll go about your day with only minor aggravation. Only escalate to the "I don't talk to police" when they start getting hostile with you. This is, I'm told, what the lawyers themselves do. This is for minor encounters, like traffic stops or ordinary questions. If you're actually taken in or you're a suspect, yeah, shut up and wait for your lawyer. And, uh, this is the advice they give to me as a white man. It may not apply if you're somebody more likely to be subject to abuse. None of this is good. It's very, very bad. This advice is not about fairness; it's about trying to make your life as least-worst as possible.

rPlayer6554 5y ago
The lawyer made a follow up video clarifying that in routine traffic stops police do have autonomy. So as long as you are reasonable and just showing the policeman you aren't a public menace. So I can agree that is reasonable. For any other reason I'd have my lawyer on me no matter what.
- smnrchrds 5y ago
  Could you please link to that video?
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - rPlayer6554 5y ago
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIt-l2YmH8M https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIt-l2YmH8M

staticman2 5y ago

That video is hardly the final word on the matter, nor are defense attorneys necessarily paragons of good citizenship, honesty and integrity. If a loved one of yours is kidnapped, I imagine you'll hope the witnessess will talk to the police.

InvertedRhodium 5y ago
Sure I would, but that doesn't mean it's in those people's best self interest to do so.
- staticman2 5y ago
  I am not so cynical as to think it would be a bad idea or "against self interest", in most cases, to report a crime to the police. I am cynical enough to think that a defense attorney might act like a paperclip maximizer and optimize for "nobody goes to jail, ever, whatever the consequences to society" when giving advise on a Youtube video. One might also suspect the reason that video is so often cited is because it is so extreme, and people are biased to repost wacky "meme-like" catch phrases like "don't talk to the police" instead of more even-minded advise.
  - moate 5y ago
    To your first point: Cops have "meme-like" thoughts and sayings as well ("9 out of 10 times, the spouse did it", etc.) that would prove the attorney's point: by involving the cops, you're going to get investigated to some degree. The more serious the crime, the more likely this is. It's not cynical for a defense attorney to have the goal of "the people I represent never go to jail". It's literally his job. The fact that he then takes that advice out of his office and onto YouTube as part of his advertising his practice also seems reasonable. IDK if you murder-raped 100,000 people. Due process is due process. The worse the charge the higher the level of effort I'm expecting from the cops. If they can't get charges to stick, what are they even there for?
    - staticman2 5y ago

kyleblarson 5y ago

That video is great, but these guys sum it up a bit more succinctly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgWHrkDX35o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgWHrkDX35o

stronglikedan 5y ago

Even a simple traffic stop should make one cautious of what they say. E.g., when the cop says "What's your hurry?", and you say something trying to excuse your behavior, such as "I really have to go to the bathroom, sir!", you have just admitted guilt, and they will note that on the ticket and use it against you in court. I'm not saying to tell them "Sorry, I don't talk to cops", but rather don't admit to anything. Say something like, "I'm in no hurry, sir. How's your day going?". Then just take your ticket, and take your chances in court.

MaxikCZ 5y ago
After some time educating myself on this manner, I ran into police while (maybe) speeding. I hit brakes as soon as I spot them to get on speed limit, and as I passed them they started to follow, stopping me shortly after. The conversation went exactly like parent comment describes: "You must be in a hurry when you drive so fast". I, knowing they probably have no proof of my speeding, responded with "Well, I drive a car", intentionally evading anything incriminating. They tried again a few times with "You drive always this fast?" And "Well you must have driven fast, since we saw you breaking hard when you saw us", to both of which I replied with a smile and "I drive a car". After roughly three times I told them I drive a car, it seemed they got the hint they aint gonna get anything on me, so they gave me 10$ fine for my two weeks expired driving licence (I had no idea), for which I thanked them for letting me know. Funny thing is, they tested me for alcohol, but regarding drug test they told they wont test me as they think I am not a drug user. That surprised me, as my two stops before I was tested for drugs. I account that to my confidence (and good mood thanks to it) during this last encounter, as the two before happened before I educated myself and was nervous. Tldr: educate yourself to the point of being confident during traffic stop and it might go much smoother