3 ms·

That example is pretty bunk. I've literally been that person talking to the police after a traffic accident dozens of times. They have never asked for an ID, 90

That example is pretty bunk. I've literally been that person talking to the police after a traffic accident dozens of times. They have never asked for an ID, 90% of the time they don't even ask for your name, and maybe 50% of the time they ask for a phone number (they have never called back). There are absolutely police officers who are lazy or will power trip or love busting perps. But each officer is not starting dozens of investigations every day. Especially the beat cops you are most likely to run into.

lotsofpulp 3y ago
What do you do that causes you to witness dozens of traffic accidents?
- legitster 3y ago
  Dozens might be an exaggeration, but at least a dozen. I had a job that required me to drive a lot in urban environments, and I regularly pulled over for good Samaritan stops. I also briefly worked at a motel in the middle of nowhere and you better believe that regular conversations with police officers is a critical aspect of the job.
  - pixl97 3y ago
    Experience with law enforcement is 100% affected by the biases the officer you are talking to suffers from. If you're the middle class, middle American, nicely dressed, and got that harmless look. Well, expect things to go pretty well. Business owners of non-sus businesses generally have it pretty good too. Are you a minority? Not dressed well? A youth? Well, things can go sideways for you quick.
thomastjeffery 3y ago
The problem is that you are both right, and in a way that can't be meaningfully predicted. The stakes are incredibly high, too.
- threatofrain 3y ago
  If they're both right then that means you shouldn't ever talk to police.
  - legitster 3y ago
    Or you know, make reasonable judgement based on context. If you are getting actively stabbed talking to a police officer might be a sensible decision. Never talking to police is a much worse advice then "don't participate in questioning without a lawyer present".
    - threatofrain 3y ago
      Then I refer you to the previous post: > in a way that can't be meaningfully predicted. The stakes are incredibly high, too. If we're talking about giving people advice for the police, I don't think people are going to need help with "Oh, you're being stabbed as we speak, should you call 911?" That's not the question people need help with. You're not boosting anyone's judgment here by leading with that argument. However, if police want to ask what you're doing on your property in a friendly way, should you respond or should you say that you want to contact your lawyer? Or if you feel like striking up a conversation with the police to develop warmth, should you? The right answer might come down to whether you're black, Native American, Asian, man, woman, etc., but without knowing more, don't talk to police is solid advice which has developed through a long relationship between citizenry and police. Even if you're just a witness, it would be naive to think you have nothing to fear. Even when you are the person who needs help, it would be naive to think you have nothing to fear. If the police of America want to turn around their reputation, that's totally on them. The ball is in their court.
EasyMark 3y ago
I think the deal is that it only takes once to ruin your life. The chances are low, but if you win the lottery the risk is personally devastating. if they try to pin a felony on you and even if it all comes up as bunkem, you'll forever be on the internet as someone charged with a felony without a conviction, the same will come up in your criminal background search.
- legitster 3y ago
  How are they going to pin something on me if they don't even get my name or address? People are conflating two things in this thread - "talking with the police" (aka voluntarily consenting with questioning) and literally just having a conversation with a police officer. If you have a moral directive to slight the police, I can understand. But just asking for directions or telling them what you saw is not going to increase your chances of having a felony pinned on you more than showing up in random security footage.

lotsofpulp 3y ago

What do you do that causes you to witness dozens of traffic accidents?

legitster 3y ago
Dozens might be an exaggeration, but at least a dozen. I had a job that required me to drive a lot in urban environments, and I regularly pulled over for good Samaritan stops. I also briefly worked at a motel in the middle of nowhere and you better believe that regular conversations with police officers is a critical aspect of the job.
- pixl97 3y ago
  Experience with law enforcement is 100% affected by the biases the officer you are talking to suffers from. If you're the middle class, middle American, nicely dressed, and got that harmless look. Well, expect things to go pretty well. Business owners of non-sus businesses generally have it pretty good too. Are you a minority? Not dressed well? A youth? Well, things can go sideways for you quick.

thomastjeffery 3y ago

The problem is that you are both right, and in a way that can't be meaningfully predicted. The stakes are incredibly high, too.

threatofrain 3y ago
If they're both right then that means you shouldn't ever talk to police.
- legitster 3y ago
  Or you know, make reasonable judgement based on context. If you are getting actively stabbed talking to a police officer might be a sensible decision. Never talking to police is a much worse advice then "don't participate in questioning without a lawyer present".
  - threatofrain 3y ago
    Then I refer you to the previous post: > in a way that can't be meaningfully predicted. The stakes are incredibly high, too. If we're talking about giving people advice for the police, I don't think people are going to need help with "Oh, you're being stabbed as we speak, should you call 911?" That's not the question people need help with. You're not boosting anyone's judgment here by leading with that argument. However, if police want to ask what you're doing on your property in a friendly way, should you respond or should you say that you want to contact your lawyer? Or if you feel like striking up a conversation with the police to develop warmth, should you? The right answer might come down to whether you're black, Native American, Asian, man, woman, etc., but without knowing more, don't talk to police is solid advice which has developed through a long relationship between citizenry and police. Even if you're just a witness, it would be naive to think you have nothing to fear. Even when you are the person who needs help, it would be naive to think you have nothing to fear. If the police of America want to turn around their reputation, that's totally on them. The ball is in their court.

EasyMark 3y ago

I think the deal is that it only takes once to ruin your life. The chances are low, but if you win the lottery the risk is personally devastating. if they try to pin a felony on you and even if it all comes up as bunkem, you'll forever be on the internet as someone charged with a felony without a conviction, the same will come up in your criminal background search.

legitster 3y ago
How are they going to pin something on me if they don't even get my name or address? People are conflating two things in this thread - "talking with the police" (aka voluntarily consenting with questioning) and literally just having a conversation with a police officer. If you have a moral directive to slight the police, I can understand. But just asking for directions or telling them what you saw is not going to increase your chances of having a felony pinned on you more than showing up in random security footage.