Do you have to give the police your details if asked?

If the police think you are a witness to a crime, they should tell you this. If asked to do so, you must give your name, address, date and place of birth and nationality to the officer. Unlike a suspect, the police can’t require you, as a witness, to stay for questioning once you’ve provided your details.

What happens if you tell a cop you don’t understand your Miranda rights?

Many people believe that if they are arrested and not “read their rights,” they can escape punishment. Not true. But if the police fail to read a suspect his or her Miranda rights, the prosecutor can’t use for most purposes anything the suspect says as evidence against the suspect at trial.

Do cops have to say yes if asked?

You do not have to make a statement or answer any questions, BUT failing to give your correct name, address and age is an offence. Even if you are arrested for questioning you still have the right to silence.

Should you tell the police the truth?

As a general rule, you aren’t under any obligation to speak with the police. However, if you choose to talk to investigators, it’s never a good idea to lie. By lying to the police, you could be charged with one or more crimes of your own.

Do you have to answer Miranda rights?

No one read me my Miranda Rights – do I have to go and answer questions? If you receive a request to go to the police station to answer questions, or if the police come to you and ask you questions, you do not have to answer them and can politely decline.

Do you have to answer the police officer’s questions?

the best answer is, “Yes.” The officer may then tell you how fast you were going, but do not argue. Your best strategy may be to engage in a bit of reflective listening, saying “Hmmm” and “I see” and “I understand,” without saying anything substantive. You can also choose not to answer the officer’s questions at all.

Can a police officer force you to submit to a search?

If the officer demands you comply, then in most cases you have little choice or you will face a resisting arrest charge. Usually, though, the officer will know he cannot force you to submit to a search without a warrant, probable cause, or incident to an arrest, and is likely to continue to try to convince you to comply voluntarily.

Can a police officer legally ask for ID without any suspicion?

The answer is, as in most legal questions, it depends. If an officer walks up to you and asks for your identification, that is a consensual encounter, if that’s all that they do. The idea of a consensual encounter is that the officer can do it without any kind of suspicion at all, because it’s not considered a seizure under the 4th Amendment.

What to do if a police officer asks to pat you down?

If the officer asks to pat you down, allow him to do so. However, if you are not carrying any weapons, do not allow him to search your pockets or remove any other suspicious objects. Instead, insist to him that you are not carrying any weapons.