# Citizen's Arrest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784 "2012-02-14T02:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/41 "2012-02-16T16:01:34Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > …Not using capitalization or apostrophes or punctuation never will become correct at any time in any foreseeable future. People will always be judged by their failures in these areas. I’ll think about that more to-morrow. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/42 "2012-02-16T16:28:18Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I’ll think about that more to-morrow. The To-day and To-morrow series ran to more than 100 volumes in the late 1920s. A lot of common words are younger than we think. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/43 "2012-02-16T17:28:39Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Eventually, they become DED’s (Dark Emitting Diodes). Only if you reverse the polarity. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/44 "2012-02-17T04:16:47Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > [Here you go.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2993/) It’s a Staff Report, so not as definitive as one of **Cecil** ’s columns… True, but I have it on good authority that both of the authors of that particular piece are generally well informed on a wide range of topics within their field, as well as extremely handsome. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/45 "2012-02-18T20:32:56Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > “Light Emitting Diode” lights. > > What’s wrong with that? There’s no true redundancy here. No true redundancy? Is that anything like no true Scotsman? In what possible universe is “light emitting diode lights” not redundant? It’s either a light emitting diode or light emitting diodes. LED or LEDs Jesus, I don’t don’t tend to get pedantic about such things, but can you possibly be serious in your defense against the pedants? ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/46 "2012-02-19T00:59:58Z")
> [@pravnik](#): > > True, but I have it on good authority that both of the authors of that particular piece are generally well informed on a wide range of topics within their field, as well as extremely handsome. Oh, now that just _screams_ for a cite! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/47 "2012-03-06T18:32:22Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > So ATM machine is not wrong; to the contrary it is the most correct usage. Fuck. That. It is the least correct usage. If I say I’m going to the ATM, is there any question as to what I mean by that? Does tacking on “machine” do anything to add clarification? Just like what was mentioned up thread. Pen is fine. Ink pen is adding an unnecessary and assumed quality to the device. If you are writing with a pen, it’s assumed that it’s one that marks with ink. If you are going to the Automated Teller Machine, it’s assumed that you are going to a machine. No disambiguation necessary! ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/48 "2012-03-06T18:33:38Z")
Hey, I’m going to the store in my car machine! I’m going to ride the elevator machine to the next floor! Ring me up on the cash register machine! Actually, that’s kinda catchy. Maybe I’ll start using it. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/49 "2012-03-06T19:19:23Z")
So, if someone yells “Citizen’s arrest!” at me and I ignore them and continue on my way am I then guilty of resisting arrest? ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/50 "2012-03-07T05:06:07Z")
When my children were younger, they would fight against taking naps. One day I called the DA and had charges filed on my son for resisting a rest. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/51 "2012-03-07T15:55:27Z")
> [@Pablo\_O\_Malley](#): > > like paper clip…its not made of paper, its made of metal, it should be called a metal clip not a paper clip… Some paper clips are made of plastic. So neener neener. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784/52 "2012-03-07T16:25:24Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > So, if someone yells “Citizen’s arrest!” at me and I ignore them and continue on my way am I then guilty of resisting arrest? Possibly, but probably not. There are so many variables, usually state dependent, that are intermixed with statutes and common law to make the question almost unknowable until all of the facts are sorted out. Add to it that a person is allowed to use reasonable force to effectuate an arrest, but in many states, a person is allowed to use reasonable force to resist an unlawful arrest, even against police officers. And an unlawful arrest can turn into a kidnapping or false imprisonment charge. In response to this, most states have limited citizens’ arrest powers so that two hotheads don’t escalate a misdemeanor situation into a deadly force battle. As others have said, if you make a citizen’s arrest, you had better be damned sure that the other person has committed a crime and be ready to call a lawyer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/citizens-arrest/612784.md?page=2)