I was stopped by cops tonight on my late night run (I was informed of a nearby robbery). They asked where I worked - since they suspected a worker of the store that was robbed - and I pulled out my business card. Even after holding my driver’s license for a minute or so, they still wanted my address and phone number (which was already on my business card). I didn’t feel like giving out my address, but I did anyway. Even though I know I won’t have a follow-up visit, I am upset that I gave out my address to them. Was this really necessary?
I think at minimum it would be name address and phone number, backed up with a drivers license or state ID card. If you have a business card/calling card and it matches the regular address, it wouldn’t hurt to also give it to them. I think you might also be fairly reasonably expected to give a reason why you are somewhere [I got roused driving through east hartford looking for an atm at 3 am, but I had just gotten off work nearby [back when I worked for ADT in the call center]]
I wouldnt go into a lot of detail - heading home, going out shopping, looking for an ATM. They dont need to know why you are doing anything, just what you are doing.
Here’s the ACLU take:
http://www.aclu.org/police/gen/14528res20040730.html
Specifically how much info do you have to give cops …
…in order to what?
If you’re looking for the absolute minimum quanta of information you must provide in order to avoid committing a crime, it’s most likely your name. Period. The Supreme Court has said that a state may require you, by law, to identify yourself, to tell them your name, without offending the Constitution, and if your state has such a requirement, then it’s that with which you must comply.
However, the practical implications of that decision might be onerous: if the cops have probable cause – a relatively low threshold of suspicion – they might well arrest you. Even lacking probable cause, they might detain you for some period of time to investigate.
So if you’re asking specifically how much info do you have to give cops …
…in order to avoid being arrested or detained… then you should be willing to provide name, address, ID that matches same, and a very brief non-inculpatory explanation of where you were going or what you were doing, if it’s the sort of activity/time/place that permits invidious inferences otherwise.
Now, there’s a fine line here. The moment the encounter escalates beyond that very brief scope described above, then the safest thing to do is ask, “Am I free to go?” and if the answer is anything other than “Yes,” the next words out of your mouth should be, “I want a lawyer now.” And then shut the hell up.
(These are just rhetorical, not specifically questioning you on this one…) What if you’re just out for the sake of being out? Why would you have to have a reason for driving?
As Bricker pointed out, from a practical standpoint, if I am an officer of the law, and I am looking for someone who is committing or has committed a crime, and the person I have stopped meets whatever vague description I may be working with, a statement to the effect that that person has no purpose in being where they are is not going to remove them from my suspicion. Which isn’t to say that you should invent a purpose, just that you should be clear about whatever it is you are doing. Such as, “it was a lovely night and my mind is troubled by something, so I was taking a drive to look at the stars and clear my head.” Or whatever it is you are doing.
I was walking home from work and the police pulled up,two female officers and ask name and what I was doing and then informed me I couldn’t walk home on the highway. They then radioed in and insisted they give me a ride home because it wasn’t for a women to be out. So good with the bad I guess
I agree with Bricker above but I might be a little more generous in giving out information, especially if I’m not guilty of anything. The cops are observing you to see if you’re nervous or evasive; that’s more important than the facts you give them. So if I’m coming home from a card game at my friend’s house and they start asking what time the game started and what type of cards, my attitude is going to be that I’ll tell you anything you want for as long as you want and I’ll most likely be out of here in about two minutes.
You’re part of the problem. Acting nervous or evasive isn’t a crime.
But it’s how people who’ve just committed a crime act.
No, it is not, necessarily.
It is also how a lot of innocent people act around cops. Doesn’t prove a thing.
But at this stage it’s not about proof. It’s about reasonable suspicion and whether they decide to detain you until they can gather more information.
But the police must have an articulable reason for such suspicion, not a, “hunch,” that derives from someone being nervous.
It is not reasonable to infer that someone who appears nervous is likely to have committed a crime.
It’s reasonable to investigate a person who appears nervous. We rely on police to understand how people act, and to investigate accordingly. So I guess we disagree. If they can’t find out anything further, then yes, the person should be free to go. But they should be looked at more closely if they exhibit nervous or suspicious behavior. IMO that is what we expect the police to do.
Best advice ever.
Give them info, of course! But do it so it makes them know you have no reason to lie. For example, if they stop you and ask for your id, surrender it immediately upon demand. Then if they ask if you are a student, say “yes” and produce a student id. Even if they don’t ask for it… and don’t look at it… :rolleyes:
Long story short, even if they falsely accuse you of littering or of being a terrorist - you still have shown cooperation and honesty.
What are you talking about? How could I possibly be part of the problem? I help the cops save time so they can do something more productive. I get my butt out of there quickly without any hostile interaction. I honestly don’t know what you’re getting at. I’m guessing that you’re coming from some ideology rather than a pragmatic approach, but that’s just a guess. Or perhaps a lawyer concerned about a lost employment opportunity?
Scene: Cop drives into a neighborhood. Person sees cop, starts running in opposite direction.
Should the cop:
A) Chase the person to find out why they’re running.
B) Go about their merry way.
If you think the answer is (B), I really don’t know what else to say.