Knowing your rights when dealing with the police...

It is important to know your rights and how to report bad police officers.....

Im sure there are lots of ATS's that are very clued up on the subject and will help this thread shed some light on the ins and outs of the law regarding searches, showing I.D while walking or in a vehicle etc.

Also would be interesting to here your stories of police abusing there powers...

E

reply to post by EqualizerUK


Lately it seems you have the right to be tazed at the slightest provocation.

So, that's good. I'd like to add, you may have to deal with your rights AFTER you deal with them. During an arrest or a confrontation moment, it might not work to exercise your right.

Originally posted by fourthmeal
reply to post by EqualizerUK

 

Lately it seems you have the right to be tazed at the slightest provocation.

So, that's good. I'd like to add, you may have to deal with your rights AFTER you deal with them. During an arrest or a confrontation moment, it might not work to exercise your right.

edit on 3-8-2012 by fourthmeal because: (no reason given)

What are the rules the police have to follow while pulling out a tazer?....does there have to be a threat of violence ect?

E

reply to post by EqualizerUK


You no longer have any rights, it might be wise to just try to stay clear from police altogether.

Originally posted by ScatterBrain
reply to post by EqualizerUK

 

You no longer have any rights, it might be wise to just try to stay clear from police altogether.

Thats very hard to do though.....the way i see it you can only hit back at bad policing by taking them to court...hit them in the pocket.

Well I have found out recently that the police do not need a warrant to enter into your house. My ex and I were arguing, more like she was yelling at me, very late at night. The cops were called ( by our neighbors who didnt exactly like us.) When I answered the door (the argument had been over for sometime at this point) I went outside to speak to the cops. They not only told me that they had the right to enter into my house, but they forced their way past me as I was standing between them and the door. They used the excuse that they had to know if my girlfriend was ok. I told them I would have no problem getting her and that they were to remain outside. But as I already stated this meant nothing to them and they entered anyway. While inside it was obvious they were looking for something to bust me on (they kept scanning their flashlights all over the floor and table where there was a single empty beer bottle) in what I can only assume was a search for paraphernalia.

To me this seemed like a complete violation of my rights.

No.

Cops are good.

I trust my government.

()

Greetings

I got a few stories about this subject, first of i want to state that i got no criminal record , never got arrested , 1 or 2 parking tickets and 1 fine for taking a leak against a tree at the edge of a forrest ( its illegal here 90 eu fine )

However i do get confronted by police 1 or 2 times a month , i am 1.90 meter tall and short shaven hair so maybe my size and looks are reason for them to stop me

One story goes like this :

I live like 30 minutes from the downtown area , when i go with friends downtown to get some drinks and go to some clubs i always take the bus , the best thing about it was that i can take the bus home at 04:00 midnight and basically exit the bus like 2 blocks away from home ( very handy because drunk cycling is very dangerous )
On this occasion i kept my bus ticket in my pants ( normally i toss it away when i take a seat in the bus )
Doing this probably saved my ass and made sure i could sleep in my own bed this morning , because when i got of the bus and walked into my street , when i was just nearing the last 5 houses a taxi rolled into the street , when he got to me he braked instantly , the door slammed open and the driver was shouting : STOP You robbed me !!
I froze for a sec when i saw a police officer on a motorbike rolling in seconds later , he came up to me and i said to him well Here you got my ID card , you notice i live 3 houses further , what idiot whould rob a taxi infront of his house and then just hang around waiting for the cops to show up and second : I got my freaking bus ticket with the stamp time 03:56.
at this point i became very Rude to both the officer and the taxi driver , these men where accusing me of robbery in my own street , i pointed out to the cctv camera's in the bus and just said i got a waterproof alibi and you aint arresting me just because of suspicion , i am innocent until proven guilty , so far all the proof contradicts it is me.
Then the taxi driver ( who probably noticed i did not rob him ) said to the officer : its not him , i said to him Listen : i can understand its very frustrating getting robbed , but Never ever drive up to the first person you see and think this is the perp , you are insulting me and shouting in my own street
The cop basically told me to get lost.. i did , entered my house and got to bed.

Next day there was a disturbance in the bus again , same police officer showed up

Lately cops here are more agressive , shouting to me really agressive OPEN YOUR COAT!! THE VEST ALSO !!!! a couple weeks ago when i just started my car in a parking garage to get home , and when we drove out i was stripsearched again , there where like 10 officers standing near the exit.
The thing is , when they go into this berzerking mode , my first responce is always to challenge them , not into a fight or arrest , but verbally like , hey im not your dog you can shout at , i got f%*ng rights , am i an suspect so yes where is the evidence , show it to me then you can handcuff me with no resistance
If they would approach me in a friendy matter i would have nothing more than respect for them , sadly they think that everyone has something to hide or is an criminal , and engage with a mindset like this into almost every encounter.
No offence against fair police men and woman who serve and protect , or protect and serve ,dont know wich is right
i dont believe all police are like this , every group has it rotten apples
Its not the most epic story with gunfight's kidnappings and high speed chases , this is one of my experiences with local law enforcement in my tiny country , maybe i will write another one down later .

Best wishes to all

TheGreazel

If you're asking or posting about rights, it might be an idea to say in which country.

jus sayin

reply to post by EqualizerUK


Isn't that the truth! More people need to ask for the video camera footage when they make a complaint against the police. A lot of people forget they have it recording.

Originally posted by nerbot
If you're asking or posting about rights, it might be an idea to say in which country.

jus sayin

Any country ...

Jus saying ..

E

reply to post by EqualizerUK


The police need to have reasonable suspicion that you have committed a crime or are about to commit a crime for them to stop and search you.
For various reasons not many people question police officers when they are faced with such a situation.

Here is a good link to a site which sets out clearly exactly what your rights are and what the police are entitled to do.
www.adviceguide.org.uk...

Over the years I've had quite a few 'encounters' with members of our police force - like in most walks of life there are good and bad - but that's not good enough.

Originally posted by WonOunce
Well I have found out recently that the police do not need a warrant to enter into your house. My ex and I were arguing, more like she was yelling at me, very late at night. The cops were called ( by our neighbors who didnt exactly like us.) When I answered the door (the argument had been over for sometime at this point) I went outside to speak to the cops. They not only told me that they had the right to enter into my house, but they forced their way past me as I was standing between them and the door. They used the excuse that they had to know if my girlfriend was ok. I told them I would have no problem getting her and that they were to remain outside. But as I already stated this meant nothing to them and they entered anyway. While inside it was obvious they were looking for something to bust me on (they kept scanning their flashlights all over the floor and table where there was a single empty beer bottle) in what I can only assume was a search for paraphernalia.

To me this seemed like a complete violation of my rights.

I think they were using there powers to enter the house and it was abit over the top pushing past you ....

E

Originally posted by Freeborn
reply to post by EqualizerUK

 

The police need to have reasonable suspicion that you have committed a crime or are about to commit a crime for them to stop and search you.
For various reasons not many people question police officers when they are faced with such a situation.

Here is a good link to a site which sets out clearly exactly what your rights are and what the police are entitled to do.
www.adviceguide.org.uk...

Over the years I've had quite a few 'encounters' with members of our police force - like in most walks of life there are good and bad - but that's not good enough.

There is some good advice in that website, good stuff...

E

reply to post by EqualizerUK

Thats very hard to do though.....the way i see it you can only hit back at bad policing by taking them to court...hit them in the pocket

Really? Let me know how that works out ok. I do not know many people who are able to hire a high-profile civil rights attorney, or can afford to pay for independent security to protect them from hostility and harassment from a less than honest police department. I see it much easier to stay clear of them in the first place.

Originally posted by ScatterBrain
reply to post by EqualizerUK

 

Thats very hard to do though.....the way i see it you can only hit back at bad policing by taking them to court...hit them in the pocket

Really? Let me know how that works out ok. I do not know many people who are able to hire a high-profile civil rights attorney, or can afford to pay for independent security to protect them from hostility and harassment from a less than honest police department. I see it much easier to stay clear of them in the first place.

How you gonna "stay clear of them?" there everywhere....you gonna live in your house like a hermit?

E

reply to post by EqualizerUK


I have had several run ins with the police myself, I must point out I have never been in trouble at all, only traffic tickets.

I got a knock on the apartment door about 10 years back, it was a local LEO, he just started out being rude and over the top yelling and sticking his finger ikn my chest. I didn't even know what he was going on about until about 15 minutes into the confrontation. He said a guy stole some meat from the local kroger and that he was last seen heading this direction.

I informed him that this is about a mile from the store and he was being very vague about what he was harrassing mme for. I pulled out my cell to dial 911 so I could have the state police and his supervisor come explain his job to him, when he grabs my phone and hangs it up, placing it in his front pocket. I obviously went bat# at this moment, and started telling him what a piece of # he was. He stops me mid sentence and tells me if I don't stop interfering in police business he will arrest me, I grab the phone off the wall next to the door and dial 911n he tells me to hang it up or he will arrest me. I inform him it is my right to call, his boss, the state police, and or my lawyer any time I am in contact with a LEO, and his approval is neither required or wanted.

He tried to grab the phone from me, and I toss it to the couch, the phone is live with 911 this entire time, they hear it all, I inform him that if he touches me one more time I will be forced to defend myself from assault, as is my right, he tells me if I don't shut up and do as he says he will ...about that time 3 locals show up in the driveway, and less than a minute later the state police show..

At this time the LEO is now acting like goody 2 shoes and saying I was being over the top threatening to him and obstructing him in his investigation.

At this point the state officer and the shift supervisor ask to enter my home, I allow them to as I am always for law and order. The first thing they do is pick up the phone talk to the 911 operator a sec and hang it up. They inform me they are looking for a petty thief, I ask about the officer and his actions. At first they tried to dismiss it, but I push the issue, and they admit the operator cooberated the last 5 minutes of my story. The supervisor goes downstairs and drives away with the offending officer in the passenger seat of his own cruiser. I ask the state boy what they are going to do about it, he says they will do nothing unless I push this issue as far as needs be. He bids me good afternoon and leaves as well.

So the next day, I go to the police station and talk with the chief, he admits that if I touched an officer in any resembling the way one touched me it would be assault, but does not wish to press charges against the officer. I inform him it is my place not his to push assault charges for an assault against me, he asks if unpais leave for a month a retraining will be enough to satisfy me? I agree, on the provision that the paper work be filed now in front of me and I see his badge turned in in front of me.

2 months later I was at a stop light, the. Straight lights went green and I turned left on red (oops, good thing the streets were empty at 3 in the morning) as I was tired and not paying attention. Well in the far right lane is a local polise officer, I realise my mistake but am halfway in the intersection so I just go and pull over in the adjacent parking lot, the officer slows and watchs me like" really man? Right in front of me? I mean really?) Well the officer walks up to the window, and guess who it is? Ya you guessed it, the same guy. He. Apologizes for before, and tells me he was having a lot of personal problems at home, and the perp was actually tracked back to my apartments, they weren't sure if he was inside or just ran through. I also apologise, and admit I was also an asshole, we talked for about an hour, he was actually a pretty cool guy once you get to know him.

My point is, somtimes we are just as resposible for the misunderstanding. This isn't a pass for abuse, just keep in. Mind, we are all human.