I have nothing to hide. So I'm not worried

As a retired lawyer, I heard similar comments all the time. To be frank, these type of comments scare the hell out of me.

One of the things you do as a lawyer is examine other past cases and previous laws. There are cases not just of wrongful conviction but of wrongful interpretation, personal agendas, abuse and the stupidity of previous generations. The law was created and interpreted by humanbeings and it's just as messed up as we are.

Therefore,

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE UNTIL YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE.

Allow me to explain my above statement.

We are quickly comming up on an age of super facism in this world. Hillary Clinton is the spokesperson pushing for it and I don't see Obama complaining. So my guess it's not going to end any time soon.

Therefore in many ways, it's so much more worst today than it was in the 1960s. Things are changing at a rate that is difficult to understand or follow. History has shown that in situations like the one we are currently in, What is considered or declared ilegal is subject whims and interpretation. Never forget that in the 1960s our govenement spent millions hunting gay men and considered any women that sued for a divorice a possible communist threat. Having said that, you might not be doing anything ilegal today but tomorrow you could be facing 10 years.

But that's just one argument. Allow me to give a current example of how the law can be misused .

I live in one of the worst bible belts in the good old USA. 10 years ago a gay man was driving through our area and he had to pee. He pulled his car off on an isolated back road and relieved himself on a bush.

The arresting officers happened to be in the area and saw what he was doing. By their own admissions, they were going to give him directions to a local resturant where he could use their bathroom. But unfortunately, the accused had "the gay voice." He was quickly accused of commiting a sex act in public. Afterall, only heterosexuals can urinate. Whereas gay men commit perverse sex acts.

This should never have gone to court but the judge gave him a year in prison. The good news is I got involved in the case and he ended up only paying a fine for peeing.

But the man is still nevertheless, lucky. Because it was only in 1990 when a similar situation in my area occured and the accused actually went to jail for 3 months. Not a single clerk, judge, etc in the area wanted to even talk about a gay man being wrongfully imprisoned. This case had to literally be taken to the higher courts for recourse and the 3 months he spent in prison was the time it took to get him out. (Not to mention the costs he incured. I believe the legal fees came out to about 40k)


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That is crazy! I've seen a few documentaries about how to handle yourself with authorities, and although people commonly say "I have nothing to hide, so go ahead", they don't realize they could be incriminating themselves. Like you said, it's all left up to interpretation by whomever is conducting the search/questioning. You can get yourself into a whole lot of legal hot mess just from being ignorant and not protecting yourself. You always have something to hide, so lawyer up!!!

Thanks for the post!

 

History repeats because we haven't learned... and we've allowed ourselves to be pitted against one another. "I have nothing to hide, so I'm not worries" reflects this; if we were brought up to have concern for our neighbors then it would be the oligarchs who would be using great care in not stepping on our freedoms too blatantly- not out of concern for us (they have none) but out of concern for themselves because they'd know we were watching. The sad truth is that in reality they know we're not... and if we happen to see or hear something we wouldn't bother to look into the matter because "they probably deserved what they got". The parallels to Nazi Germany make a quote by Pastor Martin Niemöller particularly appropriate:

 

You always have something to hide. Even if you do NOT think you have something to hide.

I've spent the majority of my life studying the law and I will be the first man to admit that I do not even know 20% of what is written in all those books. By contrast the average person is NOT a lawyer nor a police officer and probably has never once even looked up a definition in a legal dictionary. Therefore Mr. John Q. Public, has no idea what he should or should not be trying to hide.

Allow me to give some free advice to everyone in simple to understand terms.

SHUT THE HELL UP!!!

The moment someone identifies themself as law enforcement or if you suspect they might be. Just stop talking!!!

The only thing anyone should repeat is that they want a lawyer and nothing else. Don't even tell them your name. There is no law that says you must show ID or tell a policeman your name. If you're being charged in a violent offense, they don't need to know your name to prosecute you. Therefore I would even go as far as to advise not to even sign the acknowledgement that you were read your rights.

The best way to deal with law enforcement is to not deal with them. Not even to ask for directions on the road. Keep your distance at all times because they are always "on duty." (Even when they say they're not.)

There are literally thousands of cases each year in this nation of people that were in the wrong place at the wrong time, mistaken identity, people who thought they weren't breaking any laws, false acusations, etc.

As for your personal information on line and dealing with the police. Don't tell your best friend anything you would NOT tell your worst enemy.
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I'm a benevolent person but I have had some discrepancies with the law, so I worry about how to handle myself with police officers.

Say, I get pulled over; I have to show them my license and registration right? They may have me step out.
They ask to search my vehicle, I can refuse. I have a locked trunk or glovebox; I can refuse them searching.

But wouldn't most cops say that refusing is a sign of suspicion?

I watch COPS frequently, and I constantly see drug users consenting to searches and getting arrested; and it baffles me, but at the same time, I see why. The only time I've seen someone not consent, they were ridiculously and clearly stoned, so the cop was suspicious already.

 

You should be worried.

Even if you have done nothing wrong.

Goverment enforcement agencies are in a panic to justify themselves in this new climate of fiscal accountability. They are going to work hard to generate headlines and validate thier personnel staffing and funding streams; just hope you are not in the way.

EPA, OSHA, DYFS, IRS, FBI and more.......add your own to the list.

All are over-stafffed, over-funded and over mandated.

Strike a blow for freedom and fiscal accountability at the same time by supporting reductions to spending.

Its not the laws........its the funding.

 

The Voice of Truth has some EXCELLENT ADVICE!!!

There are some excellent training videos for Americans on YouTube I've seen.

When dealing with the police, say in a routine (for them?) traffic stop your best bet (in my opinion).....

I have nothing to say.

No, I DO NOT give consent to a search of my vehicle.

Then STICK TO YOUR GUNS!!!

 

I was just a youngster when I started to feel as though I had been lied to regarding this statement......"The Policeman is your Friend"

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!!!

The police are NEVER OFF DUTY!!!


If you NEED DIRECTIONS go to the FIRE DEPARTMENT in your town or in the area you are in. Every fire station I have ever been in had a huge map on the wall showing an area much larger than the specific area they served.

Firemen ARE FRIENDLY. Firemen (as a rule) DO NOT carry guns. They are not out to bust you. They put out fires. They save lives. They give directions.

 

A month or so ago I read an article in my local paper. I wish I had it in front of me now. To the best of my recollection this is what I read:

A police department somewhere in Kalifornia had lost half of its funding due to budget cuts due to the economy. The police chief had to let go half of his officers and support staff. Here is what he told his officers for each shift before they went out on patrol.

We will no longer investigate the major crimes (felonies) we have in the past. Grand theft, burglary (armed or not), arson, muggings, rape and armed robbery will no longer be our first priority. Instead he wanted his officers out giving citations for speeding, reckless driving, DUI, etc. Generate revenue he said. Pull them over, get them to incriminate themselves, search and detain them. Arrest them.

In other words...civilians (that's YOU and ME) we are ripe for the plucking.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Golly gee I feel soooooo much safer. Don't you???

Protect and Serve MY ASS!!!!!

 

The saying--ignorance of the law is no excuse--always pissed me off. If that were the case ,then what are lawyers for??I agree with the above. Avoid them at all costs. Unfortunately they may be needed if one is put upon in some way.

 

Is the quote protect and serve the public an actual oath of service for police, or is it an urban myth? Their namesake suggests that they serve the law system
as opposed to the people, i.e., "law enforcement."

No, in the law system, you obtain legal counsel to serve and protect your interests. The police man works for the government, it is the government that pays them. The more time a policeman spends though, walking around with a badge and a gun the more apt he is over time, to begin working for his own interests. Corruption is an effect of giving people authority over other people. I don't think it wise to be confused about this issue.

 

Remember that driving a motor vehicle of some sort is a privilage and NOT A RIGHT. You are required to have on your person the required documentation and surrender it when requested by law enforcement. But only if you're stopped for a possible infraction of the law.

Now motor vehicle code is not really "law" as we know it. To put it in layman's terms. You don't tend to go to jail for speeding. But if you run over someone or destroy private property; Then you're breaking "real law."

Who cares what the cop is suspicious of. It's the judge you need to worry about. Allow me to put it in simple terms that most people will be able to uderstand.

The moment a police officer stops you from going about your personal business. You're considered a suspect and the police officer is treating you with suspicion. Your confusion comes from not understanding neither the situation nor the relationship you're engaging in with the police officer that has stopped you.

The situation is easy to understand.

To put it bluntly. The police officer has the gun and he won't hesitate to use it on you.

Therefore the situation is hostile, potentially dangerous and you are already the suspect. Because normally the police need a darn good reason to disturb a private citizen. They can't just randomly go up to anyone on the street and start asking questions without reason. And suspicion without some sort of reasonable grounds is not going to cut it.

So when law enforcement stops you, it is assumed he has good reason and he therefore allowed to use his own judgement on how to deal with you. My advice is be polite, keep your hands where he can see them and don't engage him in conversation. Don't be afraid to ask for his name, badge and the time and date. The law requires police officers to surrender this information upon request.


The relationship

Do NOT ever forget these words. "Anything you say or do can and will be used against you." This means that there is NOTHING that you say or do that will be used FOR you. (So shut the hell up. )

Now as for the police officer, there is nothing he says or does that wll be used against him. So he will play all kinds of mind games in order to give him grounds to arrest you. Get this in your head, if law enforcement has reasonable grounds to arrest you; They will! They won't stand there arguing and trying reason with a suspect to open the trunk of car.

So here is how you handle the situation if you're stopped for something like exceeding the speed limit.

1) Keep your hands on the steering wheel and wait for the officer to come to the door. If there are others in the car with you. Tell them to shut up and that you will do the talking. A cop has no reason to talk to them at all unless they open their mouths.

2) Only open the window of your car enough to pass the required documents. Because what a cop wants to do is stick his head in the car and smell it for the presence of alcohol or drugs. So if asked why you don't roll the window alll the way down. Offer to step outside the vehicle and make an excuse that you've had problems with the window in the past.

3) Step out of the vehicle and lock the doors. When asked why, claim it's a habit. Then say nothing.

4) When asked if you knew how fast you were driving. Say "NO SIR" and then shut up. Because admitting that you were going fast is an omission of guilt.

5) When you're asked if they can search your vehicle. Say "NO" then again shut up. You do not have to justify your reasons.

Now this is where the problems will most likely start.

A cop can say anthing and try to intimidate you. I've heard cops threaten to bring drug sniffing dogs, break open the trunk without consent, etc. All I can say is that if you said "No searches" and they go ahead and do it. Any half decent lawyer will chew them up and spit them out in court and probably put some money in your pocket too. Because they will have violated your constitutional rights.
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6) Always ask if your free to go. If a police officer says "No." Then request to be charged, informed of your rights and that any video device or similar enregisterment of the incident be entered into record for use in court.

Then SHUT UP and do not sign anything until a lawyer talks to you.

 

Alot of stuff that I never realized, I'm learning.

 

so you will be a pirate and captor? further what makes you think he car is yours?

 

as long as you take the benefits of the cesta que vie trust, then you have a duty to discharge liability. plain and simple. don't want to be liable, abandon ship!

 

-and we taxpayers get to foot the bill for this...

 

The fact that a person pays taxes shows ur under bondage and it gives u no rights. The term taxpayer is synonymous with peon and constitutor

 

tru enuf.