No one can! Many adults believe they have the right to require a minor to answer questions, they're wrong!

* Police and probation officers DON'T have the legal right to order minors to answer questions.  

Your Rights At School

  Public school students have the First Amendment right to politically organize at school by passing out leaflets, holding meetings, publishing independent newspapers, putting up posters, etc., just so long as those activities do not disrupt classes or promote drug use. Students can be suspended or expelled from school only if they violate the law or disrupt school activities.

  Students can have their backpacks and lockers searched by school officials at school if they have "reasonable suspicion" that you are involved in criminal activity, carrying drugs, weapons, etc. Reasonable suspicion means they have to have specific reasons to justify their search. Do not consent to the police or school officials searching your property, but do not physically resist or you may face criminal charges.

  Students can now be stopped and questioned by school officials at school even without reasonable suspicion, but not for reasons that are harassing or discriminatory. In other words, if you are not in class you can be stopped and questioned as to where you are going and why, but they should not stop and question you for engaging in legally protected political activity or because of your ethnicity or religion.
 

  Police officers are generally depicted as public servants, but they can be your worst enemy. Just because you or your children didn't know they had rights and gave up those rights by talking to a police officer or a federal agent without an attorney, could cost you dearly and change the lives of you and your family forever! The Supreme Court has recently ruled that you shouldn't talk to a police officer without a lawyer, this should include not talking to a police officer or a Federal agent during a traffic stop, in public or at jail. 

  To stop you a police officer must have a specific reason to suspect your involvement in a specific crime and should be able to tell you that reason. This is known as reasonable suspicion. Reasons a police officer might pull you over usually will be for some type of "traffic violation," such as speeding or maybe a tail light is out. Although the stop may seem wrong or unfair, the police believe they have a reason to stop you. 

Rule #1 - Never Talk to a Police Officer. Keep your mouth shut and don't complain! (The only questions you need to answer from a police officer, is your name, address and date of birth.) Instead of telling the police officer this information, simply give him your drivers license or I.D. card and say "I'm going to remain silent." All the information the police officer needs to know about you can be found on your drivers license, so volunteer no more information to a police officer!

Rule #2 - Never Talk to a Police Officer. A new law says you must tell the police officer "I'm going to remain silent," after that "Keep your mouth shut!" New Law  (How can you be falsely accused and charged with something if you don't say anything?) Remember anything you say or do can and will be used against you at any time by the police. Police have put innocent people in prison, just because of a few words that were spoken to a police officer.

Rule #3 - Safety. Never bad-mouth a police officer. Stay calm and in control of your words, body language and your emotions. Be polite and say things like "no sir I don't give you permission to search." Always keep your hands where the police officer can see them. Don't run away and never touch a police officer!

Rule #4 - Just Say NO to Police Searches! If a police officer didn't need your permission, he wouldn't be asking you. Never give permission to a police officer to search you, your car or your home. If a police officer does search you, don't resist and say "I don't consent to this search."

Rule #5 - "Am I Free to Go?" As soon as the police officer ask you a question ask him "Am I Free to Go?"  If he says you're are being detained or arrested, tell the police officer that "I'm going to remain silent and would like to speak to a lawyer." New Law

  Ask for a supervisor. If all else fails and you feel the police officer is abusing your rights, ask him to call his "supervisor" to your location. "Some states you don't have this right, but it's worth asking."

 Police officers need your permission to have a conversation, never give it to them!

 There's no such thing as a "friendly chat" with a police officer. Innocent people have talked to a police officer and ended up in jail or prison. Do not let the police officer persuade you to talk. The police officer may not like this and challenge you with words like, "If you have nothing to hide why won't you speak to me?" Just like the first question you don't have to answer the second question. A police officer may tell you that by not talking will only make things worse for you or the police officer might say he will go easy on you if you talk to him, but this is not true! The government made a law that allows police officers to lie to you. Another reason not to trust the police!

  You have every right NOT to talk to a police officer and you shouldn't speak to a police officer unless you have first consulted with a lawyer who has advised you differently. New Law " The police depend on fear and intimidation to get what they want from you. So be as nice as possible, but stand firm on your rights! Also read the Fourth & Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution 

 The Supreme Court has ruled that as long as a police officer doesn't force you to do something, then you're acting voluntarily. That means if the police officer is intimidating and you do what he ask because you're afraid of him, you still have done it voluntarily.(Florida v. Bostick, 1991) If you do what a police officer ask you to do, such as "allowing him to search your car or answer his questions," you are 'voluntarily' complying with his 'requests.' So don't comply, just keep your mouth shut and don't consent to a search.

Traffic Stops

  When pulled over by a police officer the first thing you should ask is "hello officer, why did you pull me over?" THEN KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT! Police officers have a routine during traffic stops. Some police departments have a "10 step check list" on what to do and ask you. Police officers like to ask the first question and that usually is "do you know the reason I pulled you over today?" The police officers is trying to get you to do two things, admit guilt to something and for you to "voluntarily" start a conversation with him.

 On a traffic stop the police officer will ask you to show him the usual documentation "papers please," such as your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance. Let the police officer do all the talking , but you don't have to answer any question if you choose not to. Just remember innocent people have ended up in prison just because they talk to a police officer.

 The police officer might start asking you "personal questions" such as where are you going, where have you been and who did you see, ect.  At that point it's the perfect time to exercise your rights by asking the police officer the second question, "AM I FREE TO GO?"  There is NO legal requirement that citizens provide information about their comings and goings to a police officer.  It's none of the police officers damn business!

 Passengers in your vehicle should know their rights as well. They have the right not to talk to a police officer, they have the right to refuse a search. The police usually will separate all the passengers from the car and ask them questions to see if their stories match. All passengers should always give the same answer, "I'm going to remain silent." Remember you must tell the police officer that you don't want to talk to them. New Law

Car Searches And Body Searches

Remember the police wouldn't be asking if they didn't need your permission to search! "The right to be free from unreasonable searches is one of America's most precious First Liberties."

  Police officers swore an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution and not to violate your rights against unreasonable search and seizure.  If a police officer ask or tries to search you, your home or your car,  say repeatedly "I DON'T CONSENT TO THIS SEARCH."

 Denying a police officers request to search is not an admission of guilt, the police officer may tell you that if you have nothing to hide you should allow him to search. Wrong! Repeat politely to the officer "sir I do not consent to the search."

 The police officer is allowed to handcuff you and/or detain you in his patrol car for his safety. Don't resist or you will be arrested! There's a big difference between being detained and being arrested.

 Say nothing in the police car! Police will usually record your conversation inside the police car, so say nothing to your friend or to the police officers while in the car.

 You DON'T have to give consent to any law enforcement officer to search your vehicle or home. While you DON'T have to consent, bear in mind that the expectation of privacy in a car is less than the expectation of privacy in your home. Based in part on the lessened expectation of privacy in a car, law enforcement officers are permitted to conduct a warrantless search of a car if the officer has probable cause.

  Just because you're stopped for a traffic violation does not allow the police officer to search your car, however if the officer saw you throw an empty beer can out the window that may be sufficient probable cause to search your car. If the officer "thinks" he smells marijuana odor coming from inside your car or sees weapon or drugs in plain site, then the police officer may use that as "probable cause" to search you car. 

Police Pat Downs...

  

If the Police Knock at Your Home-You Don't Have to Open the Door!

 If the police knock and ask to enter your home, you DON'T have to open the door unless they have a warrant signed by a judge. "If they have a warrant they won't knock, they will kick in your door." If you open your door the police are trained to step in very quickly and you surely don't want to invite the police into your house. Such an invitation not only gives the police officers the opportunity to look around for clues to your lifestyle, friends, reading material, etc;  but also tends to prolong the conversation.

 There is no law that says you have to open your door to a police officer. Don't open your door with the chain-lock on either, the police may shove their way in.  Simply shout to the police officers "I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY" or just don't say anything at all.

 If you are arrested outside your home the police officer might ask you if you would like to go inside and get your shoes or a shirt. He might even be nice and let you tell your wife goodbye. Don't be fooled! Don't let the police  officer into your house. Police officers are like vampires, they need your permission to enter your home. Once inside they will search your entire house.

 Guest and roommates staying in your home need to be aware of their rights and told not to open the door to a police officer or invite them into your home without your permission. Never open the door to a police officer!

 Never agree to go to the police station for questioning. Simply say, "I HAVE NOTHING TO SAY."
 

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