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One of the great things about the United States is that we all have Constitutional rights. These rights allow us to enjoy a freedom not many other people around the world can. What is sad, though, is that people don't take the time to fully understand those rights, and as a result, they often end up in trouble they could have avoided. Then they end up needing me, a Seattle criminal attorney, to help.
For example, most people understand they have a right to be free from unlawful searches and seizures. This makes sense because we don't want the cops to be able to dig into our lives just because they feel like it. It prevents corruption and keeps people safe. But, so often, when the time comes to exercise this right, people freely give it away. Let me show you what I mean.
Let's say you are walking down the street in Seattle, minding your own business. As you are walking along a cop comes up and asks how your day is going. You don't think you're doing anything wrong, but you do know that you have a small amount of drugs on you. When the cop asks what you are doing, you engage him in conversation. He then asks if he can see your identification. You hand it over. He runs your ID, finds out you have a warrant, arrests you, and finds drugs on you.
And all of this could have been avoided.
What most people don't know, and I don't know if I would if I wasn't a Seattle criminal lawyer, is that when the cops come up to talk to us like that, we don't have to engage them in conversation. We are free to tell the cops we don't want to talk to them and walk away. If you do it politely and don't run, you should be able to leave without any incident.
This is a prime example of knowing what your rights are and using them at the appropriate time. And it is also important not to let the cops back you into giving up your rights. If they ask you why you don't talk if you have nothing to hide, don't respond. The less you talk, the better off you are. And those are words to live by (at least when dealing with the police).
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