16 Things You Need to Know When Being Stopped by Cops

Dealing with the police is something that can happen to us at any time, even if we haven’t broken any laws. Therefore, it is important to know your rights and how to behave if you are in such a situation.

At the incredible.club we have prepared some answers that will be very useful for the most common situations of “What happens if…” and “They might…”. And you’ll definitely want to know the proper way to proceed at this point.

You have the right to remain silent. This means you can refuse to answer their questions. But you must inform your full name, father, mother and date of birth so that the police can know if you are a fugitive from justice.

In addition, he can search you if he suspects you are carrying weapons or drugs. In this case, you have to keep your hands up during the search. The police officer needs to have some evidence that justifies the suspicion. He cannot stop someone for being on the periphery, for the color of their skin, sexual orientation, gender or the way they are dressed.

If you are a tourist visiting another country, always carry a copy of your passport or other identification document, a copy of your visa or tourist voucher and the card of the hotel where you are staying.

Be respectful at all times and remember that touching a police officer is always a bad idea, even in a friendly way or as part of a joke.

With the exception of your full name, father, mother and date of birth, as well as your address, you have the right to remain silent and should not be punished for not answering a question. In fact, and depending on the situation, before agreeing to answer any questions, you may first want to consult your lawyer. Just say “I want to talk to my lawyer first”.

The police cannot order you to leave the premises if you are protesting political issues or participating in a labor strike. However, if they take place on public roads, demonstrations of this type are usually negotiated in advance and have prior authorization from the authorities.

You must stay inside the vehicle, remain calm and be polite. Keep your hands on the steering wheel so the police can see them at all times. Show your documents such as driver’s license, registration and vehicle insurance if asked by the officer. If the police ask you to get out of the car, you must do so. Answer ONLY the questions related to stopping your vehicle. Refuse to answer questions on other than different topics.

Cops want to leave fingerprints on your car. This is more common if you are stopped by law enforcement officers in other countries, such as the United States. Fingerprints can prove that the officer approached the vehicle and had an encounter with a certain driver. In case of any emergency, the driver can be found because of the fingerprints left on his car. Police officers try to make drivers nervous before approaching the window.

This was more common in the past. Today, most police cruisers have cameras on board, and officers are not required to leave their fingerprints as proof of the encounter.

Record the officer’s license plate number, name, or any other identifying information. The police officer is obliged to answer these questions. Try to find witnesses and write down their names and phone numbers. If he hurts you, seek medical attention, take pictures of the injuries and a copy of all documents from the doctor. Call a lawyer. You should also file a complaint with the appropriate authority regarding the abuse, such as the Internal Affairs or Police Ombudsman.

Never accept to pay a bribe. In the case of a traffic ticket, accept it if there is a real reason for receiving it. If you consider it unfair, you can appeal to the traffic authorities. Most officers who prosecute bribes will try to make sure you don’t see your license plate number or your name. If you can see this identifying information, write it down. Pay attention to visible signs or the location of a military checkpoint: this information can help identify the officer later. Do not argue, threaten or challenge the officer. Always be polite and respectful at all times. Go ahead and report the incident later to Internal Affairs or the Police Ombudsman.

Do not open the door. Ask if he has any warrants. If the answer is no, don’t let them into your home and don’t answer any questions. Suffice it to say that without a warrant you do not authorize entry. If the cops say they have a warrant, make sure you see it before opening the door. Ask them to slide it under their door or display it in some other way so you can read it without opening your front door. If you’re already outside, close the door behind you and get the warrant. Make sure the warrant contains the name of the judge, your full name and address, the date it was issued, the search site, a description of the elements that justify the entry of officers into your home and the name of the entity carrying out the inspection. Check the warrant for an error, and if you find one, show it to the officers. Don’t let officials into your home if you find an error, but never argue or intervene if officials decide to do due diligence anyway. Call your lawyer as soon as possible. Follow the magazine that is being made. If anything is seized during this search, it must be presented at the police station. Take note of any information in sight: names, vehicle numbers, license plates, sectional name and keep in mind if they carry anything. Find someone to accompany you as a witness while the officers carry out the inspection.

Yes, in case of “founded suspicion”, that is, they believe that you are involved in a crime or that they have evidence of a crime in your suitcase, car or among your things.

You must carry all your immigration documents with you at all times. These immigration documents are usually called “Carteira de Registro Nacional Migratório”. The type of document you must carry depends on your immigration status. Carrying invalid or outdated immigration documents can be a misdemeanor, and depending on the situation and country, you could even be arrested for doing so. Keep a copy of your documents in a safe place and, if you lose them or are about to expire, immediately request a duplicate.

Depends on the country. Not in Brazil. Here the computers must be taken out of the carry-on bag and passed through the x-ray in separate trays. But in the United States, a common destination for Brazilians, they can ask to access the files. And they can also make copies of the information contained in the files. If you are chosen for this inspection, write the name of the person performing the inspection and the name of the government agency that requested it. We advise you to make a request to that entity to find out the reason for the inspection.

It’s not normal or routine. If it happens at the border, it means that the police have a “probable suspicion” of you. It must always be performed in a private area. Never in public.

The pilot of an airplane has the right to refuse to fly with a particular passenger if he believes that the person could be a threat to the safety of the flight. That is, if the passenger is drunk or aggressive and could be dangerous to the other people on board, other passengers or the crew.

Take cover. Run, call for help or hide. Do whatever is necessary to stay out of harm’s way. Check if someone needs help and call emergency numbers to report the crime and request medical and police attention. Don’t touch or move anything: you could damage or contaminate the crime scene. Focus on what happens around you. If possible, pay close attention and note people, vehicle models and license numbers, or any other important details. Take a photo or video. When the police arrive, explain what you saw and answer all questions truthfully. The police cannot force you to make a statement. However, you may receive a subpoena: a document that says you must appear in court or deliver certain documents to the court.

In an emergency, call the appropriate numbers. Make sure you have them in your contacts. In any other situation, such as a crime that happened some time ago or if no one is in serious danger, call the police department in your area.

To summarize, there are a few golden rules: stay calm and polite at all times, never argue with or touch a police officer, and don’t speak loudly if you don’t agree with something.

Have you had your own experience dealing with the authorities? Share it with us in the comments section.