Remember, police officers in our state must treat you fairly regardless of your religion, ethnicity, race or national origin. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Many Floridians wonder what they should do when police want to speak with them.
Basic rights
As everyone who has ever watched a crime drama knows, you have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
You do not have to participate in a police investigation or answer police questions. You do not have to answer questions like where you were born, how you entered the United States or whether you are a U.S. citizen, generally.
Pulled over
If you are pulled over by Florida police officers, you must identify yourself and present your driver’s license. If you are stopped for suspicion of a crime, you must also identify yourself.
What should I not do?
You cannot interfere with the police. That is obstruction and could be a crime itself. Do not lie or give false information or documents. That too could be a crime.
What if my rights are violated?
Do not fight back and keep calm. Stay silent and ask for an attorney. Remember all the details of the arrest, including all the officers involved, potential witnesses and cameras. Once you see your attorney, let them know everything.
You can avoid the time, but you cannot avoid the ride. This means that you can avoid spending time in jail later for bogus charges, but you cannot avoid the ride to the jail because of a bad police officer. As such, it is usually better to just not matters worse and just comply.
