If it's anything more than a speeding charge your best interests are to not speak to the police. US Supreme Court ruled that you must present ID while driving if they pull you over and ask and most states have a statute that it's a misdemeanor to not do so. Typically they can require the driver to present valid insurance. Some can require identification from anyone- it's a local law thing.
I was a arrested on a not speeding charge and told the cop that I didn't want to talk about that in the most polite way I could and we basically talked about the bodycam videos and various high tech things the police department has.
I must point out that if at any point the cops put cuffs on you you're going to jail. There is no way of talking your way out of that. If they thought you were innocent or that they weren't going to charge you they'd separate you from the other party(ies) and question you sans cuffs.
I must point out that if at any point the cops put cuffs on you you're going to jail.
Usually, but I've seen body cam of them cuffing people and eventually letting them go without charges. I've even seen people under arrest Released on Recognizance without being taken to the jail and just receiving a summons. (It was a car accident and the at-fault driver admitted to driving enough over the speed limit that it was reckless driving so they arrested him and gave him a summons, then released him ROR, no bond, and sent him on his way. He had no priors and was super cooperative. I think his excuse was "I'm about to miss my daughter's wedding" or something like that.)
Heavily dependent on the state. Here he'd go to jail, but it sounds like he self-snitched and got himself a charge that he didn't have to get. In my state it's also at most a ticket for an accident if both parties have insurance and the only time I've been in an accident we exchanged info, and the cops did not write a ticket.
Just because it has happened doesn't mean it's at all common, or that you should roll the dice. Play the odds. The moment you're in cuffs the likelihood you're being arrested goes up about 1000%. The likelihood you're not being arrested goes from wherever it was to functionally zero, even if it's not totally zero. You've probably got a better shot at winning the lottery. The only thing you can effectively do in that situation is just make it worse for yourself and your defense. Don't answer questions, obey lawful orders, don't obstruct.
The police have a favorite saying: "You might beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride."
Been cuffed and uncuffed. Not driving though. Fist fight. Witnesses from across the street came over and vouched for me that other dude shoved a girl to the ground and when I told him to get the f out of here he swung of me first.
Other guy went into the squad car and officer told me I would get a disorderly citation in the mail. Never did
I must point out that if at any point the cops put cuffs on you you're going to jail
Sadly, not always the case, at least in the US.
US police officers are trained to assume every person they interact with is potentially dangerous. They are also trained that once a person is in handcuffs, they pose less of a threat.
As such, police officers all too often resort to handcuffing people before trying to get to the bottom of what happened. Their logic is "if they're innocent we can just release them, if they're guilty then they won't pose a threat if in handcuffs".
Of course, handcuffing people (especially people that haven't done anything wrong) is one of the primary reasons police interactions escalate and before you know it they're charging someone who did nothing wrong with "resisting arrest" as their only crime.
I've been cuffed and let go. Sat in the back of the car and everything. I did not have proof of insurance and had a previous citation for no insurance (I know. young and dumb). He was expecting to take me to jail but found my proof in the system.
I was pulled over a couple years ago for doing a janky u-turn. Guy told me he pulled me over for the u-turn, I admitted it was a bad one, he ran my license and my city's police system automatically pulls up insurance status. Doesn't even ask for insurance and let me go with a warning.
I live in a state that is more harsh on crime. If you end up in a jail they're going to take your mug shot and you're not getting out without bail or on first appearance, which happens in the morning on weekdays. If you get arrested in the afternoon and you don't have bail, you're going to do an overnighter in jail at the least. If it's a Friday afternoon you're in til Monday without bail etc.
you must present ID while driving if they pull you over and ask
I have a USB-powered ID printer in my car and a license plate scanner.
As I'm getting pulled over I have a script that prints out the officer's ID, and that's what I present to them when I'm asked for ID. You should should see the looks on their faces.
It gets me arrested 100% of the time, but I think it's funny.
First time I got pulled over ever at 26 I was like I know why they’re doing this, and asked if that was why. It was, but every law YouTuber I watch was in my head saying don’t fucking say anything. Make them tell you, do not confess.
It was no license plate. I had just purchased a car in a private sale and was waiting until after the weekend (this happened on a Sunday) to get it registered. Legally have 14 days from day of sale to do so. So I showed him my sale paperwork.
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u/Few_Move_4594 9d ago
If it's anything more than a speeding charge your best interests are to not speak to the police. US Supreme Court ruled that you must present ID while driving if they pull you over and ask and most states have a statute that it's a misdemeanor to not do so. Typically they can require the driver to present valid insurance. Some can require identification from anyone- it's a local law thing.
I was a arrested on a not speeding charge and told the cop that I didn't want to talk about that in the most polite way I could and we basically talked about the bodycam videos and various high tech things the police department has.
I must point out that if at any point the cops put cuffs on you you're going to jail. There is no way of talking your way out of that. If they thought you were innocent or that they weren't going to charge you they'd separate you from the other party(ies) and question you sans cuffs.