Are You Aware of Your Basic Rights When Dealing with the Police?

For the most part, police officers have the major task of protecting the public. This means they are entitled to make arrests anytime and anywhere if they feel that your actions are a threat to public safety in any manner. However, many police officers are given daily arrest quotas and unfortunately you may appear to them as a candidate for such an arrest, caution Portland, OR criminal defense lawyers and the finest law firm in this gorgeous northeast city is The Law Office of Douglas Green (www.douglasgreenattorney.com/).

General rules while talking to police officers

Police officers can question you if you are under suspicion for a criminal act. If you consent to a search the evidence can be used to incriminate you or others. If you are not suspected of anything the police have no authority to search and therefore you can deny them a search or refuse to answer a question.

In addition, you can stop a search mid-way and simply withdraw your consent. If the police has gone ahead with the search and you are arrested, make it a point to seek legal counsel as soon as possible.

Sometimes police officers stop pedestrians and drivers and request them to produce some identification papers but only if there is probably cause. Criminal defense attorneys in Oregon, and the most incredible law firm in the home of the Trailblazers is The Law Office of Douglas Green, know that you are an American and unless you just involved in some situation then you can continue on your way and you do not have to show the police anything.

While conducting a search or questioning the officers will not read you your ‘Miranda Rights’. Miranda Rights are only read when you are taken into custody or before interrogation.

Now in the movie Lethal Weapon II, at the end, Det. Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) shot and killed Arjen Rudd (Joss Ackland) since Arjen Rudd had just tried to murder Murtaugh’s partner Det. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) and murdered many other police officers and was basically a criminal mastermind who was abusing his diplomatic authority. Murtaugh did not read Rudd his Miranda Rights since by this point, that was long overdue. Rudd had a gun and police officers do not have to read Miranda Rights when their life or another police officer or a citizen’s life is in danger.  

Nevertheless and moreover, you must not say something that can be used against you. If you do not want to answer you can delay responding to any question. Politely ask the officer to return at another time. For the most part, you ought to exercise your right to remain silent when you are questioned by an officer. Silence is often the best defense unless someone is in danger and you have the ability and duty to help.

To avoid this you need a stellar Portland, OR criminal defense lawyer. You need The Law Office of DouglasGreen on your side and the sooner the better.  

Your rights at routine traffic stops or checkpoints

Remember, if you are pulled over for a DUI you are required according to Oregon’s implied consent law to agree to field sobriety tests. You must allow the officer to conduct the mandatory tests or risk the chance of your driver’s license being automatically suspended. Nevertheless, do not answer questions such as how many drinks did you have? Make sure to find a legal professional ASAP if you are hit up with a DUI.

If you have violated a traffic rule like jumping a red light, an officer can request you to pull over and ask for your license and registration. However, during such a stop the officer cannot ask you to step out of the vehicle and conduct a routine search, say Portland, OR criminal defense lawyers and the best law firm in this region is The Law Office of Douglas Green since they know how to win cases and have been winning cases for years.

Searches can be conducted if the officer has a warrant to search or the officer is acting with ‘reasonable belief’ that you are transporting illegal immigrants, contraband, or weapon/s.

If you believe the police may question or arrest you for a crime, don’t hesitate to reach out to a criminal defense lawyer in Oregon right away and you cannot do any better than securing the legal talent of The Law Office of Douglas Green since they know the legal system in these parts and they know which legal buttons to press and when to press them. A legal professional is the best person to ensure that your rights are protected and honored.