Seattle DUI Attorney | Don’t Talk Without One
I’m sure everyone reading this article has seen the television show Cops. It’s a reality television show (possibly one of the first of its kind) where cameras follow around cops on the beat in some major city. They record all of the action, from the exciting to the absurd, so that all of America can take solace in knowing they aren’t the trashiest, or dumbest, people around. I’m a Seattle DUI attorney, so I like watching for a different reason – all of the lessons on what not to do when the cops show up.
A funny thing happens when cops show up. People either get really talky about the truth or really talky about lies, and everyone thinks they are going to be able to convince the cops that everything is fine, no one should be arrested, and all is right in the world. And the thing is, no matter which way you go, honest or dishonest, you are making a critical mistake.
If you think about it, cops themselves usually aren’t the smartest cookies in the box. They try hard, and they want to do a good job, but they usually just jump to a conclusion, wait until something happens that reinforces that conclusion, and start arresting people. What usually allows them to see what they want to see is you. You talking and talking about everything that is going on.
Here’s an example, and since I’m a Seattle DUI defense attorney, I’ll make it about DUI. The cops pull you over. You’ve been speeding. They walk up and ask for your information. You give it to them. They ask you if you’ve been drinking, you don’t answer (note that you don’t lie, you simply don’t answer). They ask you to get out of the car, you do. They ask you to take field sobriety tests, you decline. At that point they have to make a decision. Arrest you for DUI based on a traffic stop, or let you go. It’s a tough decision, but one you’re going to have a lot more fun fighting than if you tell the cop you were drinking, take field sobriety tests, and tell him everything else he wants to hear.
Bottom line, just shut your mouth when the cops come around. They want you to talk. You want to talk. But it’s going to hurt you big time if you do. Talk to an attorney before you decide to do anything.
Related posts: