Don't Talk to Police

[AWMac]

Why do you need a card?  Just look the Officer straight in the eye and say:

"I have the right to remain silent. Anything I say can and will be used against me in a court of law. I have the right to have an attorney present during questioning. If I cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for me."

Just remember to smirk alot when saying this.

 

[Shamus]

OOPs, I forgot. Were all out to get you right?

No but some are, and the consequences if you run across one are too severe to take a chance.

shamus   

[REP0MAN]

You have the right to remain silent. Some people lack the ability.

I'm curious why you would need something like this? Why does this appeal to you?

As a Police Officer, I giggle at it and attach the chrome bracelets. You don't have to talk to me and most times, I'd rather you not. That's what detectives are for.

As a juror, I am 100% convinced you had a pre-determined plan and carry this card as part of that plan. Your self-defense claim just lost most of it's credibility.

The only way this card will "help you keep your mouth shut" is to put it in your mouth and chew.

[Yeager]

Hypothetical Jury Room deliberation:

Juror #1: Looks to me like the guy was just itching to shoot somebody. He even made that stupid card thing ahead of time.

Juror #2: Hmmm, good point.

Juror #3 Why didn't he just explain what happened to the officer? I think he's hiding something. #1 may be on to something...

absolutely plausible. 

Do NOT shoot another human being unless your sphincter muscle has released the contents of your bowels into your panties.  This is undeniable proof that you were
scared toejamless and feared for your life and those you were coming to defend.

[wrongwayric]

You have the right to remain silent. Some people lack the ability.

I'm curious why you would need something like this? Why does this appeal to you?

As a Police Officer, I giggle at it and attach the chrome bracelets. You don't have to talk to me and most times, I'd rather you not. That's what detectives are for.

As a juror, I am 100% convinced you had a pre-determined plan and carry this card as part of that plan. Your self-defense claim just lost most of it's credibility.

The only way this card will "help you keep your mouth shut" is to put it in your mouth and chew.

Wow Using the logic you just displayed there i make this counter statement then. I have an accident, you show up, i hand you my license, registration, and insurance. According to you i displayed a pre-determinded plan to 1.) drive and 2.) have an accident.

I counter giggle at the police officer that giggled first.

[Terror]

You have the right to remain silent. Some people lack the ability.

I'm curious why you would need something like this? Why does this appeal to you?

As a Police Officer, I giggle at it and attach the chrome bracelets. You don't have to talk to me and most times, I'd rather you not. That's what detectives are for.

As a juror, I am 100% convinced you had a pre-determined plan and carry this card as part of that plan. Your self-defense claim just lost most of it's credibility.

The only way this card will "help you keep your mouth shut" is to put it in your mouth and chew.

So as a citizen, I see a police officer that takes preparedness as a signal for pre-judgement (ie. A CCW permit holder is looking for a situation...).  I see a juror who would convict just because I carried a gun, not because I had a card that told the cops I want to exercise my rights as a citizen. 

Again, why would carrying a card that states I would like to exercise some basic rights be anymore incriminating than carrying a firearm in the first place?  By your logic, I shouldn't be carrying anyway.

Terror

[ZetaNine]

So as a citizen, I see a police officer that takes preparedness as a signal for pre-judgement (ie. A CCW permit holder is looking for a situation...).  I see a juror who would convict just because I carried a gun, not because I had a card that told the cops I want to exercise my rights as a citizen. 

Again, why would carrying a card that states I would like to exercise some basic rights be anymore incriminating than carrying a firearm in the first place?  By your logic, I shouldn't be carrying anyway.

Terror

::WHOOSH::

[Shamus]

If you get into an "incident" where you wave a gun around or discharge it, you might as well face the fact that you are going to the station, no matter what you say or don't say or what kind of card you pass out.

I got my lawyer on speed dial and I would just tell the leo that he will be meeting us at the station for the interview/statement.

I would just loose the card any way.

shamus

[angelsandair]

So what? If you are arrested or are talking to the police, you just say nothing? 

[AWMac]

So what? If you are arrested or are talking to the police, you just say nothing? 

"Here's yer sign."

 

Mac

[AAolds]

In this age of legalism, say no more than you have too until consulting an attorney.  A written statement might useful to read to remember what you want to say, but to just hand the card over and expect that to be it until the lawyer arrives is off.  If on the street, the Officer will not know the facts of the situation and have to treat you as a potential suspect and at minimal place you in custody.  As one poster stated, once the Officer arrives, id place my weapon on the ground, back away and await insturctions from the cop. 

Keep in mind I live in Illinois, so it is highly unlikely i face such a matter since we are not allowed to CCW.  In my case the situation would go more like this.

Robber: "Gimme yo $$$"

Me: "No way sucka, come n git it!"

Robber: (draws guns and fires) "aight, hows bout dat!"

Me: "Ugh  Arrgh  sigh" (as i lay wounded, dying or dead)

Luckily I work in a gunshop, so I am usually within reach of a weapon at home or work

[Maverick]

Terror,

You obviously lack any experience in a court room. There is something called intent. That is a factor in a criminal situation that is totally absent in a traffic ticket.

That little card has a sentence in it that would be taken as an indication that you intended to go out hunting for trouble. Whether you had that in mind as in intent is moot, you will be portrayed that way by the prosecution and in the civil suit as well. It is totally expected you would deny int but the fact is that you went armed had that card and gave it to the Officer almost like a get out of jail free card from a monopoly game. You could plan on hearing something very much like that as you are described to the jury.

Anything that could be used to show a mind set looking for trouble would be brought into the trial and you will be tarred with it. Your lawyer claiming the opposite will be looked at as trying to mitigate the damage but the damage will already be done since the jury cannot unhear what has been said. You will be labeled as a vigilante looking for trouble and found it. In other words an armed loose cannon.

Your bit about not wanting to consent to a search, hehe you will be searched and your weapon will be confiscated right there at the scene. You do not have any choice or option to refuse. It is now evidence and you will not see it again until or unless you are fully absolved from your actions. If you had a car there it also will be searched.

If you think that you want to be treated like an Officer, you might just want to think that through a bit more. An Officer has no 4th amendment rights in a shooting. You also can be ordered to answer questions in any internal investigation under penalty of losing your job. There WILL be an internal investigation on any and every shooting incident. I suggest you think that you want to be treated like a civilian.

You won't be looked at as a "brother" to the Officers either and I suggest you not ask for that kind of "consideration" with that card. They know you are untrained and will not assume you have a clue about how the situation should have been handled. We all second guess each other shooting situations but know that there was a reason the Officer had to go there into harms way. That does not mean that your shooting won't be critiqued and you won't be held accountable by others who also wear a uniform even if it's a good shooting. You don't have to be in a bad situation, you had the option to not be there. You can darn sure be certain that you will be under intense scrutiny and the Police are not your friend in a shooting, they have to be objective about it. Until it's investigated you may be a murder suspect instead of some one who did a "right thing".

Taking a life is not something to take lightly and should be done as an absolute last resort. To me that card indicated that the person who has it is hunting to trouble.

[REP0MAN]

Wow Using the logic you just displayed there i make this counter statement then. I have an accident, you show up, i hand you my license, registration, and insurance. According to you i displayed a pre-determinded plan to 1.) drive and 2.) have an accident.

I counter giggle at the police officer that giggled first.

C'mon Rick, you're smarter than this.

In your example, you are supplying me with information that is required. If you were to tell me you didn't have any one of the three you listed, you would be getting tickets. You do not have to talk to me about the accident. That is your right. You don't need to hand me a card that says you would like to exercise your right. A simple statement to the fact would suffice. Keep in mind, explaining to an officer about the happenings of a traffic accident is not a Miranda warranting conversation; unless you killed someone or are DUI.

So as a citizen, I see a police officer that takes preparedness as a signal for pre-judgement (ie. A CCW permit holder is looking for a situation...).  I see a juror who would convict just because I carried a gun, not because I had a card that told the cops I want to exercise my rights as a citizen. 

Again, why would carrying a card that states I would like to exercise some basic rights be anymore incriminating than carrying a firearm in the first place?  By your logic, I shouldn't be carrying anyway.

Terror

If you're innocent, which is not my burden to assume you are - that falls on the court and jury to presume your innocence; why not talk to me about what happened? Like I said, I don't care if you talk to me or not. I'm a patrol officer. My job is to handle the immediate threat and report what I find. If I find probable cause to make an arrest, I make the arrest. The only thing your card tells me is that you have no intentions of dealing with me so, I will use other means to evaluate any probable cause for arrest.

Bottom line, you're card is nothing different than you exercising your 5th Amendment rights. If it's semantics you want, fine, put it on the card and whip it out like your DL. I don't care. A juror is not going to see it as a cool idea. I assure you.

[Slamfire]

I found this as a "Statement card" that is carried with you in case of an incident...

Terror

Excellent video links - however... printing a pre-arranged statement on a card only makes your crime premeditated.  Best thing to do is plead the 5th when questioned... ie:  give your name and ID card - and answer all other questions with "I'm sorry sir, I cannot answer that question"

[rpm]

Terror,

You obviously lack any experience in a court room. There is something called intent. That is a factor in a criminal situation that is totally absent in a traffic ticket.

That little card has a sentence in it that would be taken as an indication that you intended to go out hunting for trouble. Whether you had that in mind as in intent is moot, you will be portrayed that way by the prosecution and in the civil suit as well. It is totally expected you would deny int but the fact is that you went armed had that card and gave it to the Officer almost like a get out of jail free card from a monopoly game. You could plan on hearing something very much like that as you are described to the jury.

Anything that could be used to show a mind set looking for trouble would be brought into the trial and you will be tarred with it. Your lawyer claiming the opposite will be looked at as trying to mitigate the damage but the damage will already be done since the jury cannot unhear what has been said. You will be labeled as a vigilante looking for trouble and found it. In other words an armed loose cannon.

Your bit about not wanting to consent to a search, hehe you will be searched and your weapon will be confiscated right there at the scene. You do not have any choice or option to refuse. It is now evidence and you will not see it again until or unless you are fully absolved from your actions. If you had a car there it also will be searched.

If you think that you want to be treated like an Officer, you might just want to think that through a bit more. An Officer has no 4th amendment rights in a shooting. You also can be ordered to answer questions in any internal investigation under penalty of losing your job. There WILL be an internal investigation on any and every shooting incident. I suggest you think that you want to be treated like a civilian.

You won't be looked at as a "brother" to the Officers either and I suggest you not ask for that kind of "consideration" with that card. They know you are untrained and will not assume you have a clue about how the situation should have been handled. We all second guess each other shooting situations but know that there was a reason the Officer had to go there into harms way. That does not mean that your shooting won't be critiqued and you won't be held accountable by others who also wear a uniform even if it's a good shooting. You don't have to be in a bad situation, you had the option to not be there. You can darn sure be certain that you will be under intense scrutiny and the Police are not your friend in a shooting, they have to be objective about it. Until it's investigated you may be a murder suspect instead of some one who did a "right thing".

Taking a life is not something to take lightly and should be done as an absolute last resort. To me that card indicated that the person who has it is hunting to trouble.

I could never imagine a procecutor using the Monopoly Card analogy in his closing arguements in a Capitol Murder trial. Oh yeah, I forgot to use the [sarcasm][/sarcasm].

That card is a one way ticket to the pen.