Washington Legal Defense
Free Consultation
Seven Things To Know If You Get Stopped By A Police Officer Get 150+ Years of Combined Litigation Experience on Your Side
Hester Law Group

Seven Things to Know if You Get Stopped by a Police Officer

Getting stopped by the police can be scary, even if you are doing nothing wrong. And even if you are doing nothing wrong, you could incriminate yourself without intending to do so. Remember, anything you say to the police can and will be used against you. There’s a reason that if you are arrested the police are required to read you your Miranda rights. You should keep those in the back of your mind anytime the police pull you over.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.”

Keeping all of this in mind, if you are pulled over by the police, here are 7 things to do.

  1. Be polite and respectful. This does not mean doing anything the officer asks and giving consent. It simply means be polite and respectful. You can be polite and respectful in declining consent. In the same vein, do not get into an argument with an officer. You could accidentally say something incriminating or put yourself in a dangerous situation.

  2. Stay calm and in control. Officers are listening to your words, looking at your body language, etc.

  3. Keep your hands where police can see them. You may know that you are an upstanding citizen and would never be considered dangerous – but a police officer who does not know anything about you may not know that.

  4. Do not touch the police officer. Assaulting a police officer is much more serious than an average assault charge. Go back to number 2 – stay calm and in control.

  5. Do not make statements about the incident. You may think you can explain the situation away. But remember, statements you say can be used against you. Statements can be taken out of context, misunderstood or misconstrued. Wait to make statements until you have spoken with your attorney.

  6. If arrested, immediately ask for an attorney. And once you have done so, say nothing until you have spoken with your attorney.

  7. Write everything down. Being stopped by the police can be traumatic and while it may seem clear in your head at the time, it may quickly become hard to remember details. As soon as possible, write down exactly what happened, including details such as officers’ names and badge numbers.

If you’ve been stopped by the police or arrested, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected and you do not accidentally incriminate yourself for things you have not done.

Categories

Success Stories

  • If he said he was going to do something he did it. He has integrity.

    “Wayne Fricke is a terrific lawyer who knows the law. The following are only several of many ways Mr. Fricke supported me during my time of crisis: 1. Explained the charges against me in a manner that ...”

    - Former Client
  • He always exceeds expectations.

    “Mr. Fricke has been our family lawyer for about 5 years. He has done an amazing job representing my family and I. He always exceeds expectations and informs us on everything going on.”

    - Jen
  • He, at no time, treated me as though I was guilty.

    “I was accused of domestic violence and need a Lawyer to defend me. Not knowing who to hire I started with Mr. K.W. This lawyer did not seem to believe in my innocence and I was looking at 3 to 5 ...”

    - Craig
  • Mr. Fricke had his office call me weekly for updates.

    “A few years ago, I was involved in a car accident. Due to my injuries, I hired an attorney who seemingly disappeared. I was in crisis after calling the court and finding out my case had been dismissed ...”

    - Sharyl
  • He is always honest and straight forward.

    “I hired Lance Hester to help me with 2 different legal matters. One was a felony criminal case and the other was a family law issue. In the felony criminal case this individual had everything to lose ...”

    - Former Client

Proven Results

  • Reduced Sentence Drug Crime
  • Case Dismissed Multiple Counts of Child Exploitation
  • Case Dismissed Domestic Violence
  • Four Felony Charges Dismissed Four Felony Counts
  • Reduced Sentence Drug Distribution
  • Vacated Conviction 4th Degree Assault
  • Case Dismissed Possession of Stolen Property
  • Two Restraining Orders Granted Anti-harassment Orders
  • Federal Court Success Federal Probation Violation
  • Case Dismissed Rape
/

Why Choose the Hester Law Group?

  • Accessible to Clients

    We understand the urgency clients have when they need an attorney. We are available  24/7 to help you.

  • We Truly Care

    We feel honored to help someone through the toughest time they will ever go through.

  • Personalized Approach

    At Hester Law Group, we use a personal approach that best suits the needs of our clients.

  • Unparalleled Experience

    We have been a successful team for two decades and have over 130 years of combined experience.

We're Available 24/7

Get Started on Your Defense Today
  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.