From a police perspective, alot of the current conversation is really unnecessary anyway, as cops are typically aware people think like this and in situations such as missing children etc, they're not going to open with vague questioning unless you are a suspect.

In the neighborhood canvassing I've participated in it went like this:

oor Opens:

Hello, my name is DBJ. Do you have a minute to assist us with a missing child investigation?

Then I hand them the photograph ask if they've seen anything.

This works on multiple levels, because it disarms the innocent parties while at the same time making anyone guilty nervous as hell.

As for the vague, general "Have you been in Portland?" stuff, 90% of the time, if cops are randomly asking vague, open ended questions of you, you can safely assume you're suspected of something in my experience.

I agree. I presume when the police do door to door enquiries when a kid goes missing everyone is a suspect to a certain extent. Where on earth would we be if everyone refused to cooperate and waited for a lawyer? More importantly where would the kid be!?

The one call from an from an authority figure that started like that was an attempt to return a lost wallet that a friend had lost while we were on vacation many years ago. The wallet was turned in to the marine police and they tracked him down to inform him of this. I have no idea if this is standard procedure or not.

It isn't about saving money -- it is that we are not crazy.

Since you are asking both witnesses and possibly guilty parties the same thing, by lawyer logic I still wouldn't know if I was 100% clear and thus should respond "let me talk to my attorney first"

The question isn't vague in the open-ended sense used to get people talking and saying stuff. It is vague in the sense that being in Portland is not as specific as were you at Applebee's on Tuesday night around 8pm.

Confirming you were in the city of Portland is harmless. The police officer already knows you were in Portland and if by some lottery freakish odds you end up charged with something no defence you mount will involve denying that you were in the city of Portland. No one has yet explained how confirming that you were in Portland can be damaging.

what about the post right before yours?

What about it?

You are obviously very simple if you don't understand what I have repeatedly stated...if there is a possibility you are suspected of having committed a crime, follow the advice of your lawyer, which will more than likely be, "do not answer any questions".

If i was kidnapped and my neighbour hadn't done it, but was suspected of having done it, I'd be absolutely fine with him/her obtaining legal advice. I'd want the Police to find the kidnapper, not falsely accuse my neighbour and in the meantime something dreadful happens to me.

If you want to gamble with your liberty and save a few bucks, that's a matter for you. Prisons are full of people just like you.

Ummm...I don't think anyone needs professional advice as to whether or not they "need" a new car and I doubt anyone's liberty is at stake based on a decision about a car...this "analogy" is ridiculous beyond belief.

If a lawyer was dishonest and wanted to make money out of you, he'd tell you to talk, and then he'd be able to represent you in Court after you're charged and make some money out of you. You don't get to bill much to say "exercise your right to silence".

Actually, it sounds like you're the paranoid one if you think that experienced criminal defence lawyers, honest cops, and Judges all advise people to not speak to police as some sort of conspiracy to make some money from you.

Ok you see where this is going. At what point do I refuse to answer questions? Remembering that I didn't do anything wrong.

Actually, I have...but you're so thick it's gone over your head.

If you're stupid enough to think you are smarter than experienced criminal defence lawyers, police and Judges and refuse to follow their advice when being questioned by police, then frankly, you are crazy, or at the very least incredibly stupid.

Doesn't matter if you did anything wrong or not...no harm in saying to the Police officer, can I please have your contact details and my lawyer will call you, or asking him to call your lawyer. Better safe than sorry.

If you mean paranoid delusional individuals like yourself then yes I do think I am smarter and feel perfectly comfortable disregarding their advice. Despite your claims no non-crazy lawyer would say that someone should refuse to answer the question were you in Portland.