Cops: "Were you in Portland this weekend?"
You: *click*
Lawyer: "My client refuses to answer whether he was in Portland this weekend"


Cops A: "He sounds prepared and knowledgeable of his rights. Well done!"

Cops B: "I think we found who we're looking for."


I'm trying to understand how B doesn't happen every time and distract the police while inviting more nuisance into your own life, having not even yet unpacked from your totally law-abiding trip to Portland.

LOL...yep, ur a moron. Jails are full of morons just like you.

A lawyer wouldn't say that. He'd simply say my client is exercising his right to silence, or words to that effect. So what if the cop is dumb enough to think he found what he's looking for? If you haven't done it, chances are they have little or no evidence that you did, but you could quickly change that by answering questions.

Here's an analogy for you: A guy is heads up for the big prize in an MTT, it's pre-flop and he has pocket aces....he asks you what he should do...you say shove....he says:

1. But my opponent could hit a set;
2. How do I know you're not conspiring with my opponent to help make him money;
3. How do I know you and all the other poker experts aren't in some big conspiracy to make money out of me;
4. Why should I listen to you, isn't it like listening to a used car salesman?;
4. I'm not an idiot, I'm not gonna shove;
5. But my opponent might hit a straight;
6. But my opponent might hit a flush;
7. I'm smarter than all the experts so I'm gonna fold pre-flop.

That's how many of you come across to me.

So its back to being what's best for you. At least we know you only take this stance because you care about yourself so much and this has nothing to do with you caring about some stupid constitutional rights. For a second there I thought you might be some liberal hippy Dbag who loves to say stuff that he thinks makes him sound smart, you know stuff like "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".

Also, congrats on turning my scenario around.. On top of ignoring my whole point, you took it and tried to turn it around to help out your argument.. If your not a lawyer already, you should be. You have the Chewbacca defense down..

A quick calc tells me that a bit over 10% of your entire 2p2 posting history is itt saying a variation of the same thing. I'm suspicious. If I were the type to call somebody stubborn that would explain it but I'm not that type. Or if I were the type to call somebody pig-headed, prejudiced, unthinking, unwilling to concede a point, inexperienced, has a need to feel superior, wants to show off or is trolling in what they think is the n'th level that would explain it also but I'm not the type to call anyone any of those things.

How about this:

Cop: 'Did the sun rise in the East yesterday?'
You: '.........................

Jails are full of morons who were guilty and give up evidence by talking, not random people with no involvement that police just decided to railroad out of the blue.

I think the point at which you refuse to answer questions is almost right away. I don't know if I'd be sharp enough IRL to do so, but the correct play is

Cop: <vague question>
Me: I'm sorry officer, I'd like to help, but what is this about?
Cop: <another vague question or an accusation>
Me: Officer, I know you're trying to do your job, but I'd rather not answer any questions without knowing what this is about.

Then you can decide to hang up / lawyer up, or not. Doesn't always work though, since cops can generally lie to you with impunity.

It's a hard line to tread, but if you can appear to be cooperative without giving away any real information that can work in your favor. ("Well, I've been to Portland before, can you give me some more information about why you're asking?") You pretty much have to shut this down, though, if the cop is persistent. Even smart people can easily trip up and make a damaging admission.

You're the one turning things around. My answer on your scenario, was entirely consistent with the same statement I've made repeatedly...are you so dumb you didn't get this. If you're suspected of committing a crime, do not answer questions and follow your lawyer's advice. Why would that be any different for my neighbour?

And I am a lawyer, in my 17th year of specialising in criminal defence law.

Jails have lots of idiots like you in them....people stupid enough to think that only guilty people go to jail. If you're that dumb, you really ought to do some research before you make an even bigger fool of yourself here.

Yes we are the paranoid ones, but its perfectly rational to think that if I tell the cop I was in a city he already knows I was in I'm going to get thrown in jail as he fabricates a crime I didn't do.

Wow...ur even stupider than I thought possible! Whatever....ignore what Judges and experienced criminal defence lawyers say.....you know so much more than them when it comes to the criminal justice system....moron.

Me: yes, what is this about?
Him: did you leave something in the car?
Me: I don't think so.
Him: there was a gun in the car when you returned it and we are wondering if it is yours.
Me: it isn't mine. I didn't take a gun to Portland.
Him: ok, thank you. Did you have anyone in the car with you at any time?
Me: no. I'm afraid I don't know anything about how it could have got there.
Him: thank you. Call me if you think of anything.

That was the last I heard of it.

I think I play it the same way if it happened today. I get the negative free roll aspect, but the possibility that I am endangering my freedom seems really remote and it is over and done. Results oriented, I know.

I haven't rented a car from a place not called Hertz or Enterprise since then.

A lot of mad but still no answer about these giant conspiracies that cause completely innocent people to get thrown in jail because they said they were in portland

Though it certainly carries a ton of weight when a defense attorney says that people should hire defense attorneys for everything

I think we have to be reasonable. "Were you in Portland" almost isn't a question, but rather the introduction to either (1) a line of questioning, or (2) being told you lost something and they've found it. If you answer and it turns out to be the former, you stop talking. If it's the latter, you get your phone or wallet or whatever back more quickly.

Further, and importantly, if they need for some reason to prove you were in Portland, they absolutely can. YOu're giving them nothing here. If you hadn't flown to Portland it might be a bit different.

Those concerned that starting to answer questions and later invoking your rights will look bad to a jury: Not in the United States, because they cant' be told that that's what happened. The jury will not be told that you declined to answer any question or otherwise submit to questioning.