4 'Magic' Phrases to Use if Cops Stop You with Pot

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/4-magic-phrases-use-if-cops-stop-you-pot



***SNIP

The Magic Words

What are the magic words, you ask? The first magic words can set you free. Simply ask,

“AM I FREE TO GO?”

If they reply that you are free to go, then you are free to go. You may have to wait for the officer to finish the citation, but yes, you are free to go. If you are not free to go, then you must use the other magic words,

“I DO NOT CONSENT TO ANY SEARCHES,”

“I WANT TO REMAIN SILENT,”

“I WANT A LAWYER.”

You must use all of the magic words and use them in this order. You must memorize and practice the magic words. During a stop, the police will not always tell you your rights or help you understand them. In fact, they are trained to harass, scare, and trick you into giving up your rights. You have to be strong while they get in your face and insult you. They are even allowed to lie. Do not believe them. Say the magic words, follow police orders, and shut up!

[pinboy3niner]

1. "Far out, dude!" certainly doesn't work

I'll never try THAT again!

[xchrom]

4. !

[rucky]

5. "I was holding it for a friend"

[pinboy3niner]

6. Sounds legit to me

[JesterCS]

35. lol I have heard that one so many times

I'm not a cop, but a smoker

[Locrian]

14. sswat seems to be za problemo oc-cifer??

[pinboy3niner]

15. Whatever you do...

Never, EVER, mention SWAT. They will take it as an invitation. I still have flashbacks...

[madokie]

23. LOL

You don't want to say only a coupla' when you've had a few drinks either. don't ask me how I know

[pinboy3niner]

26. With cops, no matter how shitfaced you are, your position is you never touched a drop

ANY admission opens up a whole bag of worms for you.

Once, after a veterans event, I had two beers with vet brothers and then began to drive home. I realized right away that, having not had a chance to eat, the beers were hitting me. So I pulled over and closed my eyes for a short nap.

Soon I had two Sheriff's Deputies banging on my window. When I rolled it down they recognized me from the event--a display of a half-scale replica of the Wall. They asked me how it had gone and we chatted a bit, then they wished me well and left. They were satisfied that I had decided not to drive and wasn't just drunk and passed out. And I was no criminal threat to the neighborhood--which is probably why some resident had called them out in the first place.

I know how you know, brother, and I respect and admire you for all that you've done for yourself. If the shit ever hits the fan again (you know what I mean) you're one of the guys I want by my side.

[11 Bravo]

33. "Dude, you're harshing my buzz", can also have a deleterious effect.

[Journeyman]

2. Correction: "4 'Magic' Phrases to Use if the Cops Stop You." Whether you're carrying or not. . .

[pinboy3niner]

3. +1

They apply to ALL police stops, whether or not drug-related.

The ACLU provides good information on what to do if you're stopped by the police for any reason. I remember when AZ passed its infamous SB 1070 "Papers Please" law targeting undocumented immigrants, the ACLU posted a downloadable wallet card in English and Spanish advising people of their rights and laying out exactly what to do and say (and not say) when stopped.

Anyone who is the least bit uncertain should go to the national or local ACLU website to learn more.

[watoos]

7. OK, maybe I should stop saying,

You know the only reason you're a cop is because you flunked the mailman's test.

[pinboy3niner]

8. Yeah. If you want to get out of a ticket or a bust, the best course is to make them mad at you. :)

I usually go with bowing and scraping, myself.

[On the Road]

16. Me Too

Compliance and cooperation go a long way.

Personally, I think that the attitude still helps even when trying to say no:

Police: Do you mind if we search your vehicle?
Me: If it's up to me, I prefer you wouldn't. But you tell me you have the right to proceed, I won't stop you.

[Cronus Protagonist]

55. That sounds like consent to me

Puts you in a grey area, I think. Really, one needs to say "I do not consent to any searches." to be clearly unambiguous.

[Stellar]

9. good one!

I love it.

[JHB]

10. "You want a toke? 'S some good shit, maaaaan!" Is also a magic phrase...

Mostly, but not always, in the other direction.

[pitchforx]

11. And if they pop "The Question"

if you are travelling by car they will ask, "do you have any drugs, weapons, or large amount of cash in your car?". They ask this to set up the K9 search. If you say "no", they will say "then you don't mind if we look around." The correct response is another question- "why would you think that?" This establishes their lack of probable cause right from the outset.

[On the Road]

17. That is a Good Question

I will use some verson of that next time the situation arises (which will hopefully be never).

[Nye Bevan]

12. "Don't you need to get to the doughnut shop?" (nt)

[arely staircase]

13. do know why I pulled you over?

I don't know. Your the fascist pig, you tell me.

That's what I always say. We both have a big laugh and go ou r separate ways.

[Half-Century Man]

18. Another poor choice

LEO: Your speech is slurred, have you been drinking?
Soon to be Incarcerated: Your eyes are glazed, have you been eating donuts?

[pinboy3niner]

21. !!!

[Nay]

30. LOL!!! I just scared the cat, I laughed so hard.

[BlueStreak]

31. Or you could go the Winston CHurchill route

Shir. Itch true I am drunk. But in the morning I'll be shober. And you will schtill be an ugly Geschtapo agent.

[Bluenorthwest]

19. "Here is my valid State issued permit to carry marijuana."

This is what I'd say, but the advice in the OP is excellent as well whenever one is pulled over.

[DanTex]

20. "Am I free to go" followed by "I want a lawyer" are good general-purpose advice.

[Boom Sound 416]

22. It's just my scented candle

[pinboy3niner]

24. "I don't do drugs, officer, but please don't look in my trunk"

Probably not the best opening. And speaking of opening...

[Capt. Obvious]

25. It drives me insane when people consent to searches

But I understand the impulse - stressful situation, you're just trying to be "respectful" to the cop, etc.

[dickthegrouch]

39. Mostly it's because they think they'll get home faster

So few of us have attorneys on our speed dial, that we are worried it might take from Friday afternoon to Monday afternoon to find and retain an attorney.

The most unrealistic portrayals in all the cop procedurals on TV is all perps seem to have attorneys on call 24/7, and how quickly they get out on bail.

If you live alone and the dog needs feeding, all sorts of crazy rationalizations might make one consent to a search.

[Capt. Obvious]

41. I've never seen a search turn up empty

They find something every time. Fuck that, and fuck them.

Cherish your civil liberties - don't give them up freely.

[Coyotl]

27. I don't have to worry because I'm white.

When I've been caught with weed by cops, we've joked about it.

[Baitball Blogger]

28. Another post that should have made it into the Constitutional Forum.

[BlueStreak]

29. This is so hard, bro.

After a couple of blunts, how am I going to remember all that legalese?

[loli phabay]

32. am i free to go is good, dont give consent but be aware that you can be patted down

For weapons and searched incident to arrest, also a k9 can do an exterior search of your vehicle and if it shows positive then there is probable cause to search the vehicle. On vehicle searches even if you dont give consent if it reeks of dope or you leave evidence in plain sigjt then there is the probable cause for a search. The right to remain silent is good but if you invoke it then stay silent otherwise if you start to talk then you cant use the fact that you invoked it later if you say something dumb. Now to lawyers, feel free to say you want to speak to a lawyer, but realise that is not going to stop you being arrested if there is probable cause, in other words the cops are not going to stand around until your lawyer arrives or talk to them on the phone. Most important thing is to fight charges in court not in the street it wont end well even if you believe the charges are bogus.

[ryan_cats]

34. Here in California, less than an ounce is an infraction but,

Here in California, less than an ounce is an infraction but, since an infraction is like blowing through a stop sign, they try to get you for driving while high. I don't know if there is a minimum level of THC in your system that they'll let you drive with but it sucks because pot stays into your system up to a month.

The medical marijuana users don't get any breaks either.

[Jesus Malverde]

36. One more, "I had a couple beers"

The likelihood is that you will be given a standard sobriety test with a breathalyzer. Typically police cannot demand more tests after you passed a breathalyzer.

[Comrade Grumpy]

43. If you are driving, admitting to having had ANY alcohol opens you up to a vehicle search.

Word to the wise.

[Jesus Malverde]

44. In places like california or washington state, a citiation for possession is preferable to the

pain and expanse of a DUI charge.

One thing I don't like about Washington's new law is that it codifies cannabis intoxication as impaired driving at an extremely low level.

[Comrade Grumpy]

46. That, along with no home grows, was an unnecessary sop to the prohibitionists.

They won in Colorado with the same percentage of the vote without that crap included.

[Agschmid]

37. Good post.

[marsis]

38. I loved your work in The Village People

doesn't work either, trust me.

[dionysus]

40. i'm glad to live in a state where anything less than an ounce just gets you a ticket.

[SomethingFishy]

42. Of course if you are in Colorado or Washington you can use this magic phrase:

[CBGLuthier]

45. Unless of course they use that as PC to test you and if you consumed within a month

you will flunk at the levels they are testing for so not so Ha Ha.

[SomethingFishy]

56. Actually they will be using oral testing which

identifies use within 24 hours.. so.. Ha Ha.

[maxsolomon]

47. I'm in WA State

Do I still use these phrases?

[xchrom]

48. i would say yes.

under federal law it's still illegal.

[DiverDave]

49. I thought it was "hey, THAT aint mine"

And, no, I've never used it.
But except for having sex with a male cop, I will do anything they want.
A friend and I had just arranged to buy some hash from a guy across from the
main train station in Nuremberg, this cop care drove up on the sidewalk.
Really big walk btw, and kept asking me "you have the hash,ya?"
They took my zippo apart, but found nothing. took off my shoes
I just kept telling them not to hit me with that stick they all carry. They will do that really fast.
I bet they were laughing that we both kept telling them, No, no hash, and dont hit me with that stick.
They found nothing, the guy came back and we purchased 90 grams for 50 bucks...a deal we completed numerous times after that with the dude.
Pretty scary for a few minutes...pucker factor

[Rex]

50. "I was reaching for the last dorito it fell between the seats" is always a bad thing to say.

"This cloud is climate change in my car dude!" is another bad one.

"Wendy's stays open til 3 am and I got the munchies" will NOT get you out of a traffic ticket.

"Be cool bro, my old man was a pig" BAD BAD idea, especially if true!

[Shrike47]

51. Just explain, 'These aren't my pants. I have no idea how that got there.'

Honest, I have actually seen the 'not my pants' defense. It does inspire my imagination.

[Blue_Tires]

52. "Don't touch my bags if you please, Mr. Customs Man!"

[boomer55]

53. "dont taze me bro" might be one of my top 4. n/t

[PassingFair]

54. DON'T say "Hey, it's 4-20 SOMEWHERE, man!"

Also, don't put that on your bumper sticker.