Being stopped or questioned by a police officer in Maricopa county can be very intimidating, and most people are not prepared. How you handle the initial contact with law enforcement will effect whether or not you are given a ticket, arrested, or even pursued with force. The five tips below can help those in the Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe area that are dealing with police due to a traffic stop, or any other unexpected interaction. Stop the vehicle as soon as possible If you are stopped by a police officer for any reason, immediately stop your vehicle or stop moving. Do not attempt to outrun the police on foot or in a vehicle. If you are not successful, you would have only made any problem worst. If you do not immediately stop it can be interpreted as fleeing and may end violently.
Failure to stop for the police can also be charged as resisting arrest which is considered a felony. Even if you are guilty of a crime, stopping the vehicle may not immediately mean arrest, but not stopping will. Make yourself and your passengers clearly visible to the officers If an officer cannot see what is going on he can assume the worst. For example, say you are in Gilbert and you reach over to pick up a piece of paper. The officer may think you are reaching for a gun, and defend his or herself by shooting first. To prevent this misunderstanding, make sure your hands and all of your passenger’s hands (if you are in a vehicle) are in plain sight while the officer is present.
Also, inform your passengers that anything they say and do may influence how the police officer behaves. Your passengers are not required to speak to the officer, but they should remain polite if they want things to end well. Don’t try to talk your way out of it The more you talk, the less it usually helps. Officers are there to collect information to convict someone of a crime. They are trained in methods to extract information to help them prove you are guilty of something. Even if you think something you say can help reduce your chances of being arrested, the odds of that are very slim. Also, once a ticket is written, an officer cannot deal with the circumstances or do anything to undo it. Even in Chandler, you will be given a chance to tell your side of the story in court. Do not take the field sobriety test, especially if you have been drinking The field sobriety test is known for not being accurate and many people who are actually sober fail it. Unless you are completely certain you can pass it, it really is not in your interest to take the test. In Arizona, there are penalties for refusing a chemical test, but not a sobriety test. If an officer is asking you to take a sobriety test, politely refuse, and expect to be given a blood, breath or urine test. If you fail the chemical test and are charged with DUI, a Maricopa county lawyer can explain why you did not take the sobriety test.
If you do not fail the chemical test and also do not take the field sobriety test, the police may not have enough to charge you with. Remember you have the right to remain silent You are required to show your identification, and if you are driving, registration and insurance. Anything further than that is not necessary. You are not required to consent to any searches or answer any questions. If the officer asks you to do any more than that simply respond that you are “exercising your right to remain silent and want an attorney present during any questioning.” The officer will need to arrest you or obtain a search warrant if more information is required. . If you use these five tips when dealing with police officers in Maricopa county, you could prevent additional charges or jail time. If you are in the Phoenix area and have been arrested, contact our office today.
