CRiMinal law
flashinG
liGhTs
in The
ReaRview
Know what Your rights are when Police Pull You oVer.
BY sioBhan mcclelland
Y
ou���re driving down the road when you hear
the unpleasant sound of a siren. You see the
flash of red lights in your rear-view mirror.
A police car is behind you and you���re being
pulled over.
It���s natural to feel nervous. But there are
some common mistakes drivers make during roadside stops
that can cause difficulties, even when they are innocent.
���Do not apologize when stopped,��� says criminal lawyer J.S.
10
Vijaya. ���Later on, a prosecutor . . . will use that apology as
a consciousness of guilt. You knew you did a bad thing,
therefore you were sorry. Why else would you be sorry if you
didn���t do anything wrong?���
Many people believe when the police pull them over,
they have to answer all questions the police ask. But Vijaya
says apart from acknowledging your insurance, licence, and
registration and providing your name, address, and date of
birth, ���you are under no obligation whatsoever to answer
