Far too often, the "war on crime" fought by police on the streets is waged against innocent individuals who are unaware of, or intimidated into surrendering, their constitutional rights.
While we must support effective law enforcement, we must also exercise our constitutional rights to ensure law enforcement works as it should to protect all Americans regardless of race or ethnicity. In this installment, we offer helpful suggestions on how to interact with law enforcement to reduce the probability of conflict.
If the police pull you over while you are driving, present your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance if the police ask you to do so. If you are suspected of drunk driving and refuse to take a sobriety test, the police may arrest you or seize your driver's license.
You have the right to forbid a search of your vehicle. If the police state they have probable cause, they may begin to search your car without your consent. Do not interfere, but clearly request the basis of the search and state your lack of consent. If you are given a ticket, sign the ticket. You can always fight the case in court later.
If the law enforcement stops you on the street, you are not required to answer any incriminating questions, but your failure to truthfully answer simple questions will make them suspicious and might be deemed a misdemeanor. If requested, show your identification. You have the right to forbid a search of yourself or your property. If police have reasonable suspicion that you have a weapon or illegal substance, they may do a ?pat-down? to check. Do not resist.
Absent a warrant or emergency circumstances, the police do not have the right to enter your home. If the police knock at your door, you have the right to deny them entrance. If the police say they have a warrant, ask to see the warrant before letting law enforcement enter your home. If you are arrested in your home, the police can search you and the area around you, which usually means the room.
We have based this article on "The 411 on the Five-O: The NAACP Real World Guide to Interacting with Law Enforcement."
Note: Rev. Mary A. Pulley, the president of the Rolla Area Branch of the NAACP, has approved this article. The purpose of the NAACP Point of View series is to communicate the positions of the Rolla Area Branch of the NAACP concerning subjects of interest.
For more information, or to join the NAACP, please contact the Rolla Area Branch by e-mail (unit4093@naacp.org), regular mail, (PO Box 1534, Rolla Missouri 65402-1534), or telephone (573-426-3323).
