Getting arrested by the police is a stressful occurrence, indeed. It can become even more stressful if you make one or a few of the same mistakes other people make when they get arrested and accused. The following are four common mistakes and what you should do to avoid them.
Do not Argue With Authority
One of the top errors people make when they get pulled over by the police is arguing with the cops. Their attitude is defensive and combative from the moment the police officer walks up to them to the moment they go behind bars. That is not only highly dangerous, but it's also counterproductive. When speaking with police officers, your attitude should always remain respectful, and you should always be cooperative. By doing so, you'll ensure that you make it through the ordeal safely.
Do not Protest Too Much
Some defendants make the mistake of protesting too much. They offer way more information than the arresting officer requests, and they end up putting themselves in a bad position. You can avoid doing that by only answering questions you must answer by law. The truth is that the officer has the right to use anything you say against you. Therefore, you can be subjected to a guilty conviction if you give the officers too many details. You'll hurt your defense case immensely because you'll unknowingly invalidate some of the strategies a good lawyer can use.
Do Exercise Your Right to Counsel
You have the right to contact, consult with, and hire an attorney to represent you in any matter in which someone accuses you of committing a crime. The arresting officer is supposed to notify you that you have that right so that you can use it if you want to. You can politely refuse to say anything incriminating and then ask the arresting officer if you can have a few minutes to contact an attorney to help you. You won't be doing anything illegal or uncooperative by asking to exercise your rights, and you might just be sparing yourself from jail time.
Do Choose a Reliable Attorney
One of the biggest mistakes some defendants make is that they do not hire a competent attorney for their case. They hire the first practitioner they fall upon, and that person ends up not being the right fit. You need an experienced practitioner to defend you in your case. A skilled criminal defense attorney is one who has some experience on the other side of the law. You'll do well if you can find one who has been a prosecutor or worked for a prosecutor at some point. Be sure to check current and former client reviews and statistics to ensure that you choose someone phenomenal.
Avoid making the above-mentioned errors if you ever get pulled over by the police or accused of a crime. Your case may end differently if you do. As a matter of fact, you will maybe find yourself acquitted or found not guilty of the alleged offense.