ACLU Bust Card (ment to be carried in your wallet)

What To Do If Your
Stopped By The Police
Think carefully about your words, movement, body
language, and emotions.
Don’t get into an argument with the police.
Remember, anything you say or do can be used
against you.
Keep your hands where the police can see them.
Don’t run. Don’t touch any police officer.
Don’t resist even if you believe you are innocent.
Don’t complain on the scene or tell the police
they’re wrong or that you’re going to file a complaint.
Do not make any statements regarding the incident.
Ask for a lawyer immediately upon your arrest.
Remember officers’ badge & patrol car numbers.
Write down everything you remember ASAP.
Try to find witnesses & their names & phone numbers.
If you are injured, take photographs of the injuries
as soon as possible, but make sure you seek
medical attention first.
If you feel your rights have been violated, file a
written complaint with police department’s internal
affairs division or civilian complaint board, or call the
ACLU hotline, 1-877-6-PROFILE.
KEEP THIS CARD HANDY!
IF YOU HAVE A POLICE ENCOUNTER,
YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF.
4. Sometimes you can be released without bail, or have
bail lowered. Have your lawyer ask the judge about this
possibility. You must be taken before the judge on the next
court day after arrest.
5. Do not make any decisions in your case until you have
talked with a lawyer.
IN YOUR HOME
1. If the police knock and ask to enter your home, you
don’t have to admit them unless they have a warrant
signed by a judge.
2. However, in some emergency situations (like when a
person is screaming for help inside, or when the police are
chasing someone) officers are allowed to enter and search
your home without a warrant.
3. If you are arrested, the police can search you and the
area close by. If you are in a building, “close by” usually
means just the room you are in.
We all recognize the need for effective law enforcement,
but we should also understand our own rights and responsibilities
– especially in our relationships with the police.
Everyone, including minors, has the right to courteous and
respectful police treatment. If your rights are violated,
don’t try to deal with the situation at the scene. You can
talk to a lawyer afterwards, or file a complaint with the
Internal Affairs or Civilian Complaint Board.
Produced by the American Civil Liberties Union.
ARREST THE RACISM. Tell us about your race- or ethnicbased
traffic or pedestrian stop. Call 1-877-6-PROFILE or
go to aclu.org/profiling www.aclu.org
IF YOU’RE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR
1. Upon request, show them your driver’s license,
registration, and proof of insurance. In certain cases, your
car can be searched without a warrant as long as the
police have probable cause. To protect yourself later, you
should make it clear that you do not consent to a search.
It is not lawful for police to arrest you simply for refusing
to consent to a search.
2. If you’re given a ticket, you should sign it; otherwise
you can be arrested. You can always fight the case in
court later.
3. If you’re suspected of drunk driving (DWI) and refuse
to take a blood, urine or breath test, your driver’s
license may be suspended.
IF YOU’RE ARRESTED OR TAKEN TO A POLICE STATION
1. You have the right to remain silent and to talk to a
lawyer before you talk to the police. Tell the police
nothing except your name and address. Don’t give any
explanations, excuses or stories. You can make your
defense later, in court, based on what you and your lawyer
decide is best.
2. Ask to see a lawyer immediately. If you can’t pay for a
lawyer, you have a right to a free one, and should ask the
police how the lawyer can be contacted.
Don’t say anything without a lawyer.
3. Within a reasonable time after your arrest, or
booking, you have the right to make a local phone call: to
a lawyer, bail bondsman, a relative or any other person. The
police may not listen to the call to the lawyer.
1. What you say to the police is always important.
What you say can be used against you, and it can give
the police an excuse to arrest you, especially if you badmouth
a police officer.
2. You must show your driver's license and registration when
stopped in a car. Otherwise, you don't have to answer any
questions if you are detained or arrested, with one important
exception. The police may ask for your name if you have been
properly detained, and you can be arrested in some states
for refusing to give it. If you reasonably fear that your name is
incriminating, you can claim the right to remain silent, which
may be a defense in case you are arrested anyway.
3. You don’t have to consent to any search of
yourself, your car or your house. If you DO consent to a
search, it can affect your rights later in court. If the
police say they have a search warrant, ASK TO SEE IT.
4. Do not interfere with, or obstruct the police – you
can be arrested for it.
IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING
1. It's not a crime to refuse to answer questions, but refusing
to answer might make the police suspicious about you.
If you are asked to identify yourself, see paragraph 2 above.
2. Police may “pat-down” your clothing if they suspect a
concealed weapon. Don’t physically resist, but make it
clear that you don’t consent to any further search.
3. Ask if you are under arrest. If you are, you have a
right to know why.
4. Don’t bad-mouth the police officer or run away, even
if you believe what is happening is unreasonable. That
could lead to your arrest.
What To Do If You’re
Stopped By The Police
Think carefully about your words, movement, body
language, and emotions.
Don’t get into an argument with the police.
Remember, anything you say or do can be used
against you.
Keep your hands where the police can see them.
Don’t run. Don’t touch any police officer.
Don’t resist even if you believe you are innocent.
Don’t complain on the scene or tell the police
they’re wrong or that you’re going to file a complaint.
Do not make any statements regarding the incident.
Ask for a lawyer immediately upon your arrest.
Remember officers’ badge & patrol car numbers.
Write down everything you remember ASAP.
Try to find witnesses & their names & phone numbers.
If you are injured, take photographs of the injuries
as soon as possible, but make sure you seek
medical attention first.
If you feel your rights have been violated, file a
written complaint with police department’s internal
affairs division or civilian complaint board, or call the
ACLU hotline, 1-877-6-PROFILE.
KEEP THIS CARD HANDY!
IF YOU HAVE A POLICE ENCOUNTER,
YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF.
4. Sometimes you can be released without bail, or have
bail lowered. Have your lawyer ask the judge about this
possibility. You must be taken before the judge on the next
court day after arrest.
5. Do not make any decisions in your case until you have
talked with a lawyer.
IN YOUR HOME
1. If the police knock and ask to enter your home, you
don’t have to admit them unless they have a warrant
signed by a judge.
2. However, in some emergency situations (like when a
person is screaming for help inside, or when the police are
chasing someone) officers are allowed to enter and search
your home without a warrant.
3. If you are arrested, the police can search you and the
area close by. If you are in a building, “close by” usually
means just the room you are in.
We all recognize the need for effective law enforcement,
but we should also understand our own rights and responsibilities
– especially in our relationships with the police.
Everyone, including minors, has the right to courteous and
respectful police treatment. If your rights are violated,
don’t try to deal with the situation at the scene. You can
talk to a lawyer afterwards, or file a complaint with the
Internal Affairs or Civilian Complaint Board.
Produced by the American Civil Liberties Union.
ARREST THE RACISM. Tell us about your race- or ethnicbased
traffic or pedestrian stop. Call 1-877-6-PROFILE or
go to aclu.org/profiling www.aclu.org
IF YOU’RE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR
1. Upon request, show them your driver’s license,
registration, and proof of insurance. In certain cases, your
car can be searched without a warrant as long as the
police have probable cause. To protect yourself later, you
should make it clear that you do not consent to a search.
It is not lawful for police to arrest you simply for refusing
to consent to a search.
2. If you’re given a ticket, you should sign it; otherwise
you can be arrested. You can always fight the case in
court later.
3. If you’re suspected of drunk driving (DWI) and refuse
to take a blood, urine or breath test, your driver’s
license may be suspended.
IF YOU’RE ARRESTED OR TAKEN TO A POLICE STATION
1. You have the right to remain silent and to talk to a
lawyer before you talk to the police. Tell the police
nothing except your name and address. Don’t give any
explanations, excuses or stories. You can make your
defense later, in court, based on what you and your lawyer
decide is best.
2. Ask to see a lawyer immediately. If you can’t pay for a
lawyer, you have a right to a free one, and should ask the
police how the lawyer can be contacted.
Don’t say anything without a lawyer.
3. Within a reasonable time after your arrest, or
booking, you have the right to make a local phone call: to
a lawyer, bail bondsman, a relative or any other person. The
police may not listen to the call to the lawyer.
1. What you say to the police is always important.
What you say can be used against you, and it can give
the police an excuse to arrest you, especially if you badmouth
a police officer.
2. You must show your driver's license and registration when
stopped in a car. Otherwise, you don't have to answer any
questions if you are detained or arrested, with one important
exception. The police may ask for your name if you have been
properly detained, and you can be arrested in some states
for refusing to give it. If you reasonably fear that your name is
incriminating, you can claim the right to remain silent, which
may be a defense in case you are arrested anyway.
3. You don’t have to consent to any search of
yourself, your car or your house. If you DO consent to a
search, it can affect your rights later in court. If the
police say they have a search warrant, ASK TO SEE IT.
4. Do not interfere with, or obstruct the police – you
can be arrested for it.
IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING
1. It's not a crime to refuse to answer questions, but refusing
to answer might make the police suspicious about you.
If you are asked to identify yourself, see paragraph 2 above.
2. Police may “pat-down” your clothing if they suspect a
concealed weapon. Don’t physically resist, but make it
clear that you don’t consent to any further search.
3. Ask if you are under arrest. If you are, you have a
right to know why.
4. Don’t bad-mouth the police officer or run away, even
if you believe what is happening is unreasonable. That
could lead to your arrest.


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