Most people want to interact with the police for as short a time as possible. But it’s hard to walk away from a police officer who calls you over to him if you don’t know exactly what power they have over you. In this post, we’re going to talk about what your rights are when the police approach you in a public place and, if you want to, how you can legally walk away from the police.

THE BASICS

Everyone in the U.S. of A. has the right to go about their lives without the police unreasonably stopping, searching, or seizing them.[1] However, police officers often use their badge, their uniform, and general police demeanor to make you assume that you have to do whatever they say.

Often, you don’t need to speak to police officers at all. But it’s important to know when you must stop and speak to them because it can be a crime to walk away from police who are legally stopping or arresting you.

So let’s talk about how you can figure out whether or not you’re legally required to stop and talk to a police officer.

Click to read the entire article on CHG Lawyers.