Here's Some Sound Legal Advice for Anyone Who is Pulled Over a Police Officer....

[BoSoxGal]

Now, here's some genuinely good legal advice for anyone pulled over by a police officer:

This former defense attorney endorses this message.

[Big RR]

Can't argue with that; it's hard to do, but it works. I had a client apprehended at the border who was seeking asylum and told her not to say anything ujnless I or another lawyer (I was working with a group representing undocumented persons at the time) was present. This is not easy, especally as she was in custody for over a month and moved around--from Texas to Chicago to New Orleans to Atlanta, and back to Chicago (personally, I think, to confuse us as to where she was and disorient her, but it is legal), but she held tough and was eventually released after her initial hearing (which I attended remotely), Speaking up wouldn't have helped her at all, and it rarely helps when apprehended and arrested by the police.

[Burning Petard]

But what happened to taking the Fifth? Is that driving with an open container? In some traditions the proper response is not STFU, but Please Sir, may I have another? And how does STFU protect you from civil forfeiture? Me, I would prefer the cops beat me than be the victim of civil forfeiture. I don't think my car even has a right to counsel.

snailgate.

[Big RR]

STFU is taking the fifth. And, you are correct, it does not protect you from civil forfeiture--not much does. and you could be both beaten and then the victim of a civil forfeiture--although you could prevent yourself from being the vicitim of a civil forfeiture by always driving someone else's car. You may lose a friend, but they'll lose the car.