Navigating Police Interactions

There is rarely a situation where you are obligated to talk to the police. Generally, you don’t have to talk to the police in any situation. If you are under arrest, you should be provided with a Miranda warning, which explains that you have the right to remain silent. But even if you are not under arrest, you don’t have to talk to the police. If you are arrested, only tell the police that you wish to remain silent and speak to an attorney. If they persist in questioning you, continue to refuse to answer questions. Don’t let the police pressure you into talking when you are under arrest. If you aren’t sure whether you are under arrest, ask if you are free to leave. If not, you are either under arrest or being detained. 

There are some situations where you must provide information to the police. First, you must provide your license, registration, and insurance information when you are pulled over for an alleged traffic violation. Failing to provide them, or failing to maintain those documents, is a crime in and of itself. The passenger in a car does not need to provide this information-only the driver. 

Second, if the police suspect you have broken the law, they may ask for your ID. If you do not have your ID, you will have to provide your name. Keep in mind that providing false information is a crime under Colorado law. This can be either a class 2 misdemeanor or class 6 felony, carrying between 12 to 18 months in prison or $1,000 to $100,000 in fines. 

Other than that though, it is rarely in your best interest to talk to the police. Tell them you want to speak to an attorney and call the team at Prager Law right away.