You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Anything you say may be taken down and used as evidence against you.” It’s what the police should tell you after arresting you. However, what you say when you first encounter them could make it more likely things get to that point.
The police are trained to listen to what you say and see if there is anything that could help them build a case against you. Sometimes people say something that seems (and often is) entirely innocent but lands them in trouble they might not have got in if they had stayed silent.
Here are a few examples:
“I just had one drink”
If an officer asks you whether you have had anything to drink it may seem sensible to tell them the truth if you have just had one, or even two drinks. You might be sure you are still under the limit so there won’t be a problem. However, you have just given the officer a vital piece of information that they might not have known before – you have confirmed you have been drinking. This makes it more likely they test you, and there is always a chance of failing and getting arrested.
“I’m on my way back from X”
If the officer asks you where you have been, you might want to answer truthfully. Maybe you have been to your mom’s or the store. Yet, narrowing down where you were could increase the chance they suspect you of a crime that occurred in a particular place. Maybe the crime occurred two blocks from your mom’s for example and so by confirming you were roughly in that area at the time the crime occurred they may add you to their list of suspects.
You need to identify yourself if the police ask, but you do not need to say much more than that. Silence is usually your best option, followed by calling for legal guidance if problems result.