What rights do cops have and what rights do l have when being pulled over?

A good site for rights is the ACLU web site. However, a police officer may detain you if he has reasonable suspicion. In order to determine if he had reasonable suspicion I would have to know more about the stop. Things like the neighborhood, crime rates in that parking lot, time of day, how long you had been sitting there, and so on.

weapon_30

If a situation does not comply to how a reasonable person would act then suspiscion is present and an investigation can take place. A reasonable person does not generally sit in their car in a parking lot to talk with someone. Therefore suspicion has come into play and we can now stop and question you as to why you are in that lot and what you are doing. You may be detained for a reasonable amount of time which allows us to complete our investigation. If it is deemed after questioning you that you were just there talking and if you are not violating any other law being in that lot you will be let go, as it seems you were. None of your rights were violated.

The best thing for you to do when stopped by the police is:

1. Keep your hands visible at all times
2. Do not have an attitude or argue with the officer
3. Comply with the officers directions even if you feel they are not fair.

Just me

How did he take your rights away?

He was probably curious as to why two people were sitting in a parking lot at night. It could have been for a number of reasons.. the most general of which is that a crime was about to be, or in the process of being committed.

The officer was simply doing his job.

Next time, get a room!

Brian C

What rights did he take away from you? The right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? The right to keep and bear arms? Did he try to quarter troops in your home? Did he subject you to an unreasonable search and seizure? Due process, trial by jury, double jeopardy, eminent domain, self incrimination?

Police officers don't violate your rights by checking out a reasonably suspicious vehicle(s). Police officers don't have the right, rather, the DUTY to investigate anything they have a reasonable suspicion to believe might be criminal in nature. What you need to ask yourself is, 'Is the parking lot my friend and I were in a high crime area?', 'Was the parking lot closed after a certain time?', 'What time of day/night were we sitting in this parking lot?' 'Has this parking lot been a site of illegal drug transactions in the past?'.

You never said what the officer did to make you think maybe yo had your rights taken away. Did he search your vehicle without consent AND probable cause? Did he make you and your friend leave? Need a LOT more detail to give you any kind of reasonable answer.

El Scott

You do not provide any details. It is impossible to tell you if you have a gripe based on your question.

financegal27

What rights do you think he violated? Many times parking lots have signs regarding loitering and trespassing. If you look suspicious the cop has the right to question you, right to run your plates, right to ask you for identification. If you continue to act suspicious and don't cooperate he has the right to ask you to get out of the car, he has the right to detain you, and if the parking lot isn't public property (in most cases they aren't) he has the right to ask you to leave.

Kaska

Stop being silly. He has every right to question you. What are YOU hiding.

Andre Macassi

He is allowed to stop and question you if you are in a parked vehicle or for any other reason, if he claims you "look suspicious". He is allowed to check your records or whatever. What exactly did he do that you think violated your rights?

lpdhcdh

When I pull you over I have the right to take certain steps to ensure my safety. These include but are not limited to, positively identifying everyone in the vehicle, performing a pat down for weapons of all occupants of the vehicle and a weapons "frisk" on the interior of the vehicle. All without a warrant or anything else. I can detain, using reasonable force or handcuffs if I deem neccesary any occupant.

I don't have to explain why I'm doing what I'm doing.

I can also detain the vehicle and occupants for a reasonable time for me to complete investigation. I can ask the occupants any questions that I feel are appropriate.

As for your rights...a cop being "mean" to you doesn't violate any of your rights.

Fuzzy Squirrel

You don't have any rights except to remain silent & do exactly what the officer tell you to do.

Bill in Kansas

It all depends on time, place and reasonable suspicion.

Don't get so bent out of shape. What "rights" do you think were violated?

italienne

He's allowed to question you. If he suspects you've done something, he can even detain you.

Who's got my back?

You don't know if someone called and reported you as suspicious or for loitering but if they deem they have probable cause they can question anybody. They are there to uphold the laws of the people for every ones safety.

TURANDOT

This is one of the best:
American Civil Liberties Union http://www.aclu.org/

You know it has to be good when cops hate it. Never trust a cop to tell you what your rights are, and aren't

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