Happened to me. Cop made me tell him a half dozen times "I don't consent to searches." So they brought the drug dog out. I get put in cuffs and in the back of the cop car and they search my vehicle anyway saying the dog got a hit when he didn't bark. After they didn't find anything and had to let me go they asked me why I refused the search since Im not doing anything illegal. I told them "Just pretending I have rights."

When refusing consent and requiring a warrant, cops will often charge you with a ridiculous crime. They know you'll be able to get out of it easily, but they also know it will cost you money in the form of a lawyer and just want to make you pay for not succumbing to their tyranny. I've experienced this first hand numerous times.

I have pre-paid legal insurance. Now if a cop stops me I just call the emergency number and get an attorney on the phone. Then the cop gets to deal with the lawyer. I've had to do it a few times already. It's amazing how fast the cops back off once they realize you're not vulnerable and weak and instead you can throw a lawyer at them.

Great video. I had a situation where I got pulled over for a taillight and the officer claimed he "smelled marijuana smoke" and wanted to search my car. I calmly said "I don't consent" and then the officer started saying he was going to call a drug-sniffing dog and "it's better to be honest with me now because if the dog finds it you'll go to jail." I stuck to my story saying I don't have any marijuana and I'll be happy to wait for the dog if necessary. The officer let me go!

if a cop even has to ask if he can search your car that's proof to me right there he does not have probable cause.

And make sure the camera is recording everything.

1. you refuse the search 2. you are tased multiple times, until the taser runs out of battery, or until your thrashing rips the barbs out of your flesh. This thrashing is called "resisting arrest" 3. if you are then unable to speak, you are beaten until you are unconscious. This is called "impeding an investigation" 4. All of your friends, family, and nearby persons' recording devices are confiscated for "the good of society" This is called "collecting evidence" 5. the NSA immediately connects live to all of your wireless devices and home PC 6. all of your friends are placed on suspicion for "terrorism" This word doesn't mean what you think it means. It means "disagree with government" 7. Your home is raided a few times because of "an anonymous tip" before the trial, just in case they didn't find all the recording devices. Your computer, file cabinets, and any paperwork with which you could use to defend yourself will be confiscated as property of the state, whether it was on the warrant or not. Don't worry. If there was no warrant, one will be generated later.

This video and many like it across youtube are the most important videos on the web. If more Americans were as concerned with learning and maintaining their rights, their rights wouldn't be slipping away as they are. Great video, thanks!

my experience is that they arrest you anyways, then lie about how it went down. So, if you don't have video running, you're fucked.

Summarization: "I do not consent to being searched." "Do you have probably cause for keeping me here?" (optional) "Am I free to leave?" Just saying these three things will help create a stronger legal argument in your favor if ever you end up in court as a result of this situation.

"Officer, I do not believe you have probable cause to search my vehicle. If you do so, you do so over my objection." Write that down, remember it! Translation: Ball's in your court sir. If you feel you have probable cause, go for it. If you don't, you can't. And I'm not being a jerk, I'm just objecting to being treated like a criminal. Great vid bro.

The sad thing is that isn't being addressed. We as citizens shouldn't have to put up with this shit at all. We shouldn't have to be 100% knowledgeable of our rights. The cops were hired and are there to protect our rights not to take them away. Its awesome we get pointers on what to do but we really should be working to change the system so we don't have to be in fear of being searched illegally or have to answer questions when we're not suspected of anything.

I refused a search in ohio, the cop searched anyway and found a little bit of weed, harassed me for 20 minutes, then asked if I was willing to go to jail for a couple joints, I said yes... they then told me to go home, LOL

Key phrase, "Calmly assert." in order to de-escalate the situation it's important to remain calm and in control. The absolute worst thing you can do (besides consent) is to loose your temper. Once that happens, you've lost whatever control you had. Thanks for posting the video. FlexYourRights advise saved me a lot of hassle simply by following this simple advise.

As a police officer, I saw this video and was like "oh god, another internet attorney"... But you know your stuff. Good on you for sharing your knowledge with everyone. We all have our constitutional rights and the glory of exercising them. I actually appreciate when someone flexes their rights!

A buddy of mine seen the police harassing another young guy, just being bully assholes. So he yelled from across the street to leave him alone, the cops ran across the road and started to kick my buddy's ass. The one cop broke his finger from punching him in the head and charged him with assaulting and officer.

Personal experience has showed me that if you refuse a search,you get the ticket for whatever bullshit reason they pulled you over for.

What they did to me, after I told them that they couldn't search my vehicle, was they said that they "smelled something"(I literally had nothing that could get me in any trouble). Then they brought the k9 unit made him circle my car once, nothing happened, then one of the cops escorted me a little further away as the k9 guy gave the dog an order to bark by softly kicking the dog and the dog barked. Just seconds later they opened all the doors popped the trunk open and turned my car inside out. They searched for like 45 minutes to find nothing. By the way I was pulled over for having an expired tag that was expired by like a few days.

Thank you thank you just 15 minutes ago I was pulled over for speeding after a long wait I was asked to step out of the vehicle where the officer informed me that he would like to search my vehicle that I was physically nervous so I should be honest and tell him where the stuff is I politely refused he told me a canine was coming I said good I like German shepherds unless you're detaining me I would like to leave he told me to get in the car don't let him see me again

Listening to this makes me think back to Belfast in the 70,80,90, your living in a police state!

My brothers were cops, and they told me all the bullshit ways cops can dream up "PC stops." If your a/c vents are closed, if your a/c vents are open....they showed me two full pages, front and back of the most ridiculous, absurd, and obtuse excuses they were allowed to use to violate peoples "rights."

As a Police Officer what he is saying is accurate. The biggest part is being POLITE!!! Exercising your rights is fine. If a Police Officer has a hint that there may be something there they can ask to search. Just as you can refuse. If the have PC then you will end up getting searched. If they don't, you won't, unless you consent. But be polite about it. Also know the local law about when you are required to present ID ( or give your name) and when you aren't. Way too many incidents on youtube show a person getting arrested when they were required to present ID and they refused.

Thank you, I've been hearing a little bit about this and have had my concerns. I know that standing for my rights will be a little tricky but I think is better than just letting them run over me. as they are often in the habit of doing

if they call in a dog and the dog "indicates" , be sure to ask exactly what the indicator is. They should verbally tell you what they witness so you can witness the same thing . If they won't tell you be suspicious.

Here if you refuse a search they call over a drug dog. Then they make them jump all over your car, and scratch it up. Next they give them the command to sit. Then they tell you that's how they mark that they have smelled something. Even when I tell them my shepherds are trained in the same language, and I clearly just heard him give the dog the command, they still tear my car apart. I don't even smoke cigarettes, or take OTCs so I have definitely never had any drugs in my car.

Thanks for that info! Idk how it happened, but I wound up with a "regular" lawyer on the state's dime, who had my case dismissed inside of ten minutes. Literally. That after three months of going back and forth to court and being told by my PD to take jail time and pay a big fine. I didn't do a damn thing. No way I was going to do that. It all worked out, but now I have an even bigger distaste for police. But thanks again! :)

"Do you have cause to detain me, or am I free to go?" Asking it that way puts the burden on the cop to articulate cause.

So basically tell them, "I understand you are just doing your job but I do not consent to any searches." Then let them respond, which they will, and then say "Officer, are you detaining me, or am I free to go?" So if they are detaining you, what then? Do you refuse to answer questions and state so? What about strictly not answering questions? I've heard that you can say, "I refuse to answer questions or I don't answer questions." I'd like to know more about this.

What you guys and girls don't understand is its not about being mean or not helping cops when they are just doing their job. It's about exercising yours rights because thats what they are there for. You say why not let the officer search you when you have nothing to hide which is fine. But remember when you give up your rights or don't know your rights it won't take long before they are taken away. Exercise yours rights because you have them, that way you're not taken advantage of, that way you don't have to worry about planted evidence. Or just crap cops use to get money cause thats what their goal is. Not to tell you you were speeding when you were following the conditions of the road but to soak up more money. #UseItOrLoseIt

What if you ask if you are being detained/or are free to go and the officer just doesn't answer your question...or, as has happened to me, says "You aren't being detained, but you can't leave because I'm asking you questions."

Ria, you are the bomb! Thank you spewing some knowledge! I really admire that!

Thanks for sharing and caring for Americans rights!

Also do record yourself ANYTIME you have an interaction with a cop, in any of these situations he talks about

False arrest = a new car for me to drive. Thank you corrupt cops.

great video. absolutely 100% correct information. i feel like people forget that the encounter with the police officer is only half of the battle.

Always here to help!

the scary thing about a search is that, cops can put stuff in your car and then say its yours, as someone who never use drugs, never ever have them, its scary

followup: I guess I am kinda on the fence about this, you're right about admissibility after refusal to search. My buddy tried the whole "I don't consent to any searches" thing and failed miserably, had his truck searched, and they found a small bag of weed and one xanax bar. But his rookie public defender did successfully win a suppression hearing, which forced the DA to drop the charges. The judge even mentioned in his written ruling that the key was when he asked "Am I free to go?".

Good solid advice can't find a thing wrong with it. Great job.

Thanks for posting, great vid!!!

I would add that it is very helpful to learn what is and is not considered probable cause. Some times local police departments will even have little niche things that they use as probable cause when they actually would not hold up in court. Once you have an understanding of that, you can explain that the reason that you are not consenting to a search is because of lack of any probable cause and that you have places to go and things to do and being detained after it's clear that no law was violated or there is no cause for search is costing you time and possibly money (not to mention your g,d, freedom) This has been effective for me in many cases as I used to run around with a mohawk, leather jacket and combat boots, driving in a old beater. ...and be polite! That's a big one! I had to learn the hard way. It's still not perfect, though. Once, I got the response "my probable cause is that I randomly pull people over on this roadway and run their license plate and driver license" When I told him "that is not probable cause" he handed me a "no proof of insurance" ticket and said "tell it to the judge!"

The only thing about asserting your rights to a cop, is that from there on, they're gonna throw the book at you. So you better hope that you aren't breaking any other laws.

THANK YOU, great work.

Very level and informative. Great job on this PSA. The key as usual, is to be innocent in the first place. However, and if that isn't quite the case, then your advice of legal Jujitsu is very noteworthy. And yes, politeness at all times. Definitely do not have a bad attitude with the officer or officers.

Refusing may not work, but you're covering your ass legally for your court appearance. It also doesn't hurt to have a witness or a video

what about if the cops illegally search your car on fake probable cause of the smell of marijuana, but they don't find marijuana, but they do find 50k in cash and arrest you anyway.

Great delivery, tx.

I would also turn on the video on my cell phone to record everything from my dash. If the cops asks, nothing to hide...filming is not illegal and records everything said. Extra protection and evidence even though we all know cops never lie !

Remember that when a cop talks to you that he is getting you to tell on yourself and every thing you do is helping his case against you, The thing to do is not be involved in illegal activities to begin with and don't give the cops a reason to mess with you

103 Cops Disliked this haha.

Well stated, well presented. nicely done mate.

Thank you for the response and the information. Yes the video was informative and instructive and I did understand the details contained within it. To make my question a little clearer: suppose that a legitimate traffic stop has already been made, e.g. burned out head light or tail light or the ubiquitous "driving erratically". Suppose this is the first pretext to justify the stop, as they may have previously profiled you and want to go on a "fishing expedition" for contraband in your car.

smoke weed everyday.

How can you prove that you said no to a search if they go ahead and search you anyway?

I'm a young hispanic that lives in South LA, by what the media says I should be in jail. But yet I'm not! Its been years since I've been stopped by the police. I was doing 85 in a 65, at night on the 110. I knew i could get stopped but being 19 I took the risk. CHP pulled me over and asked for my license. He asked if I knew how fast I was going, to which I said probably too fast :D (I was a smart ass then). During the entire stop I kept my windows rolled down and guess what, HE NEVER ASKED TO SEARCH MY CAR?!?! Here I am driving through South LA at night in a 300 SRT-8 and I still have never been even asked to step out of my car! Since then I really don't drive crazy and took the window tints off, I check my lights and make sure I pay my insurance and registration on time. Maybe if you guys did that you wouldn't be stopped in the first place, just a thought..... and all this flex your rights really doesn't do anything. You're just adding to the us versus them mentality. Fear mongering creates more fear, tension, and pre meditates negative incidents.

Very well done, and something everyone should see. I've had a cop ask if they could search my car once. I just said "No thank you, I'd rather you didn't" Sure enough, they let me go without a search. Like he said, it won't work every time, but worst case is, you still get searched, so it's worth a shot!

Just stay calm and polite. Know your rights, but also know the officer's rights. Learn a little bit about their job. You shouldn't go to a doctor without some understanding of what s/he does, why wouldn't you educate yourself about what police officers are required by law to do? The biggest reason for trouble between police and civilians is an imbalance of knowledge, and knowledge is power. Unless you are an expert on the Constitution (especially the Charter), extremely well versed in police practice/regulations, and well read as to case law at all levels of the judicial system, you can't know everything...but neither can an officer. If you have at least a basic knowledge of what they are trying to accomplish on a daily basis, and their legal abilities in pursuit of that, then you can protect yourself. The biggest tools you have are: be confident but not arrogant, respectful but not subservient, and knowledgeable but not know-it-all. Police officers are people just like you: if someone is a dick, your back stiffens up and you want to get in their face any way you can. They just happen to have a gun, taser, batons, handcuffs, and lots of backup. Be smart. Being right isn't always worth a day or night in handcuffs down at the local constabulary.

What happens after you refuse a police search? You will be assaulted and arrested.

Ahhhh your the channel I've been looking for!!!!! New SUB!!!

A cop showed up at my door asking to come in and check on my dogs (delivery man thought I might be a hoarder due to lots of barking). My dogs are in excellent shape and well-cared for, but I wasn't offended. I was glad people cared enough to check. I still refused, and the cop asked why. I just told him I don't allow searches. He was very friendly and professional, and thanked me and went about his day. This is how police action should be.

LOL, dude your eyes!?!? It looks like your either high on green or just woke up. Its a lil' creepy dude.

Thank you

great stuff. keep up the good work.

i do understand though... its just really sad that we hafta take huge steps to protect ourselves like this because alotta our police officers have this nazi gestapo mentality

OK maybe this is dumb but why would you want to refuse a search if you dont have anything to hide? I mean if you turn up having nothing and you've been cooperative, it seems like that would only help your case for innocence.

love this. smart guy.

now make a video for black people. lmaoo

If you have nothing to hide why not let them look? I did and nothing happened to me.

I refused a search recently, and the officers were really nice about it. I had been advised not to allow searches by a Lawyer who was a youth leader in the church I went to growing up. I explained what I had been told to the officers, and was of course very pleasant with them, and they just said OK. Then me being me, I asked them if it was really Ok, I felt bad telling them no, they laughed and told me it was my right. Then we stood and talked for a minute, they didn't give me a ticket and all in all it was actually a pleasant experience. Never thought I would say getting pulled was a pleasant experience, but it was.

Best advice I ever had: "Nothing you ever say to a law enforcement officer will ever be used to help you." This may sound silly but it applies to a traffic stop: "Is this your current address?"', "Where are you coming from?", "Where are you going to?", "Do you know why I stopped you?", "Do you know what the speed limit is?", "Why did you not stop when you saw me turn my lights on?" Be polite, courteous and respectful, but train yourself to not reply to anything! Of course, it's unlikely that during a traffic stop you'll get away with only a "warning" and for sure you'll get a citation, but that's the price you have to be willing to pay. That's my advice. Now, I hope I can do that and I hope you can too. Cheers.

Law is very interesting. Thanks for the video.

Thanks!

Our used to be lieutenant in the city where I live used to do things the way he wanted to. Served him right when he got fired.

love your videos, love the shirts!

omg... dude i watched all your videos awhile ago.. long story short THANK YOU

I really like your channel!

Was pulled over yesterday with 2 people in the car. The idiot in the back threw a can out of the window rite in front of a cop. 🤦‍♂️anyways he asked to search and I said "well I would really rather just be on my way sir." The 2 passengers got out to be searched, but the cop never bothered me again. Was very polite as usual, and we were all calm and cool. Was honestly the best traffic stop I've ever had by far.

I like this Thanks Bro!

To refuse is a roll of the dice. If you are not wealthy, then you risk your car and your job. Sure you will probably win in the long run but can you afford the lawyer, towtruck car storage, seizure of your license, time away from work to deal with this. If you keep a clean car and no contraband, then let the cop do his search. and be polite. I have friends who live in the projects.

yeah I want to know too, one that applies in all states or gives info about what is ok in one state but not another

one of my biggest fears in this situation is refusing a search, pissing them off, and they bring a dog or use some BS reason to search your car and literally tear it up (leather interior rips from the dog or officers,compartments or hinges etc damaged etc.) and I feel there is no consequences for law enforcement from the damage.

Dan as far as I know they would need to show probable cause or face malicious prosecution charges

I like how James Yeager, who was a cop himself put it. any good cop with PC will not ask. they will just tell you they are searching the car because they had PC to do so

When that happens to me I always say, I do not consent to any searches,then I say I will not answer any questions that do not pertain to the reason to the stop, and then ask if I am free to go

I do this as a sport sometimes just for fun. Test it out so you'll have experience refusing searches. I used to drive around in waiting to be pulled over for suspicion -- knowing I'm clean anyway. The first time it was somewhat nerve racking because they'll usually try to scare you. But in none of the times I've done it have they violated my rights

I think that you are a really good guy for taking the time to make this video, police do indeed violate people's rights all over the world. In Australia it is quite common. More people need to understand that the harassment is NOT ok, and if the tables were turned, I am positive just about every officer would feel offended and say no.

I was camping in Ginnie Springs one year and got pulled over for speeding while trying to make it back to town to purchase beer before the stores closed. I forgot that there were open containers in my vehicle; some empty and some half drank. Long story short, I DID NOT get a DUI, but i did get an open container citation (i was not drunk; would have registered a .03 at most). The police also asked to search my vehicle and i told them no. They handed me my citation and let me drive away!

I was pulled over once for going 5mph over the limit. Cop said I was nervous, asked to search the vehicle. I said "Sorry no thanks". He said he'd detain me and call a k9 unit. Looked inside my car from the outside. Had me sit in the front seat of his cruiser. Detained me 30 minutes, finally let me go. As I put one foot out of his car, he called me to sit again and told me I was nice, that I should go through my trunk and check if there's anything illegal in there. I didnt, but the whole thing was terrifying.

Need an Australian version, loving the clips

An illegal search will have whatever was obtained thrown out in court that you were charged with.

I got pulled over by a cop one evening after dark. I was getting my drivers license out of my purse and sat there waiting. I looked back behind me out my drivers side window a couple times and wondered why he was taking so long. Just then, he started knocking on my passenger side window and tried to open the door, but it was locked, as always. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest! He said open the door. I said no. He said open the door. I said no. He said ma’am, open the door. I loudly said no! He loudly said ma’am, you need to open the door. I yelled no, I want to see some I.D.! He shined his flashlight at me for whatever reason, but complied with my request. He puts his badge up against the window. I said, Sir, that’s your badge, not your I.D. I need to see your I.D. with your picture on it. So, he fumbles around with his flashlight trying to get it out of his pocket, and puts it up against the glass. I said, How do I know that picture is you? Shine your flashlight on your face! By this time, I had forgotten what his face looked like on his I.D. So, I said, I need to see your I.D. again. By this point he was really perturbed at me. He asked me again to open the door. I said no, but I rolled the window down maybe only an inch or so. He said, Ok, ma’am. Stick your drivers license and proof of insurance through the window. I said no. But, I held my license and insurance card up so he could see them, but not close enough that he could snatch it through the window. He said just a minute. I’m going to my car, but I’ll be right back. Do NOT leave. While he’s in his car, I’m trying to figure out what on earth is going on! Why did he stop me, I wasn’t speeding, does he think I robbed a gas station? .... which I would never do. He comes back up to my passenger door again and asks Ma’am, do you know why I stopped you? I said, I wasn’t speeding, I didn’t rob a gas station because I don’t do stuff like that and besides, I have the money to pay for gas. He said Ma’am, your tag expired over a year ago. I said Wait, what? He said, Ma’am, why wouldn’t you open your door when I asked you to? I said, because, officer, there’s some maniac driving everywhere around here in a black car with lights like a police car pulling people over and beating them up and robbing them. Did it occur to you that I might be scared, that I’m his next victim? How do I know if he would’ve raped me? I’m an old lady, but there’s some really demented, sick people out here! Did you even THINK, that being a helpless woman that I might be scared out of my wits???!!!! With a sheepish tone, he said Ma’am, I’m sorry I frightened you. I didn’t even think about that. I said, Well you SHOULD!!!! Think about that when you pull over a helpless old woman! With a sympathetic smile, he said yes, ma’am, I will. Have a good evening, ma’am. I’m sorry to bother you, ma’am. Do you need me to escort you home, ma’am? I said, No, not this time, but if you give me a heart attack next time, you’ll have to escort me to the hospital or the funeral home. Oh, no, ma’am, I wouldn’t want that to happen. You have a nice evening ma’am. Thank-you, ma’am. Have a nice evening, ma’am. He walked back and just sat in his car for a few minutes. After I calmed down a little bit, I thought, Oh my GOD! He’s going to come back and arrest me for yelling at him! But, he didn’t. He drove around me and took off real fast!!!

Other then a front and rear window dash camera for vehicles,what type of camera is good to have for the car to record things, especially when you are dealing with cops? Perhaps a camera that is attachable to the car ceiling.

That is one of the reasons why it is so important to write "All Rights Retained" on your drivers license when you sign it. If your name is in all capitol letters on your drivers license, you must also write those same words. If they have you sign an electronic capture box that is then digitally arranged on to your physical license you can write it directly bellow your signature, just like it was a line that you are signing on.

This happened to me when I was driving through a bad neighborhood several years ago, they stopped me, told me it was because of the area I was in. I agreed to let them search, and they destroyed my truck, completely trashed it, and let me go because I obviously didn't have anything.

Thank you for the video. You've covered what to do after you refuse for the most part, but let us say they go ahead anyways and they find nothing. Do they just get away with that? Or are we supposed to follow through by filing against them for violating our right? I've always wondered that because I imagine that once they find nothing you are free to go and they leave, but hey! Why about my rights?! You just held me against my will for x hours, preventing me from getting to where I was going, made me late for work, etc., and just because you couldn't take no for an answer?

Here's a semi-related point to make. If you happen to be carrying a (what some people may think is) large amount of cash at the time you are stopped, and the officer asks you if you are carrying a large amount of cash, tell them no. The incidence of the police "legally" confiscating your cash/property because they believe it has a connection to illegal activity is disturbingly high. Even if you were just on your way to buy a car for cash, good luck getting your money back so there's another reason to refuse a search.

They can always say it but if you continue to deny everything and still refuse all searches, it will make it more difficult for them if they don't actually smell it. This happened to me when I got stopped at a seatbelt checkpoint. I got pulled out, screamed at, threatened, breathalized, and then they said they smelled pot and were calling the dogs. I told them I had no pot and I still don't consent to searches and asked for a suprivisor. I was on my way 5 minutes later with a seatbelt ticket

Good responce to "The Angus017" You're a smart person. definatly thumbs up.

That's a good point. Just a little clarification on wiretap laws, though. It is only illegal to secretly record private conversations. When police officers speak with the public in the course of their duties, those conversations are not private, so you can secretly record them without any worry. You have to consider any other conversations your recording device might pick up, though.

Also search incident to arrest warrant search and if yuh out get taken to jail they can search your car for "safe keeping" documentation as to what is in the car. Before its towed. If you are ever pulled over park in a parking lot. Not public street. Once you get out of the car lock it right away. If you go to jail. They wont tow it. Plus you locked it