You & the Police!

This book helped me understand a very complex law system in simple terms. Helped me know what to do when I knew my rights were being violated by a police officer. Blessed.

This NEW AND UPDATED IN 2005 book is a MUST READ resource for every citizen of the USA. tells in detail how and when to deal with the police, how to avoid common pitfalls and what your rights are concerning traffic stops and other police encounters (never a pleasant experience). You may be one of the fortunate few who live in an area where the cops actually respect your rights and "protect and serve", but most likely the police in your area are only revenue collectors for the state or city and "harass and annoy" the public. In either case this book should be in your library and READ at least once!! Heck for this price what have you got to lose. I learned more in a couple of hours than i did in my high school civics class!!

40 years of "Officer Friendly" propaganda have left most Americans unsure, at best, of how to conduct themselves in a police-citizen encounter. Were we still living in a limited-government-power world, that might be OK. But that world is gone, at least for now, and the police now hold most of the cards. The 2005 version of Boston's book helps to correct that imbalance. Clearly written, it takes readers through the "why" and "how" of police encounters, with a relentless focus on the essential point -- the police in such a situation are NOT your friend, and will use ANYTHING that you do or say to effect an arrest. As a former NYC narcotics prosecutor with more than 500 police stops and arrests under my belt, I'd recommend this book to anyone who believes that an informed citizen is Liberty's best friend. You NEED this book -- especially if you don't think that you do.

This book isn't complete in its study of law because it is subject to constant revision. Yet I can't think of an easier book to study concerning your rights when around the police. Usually there isn't a better way to find out about the 'meat' of a book without going through the Table of Contents. I'll do this to give the rest of ya'll a precise look at it with a few of my own comments in parentheses. Preface: 1. You & The Law mala in se crimes vs mala prohibita "crimes" (Mala in se crimes are evil in themselves like murder, rape, theft while mala prohibitum are laws that restrict our freedoms [ex. you can't whistle on a sidewalk in Virgina on Tuesdays or have a kind of gun with too short a barrel] or make some actions mandatory with punitive results if not followed [ex. failure to get a permit for whatever the state says to]) THE GOAL OF POLITICAL LAW THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK WHAT MAKES ME AN "EXPERT?" 2. The Cop THE THREE KINDS OF COPS (Peace Officer--great men and women, Intimidating Cop--can be common, Rogue Cop--generally, only the courtroom can help you here) WINNING AGAINST AN INTIMIDATING COP The Intimidating Cop's weaknesses The Intimidating Cop's fears 3. Preparing Your Person 4. Before Getting In Your Car Car preparations to make in advance (separate key for trunk to avoid a search without probable cause, keeping car clean and uncluttered, have a digital voice recorder) Some final thoughts on preparation 5. NEVER Consent! 6. The Contact THE CONTACT/ENCOUNTER Legal basis for the contact/encounter Your rights during a contact The cop's powers during a contact The realities during a contact Practical tips during a contact 7. The Detention Legal basis for detentions The cop's power during.. Your rights during.. The roadblock detention Practical tips 8. Search & Seizure SEARCHES WHICH AREN'T REALLY SEARCHES Abandoned Property (garbage, junker car) Open Fields "Plain View" Aerial Surveillance (flyover of personal property, fully legal) "sense-enhancing technology" (infra-red devices, etc.) Controlled Deliveries Private Searches (know the people you let near your stuff) Impound and Post-Arrest Inventories SEARCHES WITHOUT A WARRANT Emergencies Hot Pursuit Search Incident to Lawful Arrest Automobile Searches Consent Administrative Searches Probation and Parole Searches SEARCHES NEEDING A WARRANT Probable Cause Constitutional Requirements Oral Application for Search Warrants USA P.A.T.R.I.O.T. ACT "sneak and peek" 9. The Arrest Legal basis for arrest/custody The cop's powers during arrest Your rights during arrest PRACTICAL TIPS DURING ARREST The "search incident to lawful arrest" The "inventory search" SEARCH OF CAR (Matix Guide) SIEZURE OF OCCUPANTS (Matrix Guide) 10. After the Arrest: Interrogation, etc. After the arrest, while being held THE INTERROGATION Miranda a weak friend, getting

As a peace officer I found "You & The Police!" reallyfun to read. Not only was it informative but Bostonalso writes in a humorous style that makes amusing theusually dry subject of constitutional laws regardingpolice behavior! Citizens should read this book to understand fullywhat their rights are and how police think. From anofficer's perspective a citizen having this knowledgeis not a bad thing. It just requires us to do our jobcorrectly. Peace officers should read the book to understand howa number of citizens like the author (and myself)think. Most citizens are not carrying drugs orweapons in order to commit crimes. But they don'twant to be insulted by having themselves, their homes,or their cars searched in order to prove this to thegovernment. Refusing to allow a search is not anindication of guilt. Officers need to placethemselves, as Boston points out, in the situationwhere a group of citizens arrive at his door stepdemanding to search his home for drugs and illegalweapons in order to guarantee that the officer is notsome corrupt cop--all, of course, in the name ofpublic safety! The main theme of the book is to learn how to dealwith the police on an equal level of civility, notsubservience. This is the American way. "Bulletproof Privacy" is another interesting book bythe same author. In the book I found out some tricksthat a real criminal I am looking for is using to tryand hide his new address. Thanks Boston! By Sheriff Bill MastersSan Miguel County (Telluride), Colorado

Until I'd read You & The Police!, I had no idea how little I knew about my rights. Have already used this book's info during a traffic stop with a snoopy police officer who (without any reason) wanted to search my trunk. I asked what he was searching for, and he got all flustered without answering. (You should have seen his face!) He then said in a stern voice, "So, you're refusing consent of a search?" and I replied, "That's right, I am. There's nothing in my car to interest the police. Can I go now?" He stomped off to his unit, muttering for me to keep my speed down, and drove off! He didn't even ticket me! I'd say this book has already paid for itself. Don't leave home without it!