Posted by uLiveAndYouBurn Hide your tripod ~//~ I've never seen an admission of guilt for trespassing work out in anyone's favor.
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More than one way to skin the cat... don't act like a dud if you got the wherewithal to do more.
I've had several runs ins with cops and once the FBI.
Being silent never helped me with any of those.
In the notorious high powered tripod incident I eventually got a sit down visit with the Chief of police. He talked with the prosecutor and let me plead no contest to municipal misdemeanors rather than lawyer up to state felony charges. Net result is I saved at least $600 maybe a lot more.
Plus an invite back to the Nike site where I got busted, the Chief had literally had the keys to the gate. It fascinated him as well.
In the case of the FBI they give you one chance to come clean. They have the resources to bust your balls wide open if they want.
I knew I hadn't done anything illegal the days in question so I let them see the pics and interview me.
I learned more from them than they did me.
It was a polite and enlighting encounter.
The FBI does make unannounced house calls...
You need wherewithal and to keep your head together when dealing with LEOs.
Know if you crossed the line and how far; limit that exposure before you cross a line you can't afford.
Wait for them to ask the Qs, follow the WYSIWYG strategy.
Remain calm, keep your hands in plain sight, promptly obey all commands; nervous/pissed off cops are no fun.
Avoid lying to them; if you must lie do so by omission only.
Cops hate busting a nice guy. Being straight up with LEOs has always served me well.
Any time one said they help me out... they did.
Remember if it's serious offense a senior ranking lieutenant or higher will be involved; building/maintaining a good rapport and being honest with them makes it far more likely they will help you even if things initially started off badly.
They observe your behavior and responses closely; stay calm, quiet, don't squirm around, ask dumb Qs and wait for them to do their thing.
Carefully gauge their mindset; bare that in if you do ask them any Qs
Cops look for compliance.Using this strategy has gotten me unrestricted shoots where they initially were trying to arrest me.
This is part of my ad hoc legal training, as well as most the traffic tickets I took to court. Each of those times I got what I wanted sometimes much more.
Mix it up if think you can and learn.
I encourage you to talk with LEOs on a casual basis when you can.
Most cops are people persons. Learn their mindset, walk in their shoes.
It helps when you find yourself on the wrong side of that line.