How to Flex Your Rights During Police Encounters

Here is a must-see video series describing the ongoing marijuana arrest crusade in the purportedly most liberal city in the US. The series features Friend of Flex Prof. Harry Levine and explains why so many marijuana arrests occur in a city where marijuana possession is technically decriminalized.

Each frisk is an ordinary injustice. One million frisks is a national tragedy disgrace.

If police detain and frisk you, you have the right to clearly state your refusal to consent to the search. For example, you may say "Officer, I'm not resisting. I do not consent to this search."

But you should only verbally refuse. Never physically resist. Just touching an officer could get you tasered or beaten. You could also get a felony charge for assaulting a police officer.

If you believe you were wrongly frisked, consider filing a police misconduct report.

(See also "When are police allowed to frisk me?" and "How to Deal with Police on the Street")

Clip from the DVD, BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters

If they have reasonable suspicion to detain you, police may conduct a pat down (frisk) of the outside of your clothing to check for weapons, but only if they have a basis for suspecting you're armed.

If they feel a hard item that might be a weapon, police may reach into your pockets. Sometimes officers reach into suspects' pockets looking for drugs even if they don't feel a weapon. This is common, but it's illegal.

Police may ask you to reveal the contents of your pockets. Just like other search requests, you have the right to refuse.

(See also "How to Deal with Police on the Street")

Clip from the DVD, BUSTED: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters