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Police & Law Enforcement
The Constitution protects your dignity and personal liberty during any encounter. Understand what you can ask, what you should carry, and how to keep an ordinary stop from escalating.
Situation: You are stopped on the road or in a public place
Stated generally. The exact position always depends on the facts.
What you should do
What you should not do
“Refusing to answer questions is automatically an offence.”
The position depends on what is being asked and on what power is being exercised. A calm question about the basis of the stop is not obstruction.
“Recording an encounter is illegal.”
There is no blanket prohibition, though location and circumstances matter. Being open about recording lowers the temperature.
When to speak to a lawyer