The How and Why of Not Talking to the Police

Article (former cop, now criminal Texas attorney)

A better way to handle a car stop is to remain calm, and politely decline to answer any questions the officer asks of you. You do not have to explain why you do not wish to answer his questions. You can simply say, “I do not wish to engage in a conversation with you.” Typically, the police will say something like, “Why don’t you want to talk to me? Are you hiding something?” or “Only guilty people will not talk to the police.” Do not fall for these tricks. Officers are trained to put you on the defensive, and if you begin responding to these conversation tools the police will be able to illicit a lot of information from you that you are not even aware they are gathering. Things such as,

Whether your speech is slurred, mumbled, or otherwise incoherent;
Whether you can keep and convey a clear train of thought;
Whether you are talking rapidly, or abnormally slow;
Whether your responses are direct responses to the questions the officer asks you;
Whether you are overly talkative and trying to over-explain or justify yourself;
Whether you admit to the reason the officer stopped you in the first place;
Whether you admit to coming from an area known for criminal activity;
Whether you admit to coming from an area known for bars – such as 6th Street in Austin.