What you say can be used against you if you are charged with a criminal offense. If you’ve been pulled over by police, and are under investigation, for example, for a traffic violation, comply with police requests politely for license and insurance card, etc. However remember this: What you think is funny when it is said on the street in front of your friends, is often not considered funny by the police, the prosecutor or the Judge. No donut jokes, for example. No jokes. Period! Your acceptance of responsibility for your actions is something I can, as a New Jersey criminal defense lawyer, argue as a mitigating factor when negotiating a lesser disposition to what you are charged with, and at sentencing before the Judge. Curse words directed at the police, arrogant actions, and flippant responses during the police investigation will be argued as an aggravating factor by the prosecutor. Before you say them, consider how your words (or gestures) will be perceived by the Judge who will decide your case and then if you are found guilty, how he or she may sentence you. If a motor vehicle stop escalates into something else and you are placed under arrest, do no talk at all. Period, except to ask for a lawyer…politely. If a made a bad situation has become worse, and you need the advice of a powerful criminal defense lawyer willing to chat by phone for a few minutes no charge, call my office today.
SPECIALIZING IN CRIMINAL DEFENSE THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY
Howard W. Bailey, Esq.
24 Commerce Street, Suite 1000
Newark, NJ 07102
973-982-1200