Being Pulled Over After an Anonymous Call
There are times when anonymous calls are made to report suspicious behavior. If you were pulled over by law enforcement and detained, it has to be because of reasonable suspicion of a crime. The reasonable suspicion is typically from the observation of a member of law enforcement.
If you were pulled over because of a 911 call and feel it was an illegal stop, talk to a Houston criminal lawyer. You cannot be stopped and detained without reasonable suspicion.
911 Calls and Other Civilian Tips
Of course, there are times when a civilian reports dangerous activities and has valid reasons for doing so, but the tip itself must be reliable in order for a person to be pulled over. Often, anonymous 911 calls and other tips are not reliable. When a person is not accountable for what they are saying, they may not speak truthfully. But if an officer takes a call into account and there is reasonable suspicion overall, pulling a person over may be the appropriate course of action.
When an individual is pulled over by law enforcement, it does not mean they are automatically guilty of a crime. You have rights.
- You have the right to remain silent. An officer may ask you a lot of questions, about where you are coming from or what you have been doing. You do not have to answer these questions if you are exercising your right to remain silent, but let them know, out loud, that you are exercising this right.
- You do not have to give consent to a search. It is important to note the difference between searching your belongings or patting you down for a weapon. If an officer suspects there is a weapon on an individual, they may pat them down. But, you can object to a search of your vehicle.
- You do not have to answer immigration questions. This means you do not have to answer questions about why you are in the country or where you were born. There are exceptions to this rule, particularly if you are at an International location, such as a border crossing or airport.
- You have a right to a lawyer. Should an arrest take place, you will have a lawyer appointed if you do not have access to one on your own.
The law is complex, if you were pulled over you need a lawyer on your side who can challenge why you were stopped or challenge using items found as a result of an illegal stop against your best interests.
Talk to an Attorney Today
Search and seizure cases can be incredibly intricate. Talk to a Houston criminal lawyer if you were pulled over and detained because of an anonymous 911 or citizen call. It is possible the stop was illegal.
Were you pulled over illegally? Our experienced legal team can defend you against criminal charges. We have the knowledge to protect you whether the alleged crime was minor or serious. Reach out to the legal team at Ayson Law Firm to understand your rights. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Houston criminal defense attorney today.