Intermountain Legal is back with another week of our Criminal Defense Attorney Tip of the Week! This ongoing series is all about learning the best ways to deal with law enforcement that will not only protect you from further legal repercussions, but can even help you and your criminal defense attorney in court. As we continue the series, we hope to help educate people on the legal system, perceptions, and what that means when it gets brought to court. Without further ado, here is the Intermountain Legal Criminal Defense Attorney Tip of the Week:

What NOT to do:

When being pulled over or apprehended by an officer, do not fake a seizure, claim that you have a contagious rash, or pretend that whatever substances they find are just your herbal flu medication or a prescription from your doctor for a unique health problem. Feigning illness or injury can come back to haunt you, if it even works at all. Remember, officers deal with this kind of behavior on a daily basis. They have seen and heard wild excuses, and they often see right through it. Lies can hurt your case, so choose honesty and cooperation instead.

What TO do:

If the police come to your door and ask to come in, politely decline and ask if you are in any sort of danger. They may make the argument that they can simply obtain a warrant and come back to search the premises, and you can simply decline again and suggest that you all speak with one another outside on the porch. Police officers who enter your home may find things that can implicate you in crimes you are completely unaware of, so it’s better to speak calmly with them outside to find out the nature of their visit and contact your criminal defense attorney right away just to make sure that you are protected and well-versed in your rights if they come back around again.

At Intermountain Legal, we hope to help our clients and anyone who finds themselves in a compromising situation to know how to handle dealing with law enforcement. To learn more, check out our other tips and tricks in our blog posts! 

If you or anyone you know is in need of a criminal defense attorney in Utah, be sure to contact the Intermountain Legal team for a consultation where we can take your case or offer you advice from a professional, legal standpoint.