1. Remain calm in order that you can remember the details of the stop as vividly as possible.  Do not run or walk away immediately.

2. Be polite and respectful

3. Keep your hands out of your pockets at all times. A suspect in custody who places their hands in their pockets may cause the officer to fear that you are reaching for a weapon. This may result in unfortunate misunderstandings or create a reasonable suspicion that will give the officer cause to search your pockets and person.

4. Give your name and address only if you're asked to, but remember you don't need to say anything more. (The caveat is that if the police are annoyed by your refusal to say more, they may take you to the station out of spite.) Remember, anything you say or do can be used against you later.

5. Ask if you are being detained.  If you are being detained, you are not free to go but it does not necessarily mean you are under arrest.  If you are not being detained you are free to leave and doing so may be advisable.

6. Do not give police consent to search you.  They may search you anyways but giving consent to the search bars you from raising most defenses.

7. If your rights are being violated this is not the time to attempt to vindicate them.  Remain calm and do not resist.

8. If you are arrested, exercise your right to remain silent and tell the police that you require and attorney.

1. Do not resist arrest.  Even if the underlying arrest is illegal you may still be charged with resisting arrest.

2. Give only the name, address and telephone number of yourself, your immediate family and your employer.  This information will be needed in setting bail.

3. Exercise your right to remain silent and request an attorney.  Do not give any explanation or excuse for the underlying charges or for your request for an attorney.  Do not say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without talking to a lawyer.

4. Booking is often a more relaxed stage of your arrest and you may be tempted to give more information than needed at this point.  Remember, only give biographical information and the information that is needed to set bail.  Suppressing statements made during booking is extremely difficult.

5. You have the right to make one phone call.  The government will likely be listening to this phone call.  However they are not allowed to listen to the call if you are speaking with an attorney.  It is advisable that your attorney is your first phone call and from there he can notify your family and any other persons who may be able to help.

6. You may be offered a lie detector test or other options of “clearing yourself”.  My general advice is not to accept these offers without talking to an attorney first.  The people administering these tests are employed by the government and often the most skilled interrogators they possess.  You may be subject to interrogation without even knowing it.

7. REMEMBER:  Most unwinnable cases become that way because of statements made after arrest.