If You Don't Know Your Rights....You Have None!

     That's a line written in a handy little book called You and the Police by Boston T. Party.  My husband ran across this slim little paperback, after reading another of his titles, Molon Labe.  And it has had a profound affect on the way we perceive the world around us.
     By the author's own admission, You and the Police is not an exhaustive legal handbook.  Rather, it is important case law that has been condensed and neatly packaged so you can understand your constitutional rights and the power of the police.

     I would venture to guess that if you read this little book, you would know as much as the average beat cop.  That is not an insult!  And let me make it real clear --- I am pro-Police!  We are fortunate in our state to have friendly, professional and principled law enforcement officers.  But during a trip through Arizona a couple of years ago, my husband, Peace-Loving Warrior, had quite a run-in with a borderline "Rogue Cop" (a term Boston uses) over a weight issue with our single-axle 6 x 8 Wells Cargo trailer.
     It seems that in Arizona a 3/4-ton Dodge truck, pulling a measly little 6 x 8 trailer, qualifies as a commercial rig---which requires a log book, medical clearance, a fire extinguisher, and orange reflective safety triangles, among other compulsory items.
     PLW put on an admirable display of walking the fine line between cooperation and maintaining our legal rights; and all because he knew the law.  We were eventually cut loose with 6 warning tickets.  Go figure.  Guess he saw the out-of-state license plate and thought he could throw his weight around that day.
     Before reading this book, we were like most Americans, sadly deficient in knowing our rights and how to assert them.  The reason I like this book so much is that Boston explains the game in an easy-to-understand format that can be instrumental in keeping you out of jail.  Here is a short list of some of Boston's key topics:
1.   Know the three kinds of cops:  The Good Cop; The Rogue Cop; The Intimidating Cop.
2.   Understand a Cop's Fears
3.    Prepare Your Person
4.   Car Preparations To Make In Advance
5.   Never Consent!
6.   Contact, Detention, Search and Seizure; the Terry Frisk
7.   Arrest
8.   At the Airport
9.   Checkpoints
10. You and Your Guns
     These are just the high points.  The main objective of the book is to teach you to deal with the police on an equal level of civility.  But you need to know how to play the game.  And I think this book is especially important for women.  Typically, we are easy targets for those less-than-ethical members of law enforcement.  So if you want to gain more practical knowledge than most police officers or attorneys, then get this book.  If you want to carry concealed in the car, get this book.  If you don't know what a Terry Frisk is, get this book.  If you don't know what "Articulable Reasonable Suspicion" or "Probable Cause" are, get this book.  If you don't want to waive your rights, either intentionally or accidentally.... then please, please get this book!   


Proverbs 17:27    "The one who has knowledge, uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered."