Lawyer gives WSA tips for dealing with the police

(Alex Youkanna / Western Herald) Attorney Jeff Dufon stops by WSA’s Wednesday meeting in the Bernhard Center to give them advice on how students should act when being pulled over by the police.

By Nate Coe
Western Herald

Legal council for all students is closer than they might think.  It’s here on WMU’s campus. Attorney Jeff Dufon was on hand at the weekly Western Student Association meeting to offer his advice and his services.
He talked in detail about what college kids should do when officers of the law approach them. His lesson focused on what students should be aware of during traffic stop.

“What I see is that most kids don’t know what to do,” Dufon said.  “What I’m really trying to say is you have rights and you need to assert those rights.”
His first point was that drivers shouldn’t set themselves up to get pulled over and to take every precaution possible.

“Don’t give them any reason to stop you,” he said. “I doubt that many of you are driving brand new cars so make sure your car is up to standard.”

No broken tail lights, no broken license plate light, nothing hanging from your rearview mirror.
Dufon said there is a new case out there that prohibits officers from pulling over vehicles with anything suspended from the rearview mirror. Although, he said officers are still pulling people over for it.
When being pulled over, pull over somewhere safe, stay still and keep your hands visible so the officer doesn’t have any reason to suspect anything.

When the officer asks what you did wrong, don’t offer a guilty confession right away. Ask the officer why they chose to pull you over.

“Cooperate with the officer and be polite, just don’t give them any reason to want to search your vehicle or suspect anything,” he said.

If a police officer asks to search your vehicle, Dufon said to never give consent. It can open up the floodgates.

“You don’t know what’s in your car. You have other people in your car and stuff gets dropped all the time. You do not want to be responsible,” Dufon said.

If an officer does find something illegal after a search, don’t answer any questions. Dufon explained that the information can and most likely will be used against you.

“You have to be careful about what you say and you have the right to remain silent always,” Dufon said. “I can tell you right now, every police officer or judge is telling their kids the same thing.”

When dealing with Preliminary Breathalyzer Tests (PBTs), drivers must cooperate and step out of the vehicle if an officer has reason to believe you have been drinking. In Michigan there is implied consent, where in order to drive you consent to investigations, such as dexterities and PBTs.

If you choose to refuse a PBT while outside of you vehicle, it’s a civil infraction and points on your license. If you are arrested and taken to a police station, and you still refuse to take a PBT, your license will be suspended for 12 months.

“While I’m not your attorney, I would certainly tell my kids to take it because it’s not going to matter,” Dufon said.

Dufon offers his advice to Western Michigan University students free of charge every Wednesday, 4 to 6 p.m. in Room 1113 Faunce Student Services Building.

“Kids need help, they can’t afford an attorney and most of the time they don’t need one, they just need direction and information,” Dufon said.

For more information on Dufon, you can visit his Web site, dufonlaw.com, which offers a lot of information and help. The Web site even has a feature which can help students determine their alcohol level.

The next WSA meeting will be Feb. 4 at 4:15 p.m. in room 157 of the Bernhard Center. All students are invited.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=3541

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Jan 29 2009. Filed under Campus, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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