Do I have to speak to the police when they want to question me about a crime that occurred in Riverside?

You do not have to answer any police officers questions about a possible crime or for any other reason. The only thing you must lawfully do is advise the police officer of your true name and provide them with identification upon request. Other than that you can tell the police officer you do not wish to answer any questions. You have the right to confer with a Riverside criminal defense attorney before you decide to speak to the police about anything. It is almost ALWAYS a very BAD DECISION to speak to law enforcement. In most cases anything you say to the police can be used against you. Many times law enforcement will prepare a police report that is not accurate as to what you told them.

Always remember to be polite when advising any police officer that you do not wish to answer their questions. It is against the law for a police officer to arrest you just because you will not talk to him. This is the law whether you are the suspect in a murder case or merely a possible witness to a traffic accident. In every case you do not have a legal responsibility to answer police officers questions other than to provide them the information mentioned above.

We often advise our clients the best advice when confronted by a member of law enforcement is to tell them your name if asked, show them your identification if asked and then tell them you do not wish to speak to them and then follow this clear advise. SHUT UP. SHUT UP. SHUT UP.