Know Your Rights: Police Encounter Quick Reference

Traffic stop

Pull over somewhere safe, turn off the engine, and at night turn on the interior light.
Keep your hands where the officer can see them, ideally on the wheel.
Have your license, registration and proof of insurance ready. States generally require drivers to produce a license when an officer lawfully asks.
Officers may order a driver out of the car during a lawful stop (Pennsylvania v. Mimms).
You can generally decline consent to a search. Say it calmly, but don't physically resist. Police may still search if they have another legal basis.
When it seems finished, ask: "Am I free to go?"

In the footage: Peoria traffic stop shows an argument over showing vs. handing over a license.

Ask clearly: "Am I being detained, or am I free to go?"
A detention is a brief stop based on reasonable suspicion (Terry v. Ohio). It is not the same as an arrest.
Some states require you to give your name during a lawful stop (Hiibel). Others don't. Stating your name is not always the same as showing an ID card.
Beyond what your state requires, you can generally say you wish to remain silent.
Don't run, pull away or physically resist, even if you think the stop is unlawful. That can lead to separate charges.
Remember badge numbers and details, and challenge the stop later.

In the footage: Buffalo Grove parking lot is built around "Am I being detained?"

The person who controls a property, like an owner, manager or authorized staff, can generally tell you to leave.
Police often deliver a trespass warning for the property owner. After that, staying or returning can lead to a criminal trespass charge, depending on state law.
Leaving and disputing it later is almost always the safer move.
Ask how long the warning lasts and who issued it. Ask for it in writing if possible.
Public property is more complicated. Governments can restrict access in some situations, but within constitutional limits.

Many U.S. courts have recognized a right to record police doing their jobs in public.
Keep a reasonable distance and don't interfere with what officers are doing.
Follow lawful orders, like an order to step back, and keep recording if you can.
Rules on recording audio and on how close you can be vary by state and city.
Officers generally aren't allowed to delete your footage. If your phone is taken, note who took it and when.

Bodycam footage itself is often obtainable later through public-records requests.

Don't resist, even if you believe the arrest is wrong.
Say clearly that you want to remain silent and that you want a lawyer. Then stop talking about the incident.
Don't consent to searches. Don't argue the case at the scene.
If handcuffs are too tight or you're hurt, say so calmly. In our Buffalo Grove footage, an officer agrees to adjust the cuffs once the man settles down.
Charges are not convictions. Guilt is decided in court.

In the footage: the end of the Buffalo Grove video shows a handcuff adjustment request.

You generally don't have to open the door unless officers have a warrant or there's an emergency.
You can talk through the closed door and ask whether they have a warrant.
If they say they do, you can ask them to show it through a window or slide it under the door.
Opening the door and stepping outside can change the situation. Saying "I don't consent to a search" matters.
If officers come in anyway, don't physically resist. Challenge it later.

In the footage: one of our case files from Crystal Lake, IL (File 024) involves officers serving a search warrant.