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http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/5-reasons-you-should-never-agree-police-search-even-if-you-have-nothing-hide
2. Refusing a search protects you if you end up in court.
It's always possible that police might search you anyway when you
refuse to give consent, but that's no reason to say "yes" to the search.
Basically, if there's any chance of evidence being found, agreeing to a
search is like committing legal suicide, because it kills your case
before you even get to court.
If you refuse a search, however, the officer will have to prove in
court that there was probable cause to do a warrantless search. This
will give your lawyer a good chance to win your case, but this only
works if you said "no" to the search.
5. You never know what they'll find.
Are you 100 percent certain there's nothing illegal in your home or
vehicle? You can never be too sure. A joint roach could stick to your
shoe on the street and wind up on the floorboard. A careless
acquaintance could have dropped a baggie behind the seat. Try telling a
cop it isn't yours, and they'll just laugh and tell you to put your
hands behind your back. If you agreed to the search, you can't challenge
the evidence. But if you're innocent and you refused the search, your
lawyer has a winnable case.
Remember that knowing your rights will help you protect yourself, but
no amount of preparation can guarantee a good outcome in a bad
situation. Your attitude and your choices before, during, and after the
encounter will usually matter more than your knowledge of the law. Stay
calm no matter what happens, and remember that you can always report misconduct after things settle down.
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