Stay Aware of Your Rights: What to Do if You’re Stopped by Philly Cops
People residing in Philadelphia are currently facing growing concerns of crime and police stops. As stated in a 2025 Pew Poll, about 70% of the residents list crime as their topmost concern over anything else!
In fact, neighborhoods like Allegheny West, Nicetown-Tioga, etc., are officially labelled as ‘high-crime zones.’ So, even if you were passing by these areas, you might face aggressive stops and searches by the cops.
However, living or passing by these areas doesn’t mean you don’t have constitutional rights to protect yourself. So, if you are stopped illegally by a cop, make sure to keep in mind the following best practices, and hire a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer right away.
‘High Crime Area’ and Your Constitutional Rights
You might see that the cops often justify their illegal stops and searches by saying that it was a ‘high-crime area.’ However, what you must know is that your presence in such an area doesn’t qualify as a reason enough to justify a stop and search by the cops.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court states that living, passing, or being in a high-crime zone, and even speaking with a known drug user, is not reasonable enough for a suspicion.
However, the U.S Supreme Court states that if you start fleeing after seeing cops in a high-crime zone, that might be a reason for a lawful stop.
In simple words, the cops need more than something other than your location. They need a reason that they can tie to your behavior to legally ask you to stop your vehicle.
Your Rights During a Stop and Search Situation
You must know that the Constitution guarantees a set of rights to you, which includes Miranda rights, too! And if you are aware of these rights, it can prevent you from getting into situations like unlawful arrests or illegal searches, even if you are passing by a high-crime zone.
The right to remain silent
The Fifth Amendment states that you are not liable to answer questions asked by the cops. All you can provide them is information about your basic ID, like name, address, and date of birth. You don’t need to explain anything else. So, if the cops try to force, just say “I exercise my right to remain silent.’
The right to refuse a search
The Fourth Amendment offers protection against unreasonable stops, searches, and seizures. Which means the cops can’t search you, or your vehicle, or your belongings if they don’t have a valid search warrant, probable cause for a crime, or your consent.
The right to hire an attorney
If you happen to get detained or arrested by the cops, you have the right to seek counsel from a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer. No matter how the cops try to trigger you, just calmly say ‘I want my lawyer.’ However, remember not to reply to any provocative statements, as anything you say after you’ve asked for a lawyer might be used against you.
Added to this, what you should do is stay polite, keep your hands visible, and ask ‘Am I free to leave’ to the cops. If they allow, walk away calmly. If they don’t, wait for your lawyer.
What to Do if You See Your Rights Getting Violated?
If you see or think that the cops violated your rights, make sure to do these things to ensure a good defense for your case-
- Document every little detail: Write down, or video record, the concerned officer’s name, badge numbers, and the time and location of the stop. Also, note down what the officer said, and did, and what the circumstances were.
- Try gathering information from witnesses: If there were others present during the incident, try asking their names and contact information. Their statements become very important in the case of an investigation or a trial.
- Safely preserve evidence: If you have recordings of the incident, lie videos, or photos, keep them safe. Do not try to post them online without consulting with a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer.
- Lodge a complaint: Every law enforcement agency has an Internal Affairs division. Lodging a complaint can lead to an investigation and create a misconduct record, which can support your defense strategy.
- Contact your lawyer: The best and one of the wisest decisions is to hire a Pittsburgh criminal lawyer. They can correctly assess your situation and make sure that your rights remain protected.
At the Logue Law Group, we understand how it feels when your rights are violated or ignored. So, if you ever are illegally stopped by the cops in or around the Philly area, don’t hesitate to call us at 844.PITT.DUI and seek our help!