“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”

If you’ve seen any TV show or movie you’ve heard the Miranda rights read countless times. You’ve probably seen a TV suspect go free because some rookie cop forgot to read the perp his rights, only to have them get out of jail scott-free and kill again. Hey! You didn’t have your miranda rights read, maybe you can get out of this whole thing?

Wrong.

I didn’t have my rights read to me when they put me in the back of the cruiser. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but when talking to my lawyer about the case, I remember it, hoping that it would make everything go away. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter in this case.

The Miranda rights are to protect you while you’re in police custody and being interrogated. Doesn’t happen much in DUI cases. You willingly gave them most of the evidence against you at your traffic stop - before you were in custody. No Miranda rights needed there.

The only way it could serve you is if they did take you into a room and interrogate you. I’m stretching to imagine a scenario where that would be relevant. It’s not important where the vodka tonic came from, just that it was in your blood when you were driving.

So, yeah. Don’t worry about it.

I don’t know if getting read them would’ve been cool, or just made me feel worse, like I was a real criminal. Probably the latter.

Tags: Miranda Rights