All guides
Know-your-rights guides
Every guide is written to be calm, accurate, and non-partisan — general legal information, never legal advice, with a reminder that rights vary by state and situation.
Traffic Stops
What Are Your Rights During a Traffic Stop?
License, registration, questions, and what you can decline.
QuestioningDo You Have to Answer Police Questions?
What you must say, and what you can keep to yourself.
RecordingIs It Legal to Record the Police in Public?
Your general right to film, and where the lines are.
SearchesCar & Home Searches: What Police Can and Can't Do
Consent, warrants, and how to decline a search calmly.
ArrestYour Rights If You're Arrested: What Happens Next
Booking, arraignment, bail, and your right to counsel.
DetentionThe Difference Between Being Detained and Arrested
Why the distinction matters and how to ask, calmly.
After an EncounterWhat to Do If You Believe Your Rights Were Violated
Documentation, complaint paths, and when to call an attorney.