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Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights

If ICE Pulls You Over

Stay calm, know your rights, and protect yourself during a traffic stop.

  1. Always pull over

    Pull over when any law enforcement signals you to stop, even if you do not think you did anything wrong.

  2. Identify the officers

    Questions to Ask

    • Are you police?
    • Are you highway patrol?
    • Are you immigration?
    • Why did you stop me?

  3. During the stop

    Your window

    Roll down your window slightly when asked.

    Before anything else, ask:

    • Am I free to go?
    • Who are you?
    • Why did you stop me?
    • Do you have a warrant?

    Providing information

    Drivers must provide:

    • Driver’s license.
    • Registration and proof of insurance.

    Passengers

    • Passengers can usually decline requests for their name or ID.
    • In some situations, an officer can require identification.
    • Passengers may refuse to answer questions about their address, immigration status, or place of birth.
    • Request officer identification before presenting any documents.
    • Do not lie or give false documents.

  4. Physical compliance and searches

    Exiting the vehicle

    Officer may order you to get out for “officer safety.” This order often precedes arrest.

    Before moving, ask:

    • Am I free to go?
    • Who are you?
    • Why did you stop me?

    Do not consent to a search

    You can refuse consent to a search of:

    • Your body (beyond a pat-down).
    • The inside of your vehicle.
    • Glove compartment or trunk.

    Say This

    I do not consent to any searches.

    Say this even if officers search anyway. Do not physically resist.

    If ICE asks for fingerprints

    If ICE asks:

    • Ask: “Why am I being fingerprinted?”
    • Say: “I do not consent to fingerprinting.”