I would qualify this further to say that cops are motivated to make as many arrests and lay as many charges that have a potential to get a conviction as possible. They don’t really care if half or more of the charges get downgraded or tossed out, but they will charge a person with ABCDWXYZ during an arrest, because that looks good to them. If the DA only gets B and X to stick, that’s fine, they got their arrest. It’s the scattergun approach to charging people and arresting them.
There’s a fair chance that wherever you go, whatever you do, there is something about you, your conduct during questioning, or your property that a cop can cite, charge or arrest you for. This is by design. This an age-old tactic by dictatorships and impressive regimes that work in their favour. It’s illegal for you to be you, and you aren’t locked up only by the grace of the oppressor. The result they want is that you behave, comply, and be quiet, or they will find something about you to bust you for.
LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works 4 weeks ago
Assuming the cops are dumb (enough) is a really risky strategy. And even if you are lucky and they are, they might just end up making a lucky guess.
Plus, they’ve been through this game hundreds of times, while you most likely have quite limited experience with the system (hopefully). Never underestimate that.
mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
I am not saying to assume that they’re dumb. I’m saying to assume that they’re malicious
LH0ezVT@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
That is a much safer assumption. Assume they are both malicious and smart. If they aren’t, you haven’t lost anything (except for the very small chance to get away with something, but if you rely on the cops being benevolent and/or dumb, maybe overthink your whole plan).
mnemonicmonkeys@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
No. Assuming they’re smart isn’t necessary, nor is it realistic.
All you need to assume is that they’re malicious. They are rewarded for fucking people over. That’s all that matters
Now grow up and quit insisting on having the last word in the argument as if that makes you right