How about saying nothing at all, which is always allowedby Tansin A. Darcos (TDARCOS) 03/16/2013, 1:34am PDT
You are under no obligation to tell the police anything at any time. In many cases - probably almost all - you're far better off keeping your mouth shut.
Like, you get pulled over when you're driving 50 on a local street. You know you were speeding, and the cop asks you if you know why (s)he stopped you. You stupidly guess that you were speeding. He asks you how fast you were going, and you admit to 45. He asks you if you know what the speed limit is, and you admit you know it's 40. You've just given enough information to prove the offense; you just admitted you broke the law. He doesn't have to testify to anything except what you said, and that alone is enough to convict.
On the other hand, if when asked why the police officer pulled you over, it's much safer if you just say "no" or "I don't know why, officer," or the response from the Geico commercial, "Uh, because I'm a pig driving a convertible?" Any reasonable response that doesn't give any information that can prove the offense. Or shake your head no. Or remain silent. You never have to answer any questions. In fact, one of the best responses to any question the officer asks is, "Are you detaining me officer, or am I free to go now?"
It doesn't matter what reason the police are asking you anything. The police are not your friends, your confessor or on your side, no matter what they say. They are there to collect evidence and help convict people. If they're there to catch someone who ripped you off, giving them a description of the perpetrator or anything you know about him or her including which way they went or where they might be going or are at is a good idea. Telling them what they stole was your collection of heroin, cocaine and speedballs plus drug paraphernalia, however, is not.
Anyone who says that if you're innocent you have nothing to hide is trying to shove creamy bullshit down your throat. As I say many times, the correct answer to "If you are innocent you have nothing to hide," is "Tell that to Richard Jewell." (or now, "Tell that to the late Richard Jewell.") That poor bastard did nothing wrong, in fact, he was just doing his job, and went through hell for it.
Or as an associate of mine once said, when he was questioned by either detectives or FBI about something, "I have nothing to say, if you want to question me, feel free to have me subpoenaed before a grand jury." This also prevents them raising a charge of obstruction because you haven't said you won't answer questions, you simply refuse to do so except in the appropriate venue, as is your right. (And then if you actually do end up in front of one, you can always invoke the 5th Amendment (unless given immunity) or the equivalent provision under your state's constitution - every state has a state right against self-incrimination in its constitution - and in some cases the state right has been determined to provide broader protection than that granted by the 5th Amendment.)
Educated citizens who know their rights and do not waive them are much better citizens and also tend to restrain police misconduct; in short, the cops are less likely to fuck with you when they know you know what they can and can't do. Doesn't guarantee they won't, but it will make them less likely.
There's a video on YouTube - here's a 10 minute excerpt. you can see the whole 90 min. video by searching "flex your rights" - that shows exactly how answering questions and not standing up for your rights can end up making things worse. Nobody is innocent, chances are you've probably committed today at least 4 or 5 acts that are crimes either at the state or federal level. I think the average is that 95% of the public has committed at least one crime which was punishable as a felony at the time it was committed. Given that, there's usually no good coming from telling the police things and potentially lots of bad:
