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Police - Be Safe

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1. How can you reduce the chance of being stopped by law enforcement officers?

• Obey traffic laws.
• Avoid equipment and registration violations on your vehicle. Have working lights, current tag and registration sticker, tires with adequate tread. (If you need financial help getting these items, call the WAMY Community Action office at 828-264-2421 or go to their office at 225 Birch Street, Suite 2, behind Boone Drug Deerfield to see if you qualify for a voucher).
• Never drink and drive
• Occasionally, police do conduct driver's license checkpoints. In these circumstances all drivers are legally required to provide their driver's license. You should not drive without a valid driver's license. However, if you do not have a valid driver's license and do get stopped by an officer, we would suggest that you cooperate by providing your personal information and any legal identification materials that you may have to prove who you are. The more the officer can be assured of your identity the less likely you will be to get physically arrested. If the officer cannot identify you, the officer has no other option but to arrest. Most often misdemeanors and traffic violations can be handled by citation without an arrest. The decision usually is within the officer's discretion.

2. How do you know if you’re being stopped by law enforcement? What are you supposed to do?

Police officers in North Carolina use blue lights. There are many types of police cars with many different looks and colors. If you see blue lights behind you, you are required to pull over to the right in a safe place for you and the officer out of traffic. If it is an unmarked police car it will still have blue lights. Most officers will be in police uniform with identification and police badge. If the officer is a plainclothes officer, you may ask to see their identification and badge. Sit and wait for the officer to request your valid driver’s license, insurance, and registration cards.

3. What does the officer do before getting out of the patrol car? What should you do?

Often the officer will do computer checks of the vehicle before approaching your vehicle. You should remain in your vehicle and not exit unless told to do so. It is a good practice for you to place your hands on the steering wheel or where your hands can be seen by the officer so the officer does not perceive you as a threat. Have your passengers do the same with their hands. You can turn on the interior light.

4. What will the officer ask you to do?

The officer will likely ask for your:

• Valid driver's license
• Vehicle registration
• Vehicle insurance card
• You are required to provide the information
• There may be times when the officer asks you to exit your car. You are required to comply.

5. What happens if you don’t have a valid driver’s license?

If you are driving without a driver's license you will either receive a citation (which means that you will be given a ticket with a date to appear in court). The other option that the officer has is to make an arrest. The decision is up to the officer's discretion. The more you can cooperate and be honest with the officer to provide identifying information the greater your chances are of receiving a citation and not getting arrested.

6. What do you do if you’re given a warning?

You are not required to do anything if you get a warning.

7. What do you do if you’re given a ticket?

• There will be instructions (in English) on the ticket.
• If the charge has a mandatory court appearance you must go to court. You can either plead guilty or innocent. If you plead innocent you will have a trial. You can consider hiring an attorney for yourself or asking the court to appoint an attorney for you. If you plead guilty, the judge will hand down the appropriate punishment for whatever offense was committed.
• If there is not a mandatory court appearance you can choose to go to court on the court date which is written on the citation OR just pay the fine. You can pay online or at the courthouse. You can still hire an attorney to help you through this process if you choose.
• We cannot recommend a specific attorney to you, but there are a number of defense attorneys in town that can assist you through the process if you choose to hire one or if the court appoints an attorney to represent you. These legal services are not associated with the Boone Police Department.

8. What can you do if you don’t understand the officer?

• If the officer does not speak Spanish, it is to your benefit to at least try to speak some English if you are able. We will have to work together to do the best we can to communicate and understand each other.
• As stated earlier, if the officer cannot properly determine who you are or understand you, their options may be limited. For example, a situation could result in an arrest when it may have only resulted in a citation.

9. Will the officer report you to ICE?

The Boone Police Department does not generally report arrests to ICE. It is rare that officers would even ask your legal status, as we do not have the authority to enforce immigration laws.

10. What should you do if you are in an automobile accident, no injury?

• Call the police (911).
• If possible you can remove your vehicle from the roadway for safety reasons.
• It is a criminal violation to leave the scene of a crash.

11. What should you do if you’re in an automobile accident, with injuries?

• Call the police (911).
• Make sure you tell the 911 operator about the injury(ies), so they know to send an ambulance/ medic unit, as well as police.
• If you need to get out of the roadway for safety reasons, move your vehicle to the side of the roadway and wait for help.
• It is a felony criminal violation to leave the scene of a crash with an injury.

12. What information are you required to give to the police, to the other driver?

• Valid driver's license
• Vehicle registration
• Vehicle insurance information

13. If you are hurt, will someone contact your family or friends? Will someone help you if you don’t understand?

Yes, of course. The Boone Police Department will its best to help anyone regardless of legal status or ability to speak English.

14. Why are there patrol cars parked in some neighborhoods?

We patrol all neighborhoods. Areas that have higher crime generally receive more patrol activity. We also respond to calls for service throughout the town of Boone and requests for extra patrols.

15. What branches of local law enforcement are involved in check points?

All local law enforcement agencies can, and generally do, conduct check points.

16. How can you be informed about police activity in your neighborhoods and not be afraid?

• You can simply ask. The main number to the police department for non-emergency questions is 828-268-6900.
• Even if you do not have legal status in this country, Boone Police Officers do not have the authority to deport you. In fact, we will be happy to help you.
• We participate in a variety of community outreach initiatives to provide information to the community, such as Leading for Equity and the NAACP. We routinely attend events when invited to give information to and to be a part of the community.

17. What can you do if you think that the officer did something wrong or inappropriate?

Police officers are public servants and guardians of the community. Police officers have the duty to uphold the law, but we want to do so in the most professional manner possible. While the vast majority of police officers are honorable and do the right thing if you feel like our officer did something wrong you may make a complaint. If you have a complaint about a Boone Police

Officer you can contact the Boone Police Department at 828-268-6900 and ask to speak with a supervisor. The supervisor will take your complaint and investigate the situation.

18. How can you get a legal, officially recognized ID card?

That is a great question, but unfortunately, it is not one we can help with if you are not here legally. This involves state law. Police only enforce the law we do not write the law.

19. What other forms of identification should you have?

Any documents that can help identify you are better than nothing if you cannot get an official State identification.

20. Where can your community groups meet that you feel safe? We have been told that some of you don’t feel safe traveling to and from gatherings.

The Boone Police are not doing round-ups. We have been invited to many meetings and no one has been arrested yet. Also, please understand that we cannot give people permission to break the laws that we are responsible to enforce, such as driving without a license, etc.

21. How can you get help for your children if they are bullied in school or community activities?

Contact the appropriate person(s) or office listed below. If you do not get a satisfactory response, you have the right to make a formal complaint to the Board of Education, individual school principal, Boone Police Department, or NAACP - Watauga (whichever is appropriate).

• Boone Police Department 828-268-6900
• NAACP Watauga Branch email (Select "resources" in the header and go to "discrimination complaint").
• Watauga Board of Education, 828-264-4995
• Watauga High School Resource Officer (SRO), school office 828-264-3133
• Watauga School Superintendent, Dr. Scott Elliott, Board of Education 828-264-4995
• Your child's teacher (Call Board of Education, 828-264-4995, for information)

22. How can you get protection if you are bullied in your workplace?

• Contact the human resources department of the company or the boss. There are employment laws that deal with people who create a hostile work environment" or with Sexual Harassment.
• You may also contact the police. We can determine if a criminal violation has occurred. We will investigate and take appropriate action. Bullying behaviors may sometimes be criminal (threats, assault) but other times are just rude and do not constitute a criminal violation.

23. Does ICE seek help from local law enforcement personnel, parole officers and court officials, or other officials? If a person is detained, what is the processing procedure, how can you get immediate h

• Federal law enforcement may ask local police to help them find someone, but these people are wanted for crimes or generally criminals convicted of felony offenses.
• Local police do not do round ups to enforce immigration laws.
• If you need help, contact NAACP-Watauga branch email and ask for help from someone in its Immigrant Justice Committee.

24. If someone from ICE comes to your home, work, or stops your car, what should you do? Are they supposed to show identification? Do you have to answer questions? Who can help you if you don’t understand

• ICE agents are federal law enforcement officers.
• The Boone Police Department would refer you to ICE to get answers to this question.
• The ICE website is in Spanish as well as English.
• NAACP-Watauga can refer you to someone in its Immigrant Justice Committee for information

25. How can you get help if you are physically attacked or victim of a crime? Can you get someone to be with you who can help you understand and get the help you need?

Call 911. Boone Police will help anyone who calls us for help. We do have translation services that we can call upon if needed.