If you're the passenger in a car of someone who is running from the police, are you considered a criminal?

Question

Lets say that you're a passenger in a car of someone who is speeding and a police officer tries pulling you over, but the driver refuses to stop, are you automatically going to be convicted of a crime?

Answer 1

No, but you better not give the police any trouble.



No one is "automatically convicted" of any crime, even someone caught with a smoking gun in his/her hands. However, you could be a passenger during a car chase and the driver could be out of his mind on drugs. As long as you are clean and not carrying anything suspicious, you should be okay. Just don't do anything that the cops will see as suspicious or threatening.

Answer 2

Do some research before you answer here---GEEZ.... here's the facts of the matter........



IF the driver of the car was involved in a crime PRIOR to speeding (ie a robbery) and you knew absolutely NOTHING about the crime OR why he was speeding, you MIGHT be arrested on the spot, but if the driver also tells the police you had NOTHING to do with anything, you will be sent home with no arrest....



If the driver of the car was only involved in SPEEDING and no other crime was committed, then you will NOT be arrested, or taken in or ANYTHING....the DRIVER, however can and probably WILL be charged with fleeing to resist arrest and YOU, hopefully a licensed driver, will have to drive the car home because your driver friend will be taken off to jail. You cannot be charged as an ACCOMPLICE for just being an uninvolved passenger........ it wouldn't be YOUR fault if the driver was speeding!!!!!

Answer 3

Probably not. A lot of it depends on your behavior after the stop. If you take off on foot as soon as the vehicle stops you can expect to be chased down by a pissed off cop and treated pretty roughly when you get caught. If you stay in the vehicle you can expect to be ordered out of the car at gunpoint, handcuffed, searched, and placed in the back of the cruiser until we can restore order to the situation and check you for warrants. It's not because we enjoy doing it, it's because we have to look out for our own safety and the safety of our fellow officers. I've been a several pursuits where the passenger wasn't charged with anything and was even given a ride back to the office in order to call and have someone pick them up.

Answer 4

Not necessarily. However if you aid him in comitting the crime you can be charged as accessory. If the situation is clearly beyond your control the D.A. probably would not bring charges against you, though you would be expected to cooperate in the investigation. You most likely would be arrested because the police are going to assume that everyone in the car is a suspect. If they believe your story they will let you go. If they don't they will refer the case to the District Attorney and you will be arraigned.

Answer 5

No. I've watched many episodes of COPS where they talk to the passenger, and find out they didn't encourage or partake in running from the police. They end up letting them go. They of course don't have a ride, so they usually just start walking away.

Answer 6

No. If the person is wanted by the Police, only he will be arrested. Example of all passengers can be arrested is when the vehicle is under stolen list.

Answer 7

Yes. You will be considered an accomplice.



Whether you are convicted of that is another question. If you could convince the authorities you had not known he/she would do it, you might be OK.



But if you even passively go along with the crime, you can also be charged.

Answer 8

Automatically, no. The fact that you were someones car, by itself, does not make you an accomplice. No one expects an innocent bystander (or passenger) to jump from a moving car.

Answer 9

I would recommend staying put and following the officer's directions carefully. I would also cooperate fully and tell them who the driver was. If the car was NOT stolen and was not used to commit an offence (like robbery) then you should be okay. (at least here in Canada).

Answer 10

Not automatically, but you will need to prove that you weren't able to get out and were not an accomplice to the driver.

Answer 11

Possibly if there is obstruction. Most are let go without charges. They are detained for a while to decide if anything should be done.

Answer 12

well that depends on the situation. if when the chase ends and you get out and immediately give up, then prolly not. we can tell if your genuine or not.



but its up to the DA how they want to address the situation

Answer 13

could say you were held against your will. if he wouldn't stop you couldn't get out. otherwise you would have gotten out.

Answer 14

no cause its not your fault the maniac is running from the police.

Answer 15

You could be as an accessory.

Answer 16

all police think everyone is guilty and a crimnal even innocent me

Answer 17

Depends how the pigs chasing you feel.