No, if you are contacted by the police, you do not have to talk to them. You may have to give them your name or provide them with your driver’s license if you were driving, but you do not have to talk to them about the crime that you are being accused of. The constitution gives you the right to remain silent.

Most of the time it is better if you do remain silent, even if you did not do anything wrong. This is because the law can be confusing. Sometimes you might think that what you are saying to the police is helpful, but it might end up hurting your case.

It is usually a good idea to remain silent when the police ask you questions, and to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer like Mr. Rios to help you tell your side of the story.