Hi there! My collegue gave a ride to a stranger on the way back from work and iam kinda mad at him. Coz I am concerned what if the lady was a prostitute or had drugs, in which case if a cop pulled him over then he would be arrested..I think he is really naive:) So is it illegal to give a ride to strangers in Maryland, USA?
2007-01-10 08:51:56 · 9 answers · asked by Grad S 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
It is illegal to give a ride to strangers if they are wearing black and white striped pajamas (or any other identifying marks of an escaped convict), or if you have any reason to believe that they have recently engaged in illegal activities or have a warrant out for their arrest (like having seen their picture posted on a "wanted" sign), or if they have any illegal substances in their possession. If a cop believes that you could have reasonably known of illegal activity, and that you were not coerced, then you could get in trouble with the police for aiding a criminal, otherwise the law has nothing against you.
And yes, there are sections of highway (typically near prisons) where it is illegal to pick-up any hitch hiker.
But do beware that giving rides to strangers assumes a very high level of risk to your own personal security, and is not advised without extreme caution and very strong justification (i.e. life and death, etc.).
2007-01-10 09:15:44 · answer #1 · answered by Andy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not know specifically about your state but you can give rides to strangers ,as good Samaritans, for example. However, it is possible for a police officer to pull you over if he/she observes you picking someone up in a known drug or prostitution area. If the reasonable suspicion of the officer is raised in some way to probable cause (IE: stories did not match up where driver/passenger going, things officer observed etc.) then your friend and the woman could have been searched and if drugs were found on the woman he picked up, both parties in he car could have been arrested on drug possession.
However, that does not mean your friend would be CONVICTED of possession of a controlled substance (lets say if they both were charged with this type of crime after the officer searched the girl and found drugs on her) but the arrest would still be on his criminal history record unless it was expunged later on.
It really just depends upon a lot of facts and certain situations to tell you the What ifs that could have occurred or even might have happened to your colleague picking up this person who needed a ride.
2007-01-10 17:06:05 · answer #2 · answered by attyvette 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A one time deal. NO. Take a couple of dollars for gas, one time no. But if you are constantly giving rides to folks and take money for gas or what have you, and the cops catch wind of it, you can be arrested.
2014-07-13 13:53:09 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not illegal, but it is smart NOT TO GIVE A RIDE to anyone you have never met no matter where you live.
2007-01-11 21:41:09 · answer #4 · answered by nickle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Illegal, no. Dumb, yes.
The only places I know of that is illegal is along I-97, there are signs posted that it is illegal to drop off or pick up passengers, but I've never seen them on any other road.
2007-01-10 16:58:57 · answer #5 · answered by tabithap 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. It may not be smart, but think about it. If you needed a ride because your car broke down, would you get mad if someone helped you out by giving you a ride?
B-Cool
2007-01-10 16:58:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Illegal? No. Not very smart? Yes.
2007-01-10 16:58:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
are you mental no it's no illegal but just try to think what could of happened
2007-01-10 17:00:45 · answer #8 · answered by tom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not illegal, just stupid.
2007-01-10 17:05:01 · answer #9 · answered by m27jean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋