2007-03-15 00:08:26 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Police officers are trained to enforce criminal laws and city ordinances. They don't practice law, especially civil law.
2007-03-15 00:14:39 · update #1
I have wondered that myself. Since anyone without a law degree cannot give legal advice (it's against the law). People call and have an officer come out just to ask legal questions.
Even familt and friends ask those questions all the time.
2007-03-15 03:33:08 · answer #1 · answered by Kevin 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As a cop I think i can answer this one. The general population looks to law enforcement for guidance. We are the front line to criminal law and because we see such a wide variety of things, the public has an expectation of knowledge and understanding that the law enforcement officer knows. Even though they may know it is civil, they will still ask becuase to many they associate Lawyers with Doctors. They feel it's trivial, they take forever to get back to you , and they usually want money to truely answer the question. Granted some do it for free, but they the asker feel why bother the lwayer when i can just ask a cop.
2007-03-15 04:03:23 · answer #2 · answered by J D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand why people ask cops questions about civil law. When it comes to criminal law, Police Officers are some of the most knowledgeable people you can ask. It is up to the Police Officer to decide on his/her feet precisely what law has been broken by any specific criminal action. They decide what criminal code/law was broken and what the suspect will be arrested for. A lawyer can sit and research for days, whereas a Police Officer must know on the scene what to arrest and charge a suspect with. Someone who applies the law in that fashion in the thick of the situation will always get my vote as the expert.
2007-03-15 00:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by dh1977 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I was in law enforcement for 23 years, and I've always wondered that myself.
I remember being in uniform, sitting there in a restaurant eating dinner with my partner, and someone would walk up, sit down next to us ( uninvited, of course ) and begin asking us legal questions. If I received the amount of money a lawyer makes for giving out legal advice, I'd already be set up for retirement. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a dime for it.
2007-03-15 00:12:54 · answer #4 · answered by C J 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many people do not realize that there is a difference between criminal and civil law. I think it is as simple as that.
2007-03-15 01:37:22 · answer #5 · answered by joeanonymous 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We actually probably have more time in than most lawyers in practical application of the law. Plus we don't charge 500 p/hour to answer a question.
2007-03-15 02:30:51 · answer #6 · answered by dude0795 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When people are in a tense situation they tend to ask questions of the authority figures present. If those figures are police, which is often the case, they get asked.
Many people just don't understand the system.
2007-03-15 03:03:58 · answer #7 · answered by Loli M 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cops have a great degree of knowledge about the law. It is part of their training.
2007-03-15 00:11:46 · answer #8 · answered by Debra D 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Because cops are smarter than attorney's but can't charge you money for giving them the right answer.
2007-03-15 02:23:45 · answer #9 · answered by Keith 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋