When you get pulled over for speeding or other reckless behavior, you may hear your Miranda Rights read out loud by an official.
Knowing the meaning of these rights and when they are applicable is important for your safety.
The definition
Miranda Rights encompass four statements that remind you to not incriminate yourself. These statements include the right to remain silent, that what you say out loud could be legally held against you in court, and that you may have an attorney. You will get assigned an attorney if you do not have one already.
The effects
While many of these statements may seem familiar to you, it is worth noting that these rights come from the Fifth Amendment. If you feel pressured to incriminate yourself while getting arrested, these remind you it is not necessary to do so.
The origin of this law came from a man who was unlawfully questioned until he confessed, even though he was never told his rights. Now, it is possible to waive these rights, but the officers still must tell you about them before you do so.
The impact on you
If the officials fail to inform you of your Miranda Rights, whatever you say is not evidence against you in court. Since you had to confess under coercion, your confession is no longer lawful evidence.
It is common for information to get thrown out if the discovery happened in an unlawful way, since the statements would be unethically obtained. This interferes with the validity of the argument presented in court. Therefore, Miranda Rights are integral to the processes of discovery and questioning.
