Tell Us Your Side… We Handle It
Criminal & DUI Lawyers, including:
Three Former Crown Prosecutors

Welland: 289‑273‑3502 Toll-Free: 1‑800‑699‑0806

Toll-Free: 1‑800‑699‑0806

Toll-Free: 1‑800‑699‑0806

Free Consultation

Complimentary, No Obligation

Don’t take chances, fill out the form below to describe your criminal or impaired driving offence and one of our experts will review your case. We reply to all inquiries within one business day. You can also call us toll-free at 1‑800‑699‑0806 or e-mail us at .

Should I speak to the police (right to remain silent)?

Video Transcript

I’m glad you could join me today. I want to talk to you about a very interesting topic and that’s the right to remain silent. A lot of clients will come to me and say “Mike, in a situation where I’ve been accused of something and I’m innocent. What should I do? Shouldn’t I talk to the police and get them my version of events?” Well, the very simple answer to that is no. This is a very important right in Canada and I’m gonna give you an example. You’re charged with, I know, let’s say you’re charged with domestic assault and you maintain your innocence. You say that your spouse - your husband, your wife - is making the story up as a revenge motive or some motive to lie and truthfully it’s not just reasonable doubt but you know you’re innocent. People in that situation, they really feel compelled when they’re brought in to police custody and the police give them a chance to tell their story and they say, well, I got to tell my story now, isn’t this the time to tell my story? Again, the answer is no. What happens is yes, you’re telling the truth on the video but the problem is you don’t have the police reports, you don’t have the disclosure. The police aren’t your friends. They’re not there to help you and they’re not gonna change their mind based on your version of events. The other problem is you’re gonna tell your story under a situation of stress. You’re never gonna be able to get the whole story out truthfully, accurately. I should say the same way every time so, for example, on day one when you meet with the police there’s a videotape of it, you tell a ten minute version of events. Once you see that video, you go, “Geez, I forgot to say this, I forgot to say that. That’s inconsistent. I was under stress. I didn’t have the full version of events.” It’s a disaster waiting to happen when especially for an innocent person, truthfully innocent person will talk to the police and give a statement. Exercise your right to remain silent under Section Seven. The police have techniques. They can break your story down even when you are innocent and you don’t wanna go down that path. They’re not your friends. They’ll pretend you’re their friend. They’ll play good cop and bad cop. They have all sorts of techniques and you want avoid that. You want, in that interview you want to say, “Look I am exercising my right to keep silent”. I am saying nothing and you keep repeating that until they give up. They may not give up for a couple of hours especially in an important case. They may say, “Well, that’s what all lawyers say. Now is your opportunity to give your version of events”. Look, this is not the school yard or you’ve been confronted by someone, you know, in that situation where someone’s accusing you of doing something, say in the schoolyard when your kid or your parent and you know you’re innocent if you don’t say something, you look guilty. That’s not the situation in law. A judge never gets to hear that videotape. Right to remain silent section seven, it’s something that a lot of people don’t understand and they just won’t accept the advice even when the lawyers tells them this they still feel compelled to testify and I’m gonna say about fifty percent of people even when they’re told by a lawyer not to say anything break down in that interview. Put your head down in the interview say nothing, ask for a lawyer. You’re entitled to a lawyer. They’ll give you a lawyer. The lawyer’s gonna tell you the same thing that I am:  don’t talk, don’t talk, don’t talk. Fifty percent of you are gonna talk because it’s just human nature. ‘I got to express my innocence.’ If someone’s guilty; they shouldn’t talk either because maybe they don’t have evidence to prove your guilt. You don’t have to prove your guilt. You’re not compelled to, you know, give evidence against yourself so just shut up. Exercise your right from silence and exercise your right to call lawyer to get the advice you’re hearing again from another lawyer. Fifty percent of you aren’t gonna believe me, fifty percent of you are gonna talk and it’s the wrong thing to do. Believe me. That’s the video tip for the day. Thank you for joining me today.

Use the links below to play informative DUI and Impaired Driving charge videos

Kruse Law - Ontario Criminal & DUI Lawyers

How good are Kruse Law firm’s lawyers?

How long does a typical summary conviction charge take?

How to select a criminal lawyer or an impaired driving lawyer

Kruse Law competitive fee model

Should I speak to the police (right to remain silent)?

What areas of criminal law does Kruse Law practice in?

What cities does Kruse Law Firm practice in within Ontario?

When can I apply for a pardon (i.e. record suspension)?

Why would I be believed over the police officer or complainant

Will I get a break of sentencing if I have no prior record

Why should I hire Kruse Law to defend my DUI charge

Should I fight my impaired driving or DUI charge?

Impaired driving charge court process

Impaired driving case win overview

Rights and obligations after arrest for impaired driving or over 80

Over 80 mg case win overview

Mike Kruse's background as a criminal and DUI lawyer

Impaired driving case win overview

Mike Kruse’s biography

I blew over - how do I beat this?

How Kruse Law Quotes Legal Fees

Do I have to Attend Court?

Do I contact my insurance company after being charged with a DUI

Consequences of pleading guilty to first time DUI

Consequences of first time impaired driving or DUI charge

Can police pull me over for any reason?

Another Over 80 mg Case Win Overview

What Happened to the Carter Defence?

What Happens When We Receive Disclosure

What Happens In a Sentencing Hearing

2 prior DUI convictions - can I avoid jail?

What is an R v Mok Charter Application

8 Reasons to Hire Kruse Law

What Happens During the Initial Consultation

Impaired vs Over 80 mg

DUI Case Win Overview

Welcome to the Kruse Law Website

Why I Became a Criminal Lawyer

Credibility and Reliability

dui video

Last drink defence

dui video

Reasonable and Probable Grounds

dui video

Right To Counsel Charter Application

dui video

Quick Tip - Post driving consumption defence

Border Crossing

dui video

Quick Tip - The last drink defence

dui video

As Soon As Practicable

Video Tip: How to win a DUI case?

Mike Kruse wins a DUI trial in Toronto