With summer approaching, there will be more parties, more booze and more opportunities to get in trouble. As a criminal defense attorney, I welcome the new clientele. Yet as a Northeastern alumnus, I do not want to see my fellow Huskies in trouble. So take a minute, read these tips and learn how you can reduce your risk of getting in trouble this summer. While the tips may sound obvious, remember that most serious infractions usually begin with a stupid minor offense that draws police attention.
1. Obey traffic laws. It is amazing how many arrests could be avoided if people only obeyed the traffic laws. The police cannot pull you over without reason. So stay within the lanes, respect the stop signs and keep your speed down.
2. Know the Northeastern University Code of Student Conduct. You have worked too hard and put in too much money to risk getting thrown out of school. Know the code inside and out, as it will be the basis of any disciplinary hearing resulting from an arrest.
3. Avoid fistfights. They are not worth it. So maybe some tough guy disrespected you. You may think that stepping up to a fight is the only way to protect your reputation. Nothing could be further from the truth. A felony conviction for aggravated assault and battery ruins your reputation. Getting kicked out of college ruins your reputation. Do you want to face a civil suit for $10,000 or more? If you want to look out for number one, avoid fighting.
4. Keep the volume down. Yes, when you buy two kegs and invite 50 of your friends over for a massive Beirut tournament, your neighbors will notice the volume shift and they may call the police. Similarly, if you fill your car with drunken college kids and blast gangsta rap, cops will take notice.
5. Always carry a state-issued ID. Frequently, when a police officer stops a person for a minor infraction, he simply wants to run the name for warrants, and if everything comes up clean, merely issue a warning. Having an up-to-date government-issued ID is critical for this process to unfold smoothly. Do not cause an officer unnecessary headaches.
6. Avoid urinating in public. Do you want to become a registered sex offender? I did not think so.
7. Pay your traffic and parking tickets. Many people are arrested because their license was suspended for unpaid tickets. Often, the Registry of Motor Vehicles sends the notice to an old address. Do not let this happen to you.
8. If you are speaking to a police officer, avoid profanity and aggressive body language. Even if your behavior falls short of what is required for a disorderly conduct conviction, you do not want to spend the night in jail. When dealing with police, no swearing, and more importantly, no flailing arms or erratic movements.
9. Do not double park, particularly on Friday or Saturday nights. We have all been stuck in traffic on Huntington Avenue, only to find out that the 10-minute delay was caused by some double-parked jerk. On Fridays and Saturdays, when half the cars in the state flood the city, police are less likely to look the other way.
10. Do not jaywalk. I understand that NU students have to protect their reputation as the most brazen jaywalkers in the city. But if you are doing something else wrong ‘- say underage drinking ‘- the risk becomes unacceptable. Technically you can be stopped, ticketed and questioned.
The first rule of keeping out of trouble is simple:’ Do not draw attention. Follow the above tips, and you will seriously reduce your chances of arrest.
– Joseph Goldberg-Giuliano is a criminal defense attorney, 2003 alumnus and former columnist for The News.
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