Legal Question in Criminal Law in Arizona

If I post infomation about undercover cops or undercover security

If I post infomation about where undercover cops locations or stake outs will I get arested. I ask because they allready post infomation about speed traps, so this is allready posting police activty.


Asked on 11/16/97, 1:12 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Jes Beard Jes Beard, Attorney at Law

If I post infomation about undercover cops or undercover

Keep in mind that I'm not licensed in Arizona, but my response is based on Federal Constitutional law and on several years of experience in the courts and I believe it is likely applicable to Arizona.You really have two different questions here -- 1) Does an officer have authority to arrest for this and what are the prospects of conviction?and 2) What will police do on learning you are telling others of their undercover operation?Can you do it -- read the 1st Amendment; It's free speech. What will the cops do... probably bust you and take you in. They will think up some charge and you'll have to bond out of jail and then go to court on whatever BS charges they suck out of their thumbs. Remember that they carry guns on their hips and have the benefit of wearing uniforms when they walk into court. They lie, the judges know they lie, and they routinely get away with it. You will then need to hire an attorney to defend the charge. Yes, you can rely on the 1st Amendment, and after you go through a couple of appeals (assuming you get a judge who is unwilling to apply the 1st Amendment), you'll win... but to do that you will need to be prepared to foot at least $30K in legal bills, or to get the ACLU to pick up your case.

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Answered on 11/16/97, 11:44 pm


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