What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia...
On 6/26/08 at approx. 1:30 A.M. a friend and I were conversing with two females in a college bar. We were having a good time and of course had been drinking. A male approached us and demanded that we leave, he insisted one of the females was his girlfriend. We refused, he approached the bar manager with whom my friend got in to a confrontation. We had done nothing wrong, we were paying customers, why were we ordered to leave? The police were called, we were removed from the bar as a result. Upon exiting the bar, we were questioned by three officers. I asked the officers for their names and badge numbers; they refused. I asked them twice more for their name and badge numbers and they all refused. I was then arrested for public intoxication, my friend was not arrested. The officer, never read my Miranda rights (which I'm aware that its not required of him, but he cant use anything I said in the court of law as a result). I live within a stones throw of the bar, and even though I had been drinking, I was aware of my surroundings and by no means represented a danger to myself or others. I was not given a BAC test. I was booked and had to spend 8 hours in a holding cell. Should I consult a lawyer? What are the odds of getting this dismissed? Is an officer required to give his name and badge # upon request?
On 6/26/08 at approx. 1:30 A.M. a friend and I were conversing with two females in a college bar. We were having a good time and of course had been drinking. A male approached us and demanded that we leave, he insisted one of the females was his girlfriend. We refused, he approached the bar manager with whom my friend got in to a confrontation. We had done nothing wrong, we were paying customers, why were we ordered to leave? The police were called, we were removed from the bar as a result. Upon exiting the bar, we were questioned by three officers. I asked the officers for their names and badge numbers; they refused. I asked them twice more for their name and badge numbers and they all refused. I was then arrested for public intoxication, my friend was not arrested. The officer, never read my Miranda rights (which I'm aware that its not required of him, but he cant use anything I said in the court of law as a result). I live within a stones throw of the bar, and even though I had been drinking, I was aware of my surroundings and by no means represented a danger to myself or others. I was not given a BAC test. I was booked and had to spend 8 hours in a holding cell. Should I consult a lawyer? What are the odds of getting this dismissed? Is an officer required to give his name and badge # upon request?