Q: In upstate ny Is it legal for a sheriff to ask me questions over the phone rather than in person?
I called the sheriff and asked him what he wanted and he told me he couldn’t tell me over the phone and that I had to meet him in person, I told him I didn’t do anything wrong and that I wasn’t aware of anything I did and I’m not from here I only come to visit is this legal?
A: You called the sheriff and asked him a questions, then he asked you one. You can answer him or decline to answer. Even if he called you, you do not have to answer the questions of a law enforcement officer unless you want to. On the other hand, if an officer stopped you in person for reasons he believes are related to a crime, you have to at least show him your identification but you still do not have to answer any questions unless your rights are read to you first, and that includes your right to have an attorney before you talk.
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