Arrested Man Uses 'Get Out of Jail Free' Monopoly Card, Fails
One Minnesota man just learned a hard life lesson: Monopoly money, cards, and property, aren't real. After being pulled over by law enforcement due to an arrest warrant being connected to the owner of the vehicle, officers discovered that the driver also had an active arrest warrant.
However, in a joking manner, which perhaps had a glimmer of hope behind it, the man handed the officer a "Get Out of Jail Free" card from the famous Monopoly board game. Unfortunately, the card holds no authority in the real world. The man was still arrested.
Joking With Police
While being arrested or interrogated by police, joking around is not a good idea. For the most part, anything that you say can be used against you. Also, what you say out loud may look much differently when typed out in a transcript. No matter how sarcastically you inflect your voice, the phrase "I did it" reads like you're admitting a crime.
To make matters worse, if you go to trial, and a jury sees you on police station surveillance video joking around with officers regarding a serious criminal matter, it isn't going to look good. Police have a serious job. Don't try to be a comedian thinking it'll brighten their day. Cooperate and just be polite (but keep your rights in mind as well).
No Laughing Matter
Joking around can be more than just a bad idea, it can be the basis of criminal charges on their own. For instance, filing fake reports, or providing false information, both constitute misdemeanors or worse in nearly every jurisdiction.
Also, had this been Monopoly money rather than the a "Get Out of Jail Free" card, and the officer understood the gesture as an attempt at bribery, there could be even more severe criminal consequences.
Related Resources:
- Top 7 Tips for Talking to the Police (FindLaw Blotter)
- Pulled Over for No Reason? 5 Tips for Dealing With the Police (FindLaw Blotter)
- Innocent Lookalike Freed After 17 Years in Prison (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
- Man Arrested With Over 1,000 Fake Drugs at Bonnaroo Music Festival (FindLaw's Legally Weird)