Right to remain silent · Florida
Do you have to answer police questions in Florida?
With Sabrina Jadunandan, Orlando DUI defense attorneyDuration 0:29Reviewed 2026-08-07
English captions are available in the player.
Do I have to answer a police officer's questions in Florida?
No. In Florida, as everywhere in the United States, you are not required to answer an officer's investigative questions. The Fifth Amendment protects you from being made a witness against yourself, and anything you do say can be used against you later. Sabrina's guidance in this video is simple: respectfully tell the officer you are not answering questions. Staying quiet is not an admission of guilt, and trying to be helpful often supplies the evidence that builds a case.
What this video covers
- Why officers ask open-ended questions during a stop
- How voluntary statements become evidence
- How to decline questions respectfully
Full transcript
Stop talking to the police. Just stop talking to them. When they ask you questions, respectfully, respectfully tell them, I'm not answering them. Because you know what? Everything you say is used against you. And you know what? You have rights to remain silent. So, don't bury yourself in a hole by answering the police officer's questions because you're trying to be nice or cooperative or helpful. Help yourself to not put yourself in a hole by answering questions.
Florida law and sources
- U.S. Constitution, Fifth AmendmentConstitution Annotated
- Miranda warnings and custodial interrogationConstitution Annotated
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About Sabrina Jadunandan
Former DUI prosecutor, now an Orlando DUI defense attorney.
The information on this website is for general information only and is not legal advice.