How to Protect Yourself Against Cops in California and Other Strange Places: A Guide for Businessmen and Other Innocent Travelers, in 50 States and W

by F. Lee Bailey

Explains how innocent drivers can protect themselves against false charges, with information on police procedure, and other important topics

90 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Thomas Fugett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so much a book as much as a long-winded pamphlet about F. Lee Bailey’s 1982 drunk driving acquittal. The late attorney describes the events of the day honestly, he had Bloody Mary’s for breakfast, wine and margaritas for dinner, scotch on the plane, but contends was not intoxicated when he was arrested and brutalized by the San Francisco police department for running a stop sign and DUI. The book/hard-cover pamphlet then describes the three week trial that he undergoes with future “Dream Team” point guard Robert Shapiro. Using a mix of sympathetic testimony by people Bailey came into contact with that night, ad-hominem attacks on the police and prosecution, and the fact that Bailey refused all blood and breath tests, the jury found him guilty only of running the stop sign. Also included are movie recommendations (“If you haven’t seen “Jaws”, do so at once.”).

The book is 40 years old so much of the information provided about individual state laws is outdated. The best advice F. Lee Bailey gives is this: the only thing that can save you against a conviction for DUI (besides being a famous attorney) is TIME. The body metabolizes one drink an hour, so the only way you can beat the cops and their tests is to not drink and drive at all.

[Giselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the title I made the assumption that this would be closely related to recent events in the U.S., but it's more about what to do to protect yourself from a "driving under the influence" charge. This nonfiction story is about famous attorney F. Lee Bailey's experience when he was wrongly arrested for said charge. He wrote this book to share with others the knowledge of what to do and what to ask for when they find themselves in this situation. I like that he makes it clear that this information is only for those who are not guilty of driving under the influence. He states that if you are driving drunk he does wish for you to be charged.

Something I learned:
"Therefore, if you decide (and you should decide) to avoid the perils of a zealous police attitude, you must keep track of two things:
1. How much alcohol you have consumed during the six hours prior to your wish to drive somewhere, and at what intervals those drinks were consumed; and,
2. How much "burn off" time has gone by since you had the alst one, or several, as the case may be. Your system should get rid of about one drink an hour."