You may have heard that “honesty is the best policy.”  But is being dishonest always a crime? If you are stopped or questioned by the police, is it illegal to lie to the police? 

It is not always a crime to lie to police officers. However, it is probably not in your best interest to do so. If you are worried that something you say will incriminate you or someone you love, it is best to refrain from speaking to the police and exercise your right to remain silent. Then call an experienced Seattle criminal defense lawyer. 

When Is It Illegal to Lie to the Police?

It is illegal to lie to the police in certain situations. You cannot lie about your identity during a traffic stop or an arrest. False police reporting is also a crime in Washington. However, the most serious criminal offense is perjury. If you are found guilty of perjury, you face felony consequences. 

You must tell the truth when you talk to the police if you are in one of these four situations:

1. Stating your identity

2. Filing a police report 

3. Reporting a crime

4. Testifying under oath

If you lie to the police in one of these situations, you will face severe penalties and consequences, including possible jail time. 

Providing a False Identity

Providing false identity to the police means intentionally giving law enforcement officials with inaccurate or misleading information about your identity, such as your name, date of birth, or address. This could involve using a fake ID or providing someone else's information to avoid being identified or to hide your true identity.

According to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), anyone who knowingly gives a false or misleading statement to a public servant, such as a police officer, could be charged with a gross misdemeanor. If convicted, you could face fines of up to $5,000 and up to one year in jail. 

Perjury

Perjury is a criminal offense that involves knowingly making a false statement or providing incorrect information under oath or affirmation in a legal proceeding. Examples of perjury include lying in a court trial, deposition, or legal proceedings where you must take an oath.

In the state of Washington, there are different classes of perjury. For example, perjury in the first degree is a Class B felony offense. If convicted, you face up to 10 years in state prison and fines of up to $20,000.

Perjury in the second degree is a Class C felony. It is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. In addition to criminal penalties, a person convicted of perjury in Washington may face civil penalties, such as fines or other legal consequences.

Perjury can have severe consequences for anyone involved, as it can undermine the integrity of the legal system and lead to wrongful convictions. It is important to tell the truth when testifying or providing information in a legal proceeding to avoid the potential legal and ethical consequences of committing perjury.

False Police Reporting

False police reporting, also known as false reporting of a crime, is reporting a crime to law enforcement that did not occur or exaggerating the details of a crime.

In Washington State, it is against the law to misreport a crime, and prosecutors can charge you with either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the specific circumstances. 

For example, if your false report was made with reckless disregard for the safety of another and they suffer bodily harm due to this false report, prosecutors will charge you with false reporting in the second degree. This is a Class C felony offense.

There are several reasons why falsely reporting a crime is considered a crime in Washington State. 

1. Firstly, it can waste valuable police resources, diverting them from criminal investigations and potentially endangering public safety. 

2. Secondly, it can lead to innocent people being suspected or accused of a crime they did not commit, which can have serious and long-lasting consequences for their lives. 

3. Finally, false reporting of a crime can undermine the trust and integrity of the criminal justice system, making it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate and solve actual crimes.

Contact our Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyers

If you lie to the police in Washington and find yourself facing criminal charges, you must seek help from a qualified criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. At Lewis & Laws, our Seattle criminal defense attorneys can fight aggressively to protect your rights and future throughout the criminal justice process. 

At Lewis & Laws, PLLC, we have defended clients in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, and across the state of Washington. Contact us today at 206.209.0608 or fill out our confidential contact form. Call us today!