When does Miranda not apply?

Miranda rights, established by the Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, apply when an individual is in custody and subject to interrogation. However, there are important exceptions where Miranda rights do not apply.

When a person volunteers information, they are not being interrogated, and thus the requirement for Miranda does not come into play. If an individual provides information freely and without prompting, this is outside the scope of an interrogation scenario necessitating Miranda warnings.

In the case of a lawful traffic stop, although the individual may be temporarily detained, they are not technically "in custody" in the sense required for Miranda to apply unless they are formally arrested. During a brief traffic stop, officers can ask questions without needing to issue Miranda warnings, as long as the person is not under arrest and the questioning does not constitute interrogation.

This understanding is foundational in law enforcement, helping officers navigate interactions with individuals while remaining compliant with constitutional protections. Thus, both scenarios of a person volunteering information and the dynamics of a lawful traffic stop effectively illustrate situations where Miranda rights do not apply.