This is not the time for improvisation. While your version <i>may</i> be fine, lawyers say to use these phrases and they have many good reasons why they choose the words they use. At best, your variation will be <i>equivalent</i> to the recommended wordings, and you add the risk that your wording may not cover everything or a misuse of legal terms.<p>There is another reason to use the recommended phrase, too: it&#x27;s a standard. More people will immediately understand your intent (regardless of how they respond).<p>&gt; I want to be polite<p>While general politeness is always a good idea, the police are <i>not</i> on your side and you <i>absolutely</i> should not go out of your way to appease them. If they want to hassle you, they are going to do it anyway. In practice, they probably <i>already</i> made their quick-and-arbitrary conclusion <i>before</i> they started talking to you.<p>Don&#x27;t take my word for it - this is the advice any decent lawyer will give you. I highly recommend watching this[1] lawyer explain the public&lt;-&gt;police interaction, corroborated by a police officer who explains how they try to scam you into talking.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc</a><p>edit: fixed minor editing error