They most certainly are not (hell, they aren't even lawyers!), but they are representatives of the courts, who do decide if the arrest or citation is valid. The police are merely soldiers for the court system. Arguing law, ethics and philosophy is not in their wheelhouse, so waging a war of law wit - however contrived - is ineffective. Better to live to fight the real battles, and those are in halls of the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

Or, just fuck it, and go all Mr. Robot on them. :)