If a cop pulls you over...

[Zenmervolt]

That is my understanding of the current state of things as well. Absent some visible probable cause their only option is to call for a dog to sniff around the car from the outside. If the dog indicates it smells drugs in the car they now have their probable cause. The cynic inside me says that the dog will always hit even if it is a false hit. Funny thing is that inner cynic has pretty much grown along with the militarization of the civilian police force that has gone hand in hand with the "war on drugs". I had a hell of a lot more faith in the integrity and decency of the police when I was a teen and a young man in my twenties than I do today. That said I still believe that the vast majority of them have integrity and are not out to screw the average citizen.

They would need articulable reasonable suspicion to detain you while they waited for the drug dog to arrive. (Based on my reading of Terry at least.) Chances are you would not have to wait.

ZV

 

[BoberFett]

You basically should always say yes, as cops quite often couldn't possibly care less about laws. I've mentioned before that I had a young co-worker from India that got pulled over in his Volvo in front of the PC shop we worked at, and he refused a search and got beat the fuck up for it. And he was like 110lbs soaking wet and obviously not a threat. Nothing quite like seeing a 300lb cop sit on his back while his neck was sideways on the curb. They tore his car to shreds too. When the store manager (middle-aged guy in a shirt and tie) went out to ask what this was regarding, one of the officers put his hand to his pistol. What fucking assholes, most cops are great, but I'd have been happy to see those particular fuckers get ran over by dump trucks.

Which is why it's probably best to just shoot cops in the face as they approach your car. Better safe than sorry I always say.

 

[HAL9000]

Sure, why wouldn't I?... :hmm:

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'd just say to go ahead, I have nothing in there to hide. If the cop seems nice, I'd ask why, but only after he's done. Like, is this a new procedure, did you suspect somewhat, or what.

No point in arguing with a cop, they are always right, even if they're wrong. It's all a question of who will be believed in court.

 

[HAL9000]

I'd just say to go ahead, I have nothing in there to hide. If the cop seems nice, I'd ask why, but only after he's done. Like, is this a new procedure, did you suspect somewhat, or what.

No point in arguing with a cop, they are always right, even if they're wrong. It's all a question of who will be believed in court.

Agreed, no point causing trouble with the police unnecessarily. They are here to protect us, why make their jobs harder...

 

[BoberFett]

They are here to protect us

Yeah, that's why he's asking to search your car for no reason. To protect you.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah, that's why he's asking to search your car for no reason. To protect you.

They don't know if you have a bomb in there until they check. It's kinda like the RIDE program, they arn't assuming that we're all driving drunk, but they're checking to see if some people are. Though I don't get the point of those because drunks just wont pass by that road.

 

[Eos]

Or you could get fucked over like this poor woman.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/26/n...-so-intricate-the-prosecutors-were-pawns.html

Granted, cases like this are unlikely but innocent people do occasionally get snagged in the wheels of our cold and impersonal legal system.

"Any lawyer worth his salt will tell the suspect in no uncertain terms to make no statement to the police under any circumstances."

-Justice Robert H. Jackson

Holy. Shit.

 

[coreyb]

hell no i wouldnt allow that. because 95% of the time they are looking for drugs and i dont agree with drug laws/war on drugs.

 

[OverVolt]

In the real world, people only consent to a search because they DON'T fully understand (or believe) they can refuse without penalty and just be on their way. There's always a certain amount of "intimidation" involved, even if you don't purposely do anything to create that dynamic. How many people would EVER consent to a search if you asked like this: "Sir, you are completely free to leave right now if you wish to, and there is absolutely no penalty for refusing this request, but I would like your permission to search your vehicle even though it's not in your interest to let me do so, and only bad things could result from it, since you're already free to go right now if you prefer"?

End of the thread. It's your right to refuse and nothing good could ever come from "having nothing to hide."

 

[RelaxTheMind]

what you say and how you react is exactly what the officer is looking for. so dont eyeball your stash right after he/she asks.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

if a cop pulls you over you should be as cooperative and unargumentative as possible. unless you are a freaking criminal no cop is going to ask to search your car after running your license. if you are a freaking criminal, and a cop asks to search your car and you dont have to allow him to, then of course you should not give him permission. why would you do that, what would you have to gain from doing that?

but again, if you arent a freaking criminal and you dont want a traffic ticket the best way to avoid one is to not argue with the cop and to not act angry even though of course you are. that doesnt always work, sometimes they are going to give you a ticket anyway, but arguing is just going to make him give you a ticket and be sure to show up when he gets the notice for your traffic trial. my personal policy is to not even deny committing a traffic offense. i get pulled over a lot and i dont get tickets that often (or if i do they write me up a seat belt violation rather than a moving violation)

that is my advice, and im a cop hater

 

[ichy]

but again, if you arent a freaking criminal and you dont want a traffic ticket the best way to avoid one is to not argue with the cop and to not act angry even though of course you are.

Yes, but from what I understand for a proper consent search the police officer has to ask you for permission to search your car AFTER he's given you a ticket and let you know that you're free to go. The courts sensibly recognized that using a ticket (or getting out of one) as leverage is coercive.

 

[Linflas]

They would need articulable reasonable suspicion to detain you while they waited for the drug dog to arrive. (Based on my reading of Terry at least.) Chances are you would not have to wait.

ZV

But that could be something as simple as "he was acting nervous from the moment I approached him" couldn't it? Of course that ignores the obvious that most normal citizens are nervous when dealing with a cop that has pulled them over.

 

[Zenmervolt]

But that could be something as simple as "he was acting nervous from the moment I approached him" couldn't it? Of course that ignores the obvious that most normal citizens are nervous when dealing with a cop that has pulled them over.

True, though most officers I've met have no desire to stand around waiting for 20 minutes while the K9 unit gets there unless they have a better reason than just mild nervousness.

ZV

 

[HAL9000]

Yeah, that's why he's asking to search your car for no reason. To protect you.

No it's not, don't be fucking stupid. That doesn't reflect my statement at all.

 

[Zargon]

They don't know if you have a bomb in there until they check. It's kinda like the RIDE program, they arn't assuming that we're all driving drunk, but they're checking to see if some people are. Though I don't get the point of those because drunks just wont pass by that road.

Ill take "unconstitutional laws that are allowed due to kneejerk reactions and pitybased ad campaigns for 500"

answer, "what are DUI checkpoints?"

No it's not, don't be fucking stupid. That doesn't reflect my statement at all.

how doesnt it?

 

[BoberFett]

No it's not, don't be fucking stupid. That doesn't reflect my statement at all.

Being "fucking stupid" would be a perfection reflection of EVERYTHING you say, neckbeard.

 

[Zargon]

Sure, why wouldn't I?... :hmm:

Agreed, no point causing trouble with the police unnecessarily. They are here to protect us, why make their jobs harder...

Yeah, that's why he's asking to search your car for no reason. To protect you.

No it's not, don't be fucking stupid. That doesn't reflect my statement at all.

yeah sounds like bober is right on and as usual you make less than zero sense

 

[HAL9000]

Ill take "unconstitutional laws that are allowed due to kneejerk reactions and pitybased ad campaigns for 500"

answer, "what are DUI checkpoints?"



how doesnt it?

I said that the police protect you, I didn't say they are searching your car to protect you.

Being "fucking stupid" would be a perfection reflection of EVERYTHING you say, neckbeard.

No argument? OK nothing to reply to.

yeah sounds like bober is right on and as usual you make less than zero sense

No argument? OK nothing to reply to.

 

[Howard]

I said that the police protect you

From what?

 

[HAL9000]

From what?

Criminals etc.

 

[Ben90]

I'd say no and keep talking/replies to an absolute minimum with the officer.

If I got pulled over for speeding, I try to make conversation with them. Never gotten a speeding ticket because of it despite being pulled over for felony speeds twice. Its crazy what you can get away with if your not a total douche' about things.

 

[Triumph]

Agreed, no point causing trouble with the police unnecessarily. They are here to protect us, why make their jobs harder...

So you need the cops to protect you from yourself?

 

[HAL9000]

So you need the cops to protect you from yourself?

I'm not a criminal... I don't understand your point?